Nonprofit Excellence Awards

Honoring Excellence 

The Nonprofit Excellence Awards started in 2011, with the goal of honoring local nonprofit organizations for their good work in the field. Nonprofits nominate themselves for these awards, and winners are chosen by a committee comprised of sponsor representatives and a past recipient of the awards. 

Golden Anniversary Nonprofit Excellence Award
 

In recognition of Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, a new award was announced for 2023 only – the Golden Anniversary Nonprofit Excellence Award. All previous innovation and excellence award winners since this program’s inception (covering 12 years) were invited to apply for a chance to win a $25,000 unrestricted grant. Six finalists for this award were chosen by a committee of GTCF board and staff, and all present at this year’s ceremony voted for the organization that exhibited the most impact and innovation in their programming and partnerships in the community. 

The winner of the 2023 Golden Anniversary Nonprofit Excellence Award was Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Receiving the award on behalf of the organization was President and CEO, Rick Russell. In the forty years since Hospice of Northwest Ohio began operations, the organization has increased its annual number of patients served from 90 to more than 2,300. Two inpatient hospice units, the first of their kind in northwest Ohio, offer a home-like setting with wooded views, family rooms and comfortable places for families to gather and spend their final hours with loved ones, while staff and volunteers provide around the clock medical care. 

Past Recipients

2023 Nonprofit Excellence Awards

• Golden Anniversary Nonprofit Excellence Award: Hospice of Northwest Ohio
• Excellence in Collaborative Programming: So All May Eat Cafe (SAME Cafe)
• Excellence in Strategic Action: TutorSmart Toledo
• Excellence in Organizational Operations: Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo

2022 Nonprofit Excellence Awards 

• Excellence in Collaborative Programming: Connecting Kids to Meals
• Excellence in Strategic Action: Children’s Theatre Workshop of Toledo
• Excellence in Organizational Operations: Adopt America Network

2021 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• Nonprofit Innovation Award: Valentine Theatre
• Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Agency: Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
• Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Agency: The Victory Center

2020 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• Nonprofit Innovation Award: Midstory
• Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Agency: Baby University
• 2020 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Agency – Bittersweet Farms

2019 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• Nonprofit Innovation Award: Neighborhood Properties, Inc.
• Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Agency: Lucas County CASA
• Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Agency: Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity

2018 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2018 Nonprofit Innovation Award – Center of Hope Family Services
• 2018 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Agency – Leadership Toledo
• 2018 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Agency – Boys & Girls Club of Toledo

2017 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2017 Nonprofit Innovation Award – A Renewed Mind
• 2017 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Agency – Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism
• 2017 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Agency – The Thomas M. Wernert Center

2016 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2016 Nonprofit Innovation Award – Advocating Opportunity
• 2016 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Organization – Diabetes Youth Services
• 2016 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Organization – Catholic Club

2015 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2015 Nonprofit Innovation Award – Imagination Station
• 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Organization – Black Swamp Conservancy
• 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Organization – Family & Child Abuse Prevention Center

2014 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2014 Nonprofit Innovation Award – Shared Lives Studios of Lott Industries
• 2014 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Organization – Water for Ishmael
• 2014 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Organization – Cherry Street Mission Ministries 

2013 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2013 Nonprofit Innovation Award – Arts Commission of Greater Toledo
• 2013 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Organization – Toledo Lucas County CareNet
• 2013 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Organization – East Toledo Family Center

2012 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2012 Nonprofit Innovation Award – Bittersweet Farms
• 2012 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Organization – Beach House Family Shelter
• 2012 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Organization – ABLE/LAWO

2011 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards

• 2011 Nonprofit Innovation Award – Unison Behavioral Health Group
• 2011 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Small Organization – Read for Literacy, Inc.
• 2011 Nonprofit Excellence Award, Large Organization – Hospice of Northwest Ohio