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The Community Heart Award
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This award honours an individual or group (family, or friends) who has demonstrated meaningful and impactful generosity within the community. Their support-financial, volunteer, or through community leadership-has strengthened charitable work and inspired others to give. Nominations will be assessed based on the impact on the organization or community, NOT the size of the gift.
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- Describe the extent to which the nominee’s generosity, through financial support, volunteerism, leadership, or advocacy, has created meaningful, measurable change in the community or organization. Emphasis is placed on outcomes and consistency of involvement, not the size of the gift.
- Describe the nominee’s ability to inspire others, strengthen community engagement, and foster a culture of giving, including any ripple effects beyond their own direct contributions.
- Describe the special qualities (i.e. innovation, creativity, leadership) exhibited by the nominee in the causes supported, including how issues were addressed or solved and/or how the funds were raised.
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Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
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This award recognizes a volunteer who has shown exceptional leadership in mobilizing others, coordinating fundraising efforts, or championing a cause. Nominees should demonstrate commitment across one or more organizations, motivation of others, and meaningful community impact.
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- For your organization and each organization for which the nominee has helped raise funds, provide description of the leadership role and responsibilities, ability to organize and manage campaigns and groups, funds raised, time, effort and personal financial commitment and impact the nominee and his/her work had on the organization and services
- Description of both the nominee’s ability to lead, motivate, manage and inspire others, as well as the ability to work within a team
- Description of the nominee’s support of other non-profits where individuals may not have led fundraising efforts, but was active on boards and committees and gave to and volunteered for the organizations
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Community Impact Through Business Award
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This award honours a locally rooted business whose commitment to community is woven into how it operates and leads. Through charitable giving, employee engagement, creative initiatives, or sustained community partnerships, the business demonstrates that success and generosity can grow together. Open to local businesses of any size, this award celebrates authentic leadership, encouraging others to participate in philanthropy, and meaningful impact in the Ottawa and Area community.
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- Describe how the business embeds philanthropy and community support into its operations, culture, and decision-making (e.g., giving programs, employee engagement, partnerships, or policies).
- Describe the extent to which the business has created meaningful, measurable benefits in the Ottawa and Area community, focusing on outcomes rather than scale of financial contribution
- Description of the nominee’s work in encouraging and motivating others (e.g. employees, clients, customers, the public) to get involved with and/or take leadership roles in philanthropy
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Outstanding Philanthropic Group or Collective
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This award recognizes a group-such as a service club, neighbourhood group, school club, employee team, micro-granting circle, or informal collective-that has come together to create meaningful community impact through giving, fundraising, advocacy, or volunteerism.
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- Describe the extent to which the group’s combined efforts have created meaningful, measurable change in the community, including who benefited and how outcomes were achieved
- Describe how effectively the group works together and mobilizes participation, including member involvement, partnerships, and the ability to bring people together around a shared cause.
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Outstanding Youth Philanthropist
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This award celebrates an individual or group of young people (up to age 24) who have shown exceptional commitment to their community through fundraising, volunteering, advocacy, or leadership. The award recognizes initiative, creativity, and the positive impact of their contributions.
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- Describe the extent to which the nominee’s efforts have created meaningful, measurable change in their community, including who benefited and what outcomes were achieved.
- How the nominee has taken initiative to lead or organize activities (e.g., fundraising, advocacy, or volunteer efforts), showing creativity, ownership, and commitment.
- The nominee’s ability to engage and motivate others-especially peers-to get involved, raise awareness, or contribute to community causes.
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The IDEA Inspiration Award
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This award recognizes an organization or individual who demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) in philanthropy and fundraising. It celebrates those who champion community-led solutions, promote equity, and foster inclusive environments within the fundraising profession and beyond.
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- Describe the extent to which the nominee actively advances inclusion, diversity, equity, and access through their practices, policies, or initiatives within philanthropy or fundraising.
- Describe how the nominee supports and uplifts community-led solutions, reduces barriers to participation, and creates meaningful, measurable change for equity-deserving groups.
- Describe the nominee’s role in fostering inclusive environments and inspiring others in the sector to adopt IDEA-focused approaches, including advocacy, education, or sector-wide influence.
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The Generation Forward Award
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This award honours an individual or estate whose charitable gift-planned or realized-reflects a deep commitment to lasting community impact. Recipients share a belief that caring for others extends beyond a lifetime, and that thoughtful planning today can create opportunity, dignity, and support for generations to come. This recognition celebrates foresight, values, and quiet leadership rooted in compassion and local impact
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- Describe the extent to which the nominee has demonstrated thoughtful, intentional planning in their charitable giving (e.g., planned gifts, estate gifts), reflecting a long-term commitment to community impact.
- Describe how the gift-realized or planned-contributes to sustainable, meaningful change, including its potential to support future generations and address ongoing community needs.
- Describe how the nominee’s actions reflect compassion, community-minded values, and quiet leadership, including the ways their example may inspire others to consider legacy giving.
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