The application submission window closes on February 15, 2026
Award Categories
The Volunteering Powerhouse
for the most consistent volunteering effort.
The Volunteering Powerhouse
- For companies > 20k employee size
- For companies < 20k employees
Criteria
- Total volunteer hours contributed
- Diversity of initiatives
- Community Impact
- Sustainability of volunteering initiatives
The Mobilizer
for driving the highest participation from the workforce.
The Mobilizer
Criteria
- Percentage of the workforce participating in volunteering
- Strategies to enhance employee engagement
- Policies and tools to promote employee volunteering
- Impact on employee morale and community
The Skills Amplifier
fueling change through strategic skills-based volunteering.
The Skills Amplifier
Criteria
- Strategic leverage of employee skills and expertise
- Measurable community outcomes achieved
- Value created for communities and employees
The Global Champion
for expanding volunteering initiatives globally.
The Global Champion
Criteria
- Geographical spread of the volunteering program
- Strategies for geographic expansion
- Impact on new regions and communities
- Employee involvement across regions
The Purpose Pioneer
for mission-driven volunteering programs addressing key societal challenges.
The Purpose Pioneer
Criteria
- Clarity and alignment of the initiative’s mission with societal challenges
- Innovation in addressing specific societal needs
- Tangible outcomes and measurable community impact
- Sustainability and scalability of the initiative
AI for Impact
for promoting AI-led volunteering in their organization.
AI for Impact
Criteria
- AI projects introduced in the company to solve nonprofit challenges
- Impact of AI projects on community and nonprofits
- Scalability and replicability of AI solutions
- Use of AI to scale up volunteering efforts
This award is for Social Impact Leaders
Volunteering Leader of the Year
for exceptional leadership in driving impactful, inclusive, and innovative volunteering initiatives.
Volunteering Leader of the Year
Criteria
- Demonstrated impact of volunteer initiatives
- Innovative approaches to employee engagement
- Alignment with organizational values and goals
- Advocacy for volunteering within the organization
Engagement Architect
for leading champion network development and engagement.
Engagement Architect
Criteria
- Strength and structure of champion network
- Retention in champion network
- Engagement strategies for champions
- Impact of champion networks on volunteering programs
Impactpreneur
for launching unique and innovative volunteering program(s).
Impactpreneur
Criteria
- Originality of the volunteering program
- Measurable impact on community and employees
- Creativity in addressing social challenges
- Scalability and replicability of the initiative
Rising Star
for early-stage career practitioners driving employee volunteering in their organizations.
Rising Star
Criteria
- Demonstrated passion for driving volunteering efforts
- Rapid growth and achievements in volunteering leadership
- Innovative ideas to enhance volunteering impact
- Effective collaboration with teams and stakeholders
Community Ally
for social impact leaders who champion community voices and drive meaningful change.
Community Ally
Criteria
- Strengthening relationships and trust with community partners
- Communities impacted and outcomes achieved
- Centering community voices in volunteering strategy
- Innovative approaches to deepen local impact
This award is for volunteer champions. Champions can self nominate, or be nominated by CSR leaders.
Champion of the Year
for the highest individual contribution to volunteering hours and holistic impact.
Champion of the Year
Criteria
- Total volunteer hours contributed and distinct initiatives led
- Personal intervention leading to significant beneficiary outcomes
- Sustained momentum and enthusiasm for service throughout the year
The Cause Catalyst
for turning passion into action by mobilizing volunteers for meaningful change.
The Cause Catalyst
This category will have multiple winners
Criteria
- Rallying volunteers for a cause
- Strengthening relationships with the community
- Creating measurable impact
The Emerging Star
for the rising star who started their champion journey in the last 12 months.
The Emerging Star
Criteria
- Introduction of new ideas and energy to existing programs
- Total hours and initiatives supported in the first year
- Willingness to learn community needs and adapt to CSR culture
The Culture Builder
for fostering strong relationships and seamless collaboration across the entire volunteering ecosystem.
The Culture Builder
Criteria
- Strengthening engagement and collaboration across internal teams
- Amplifying employee voices and interests within volunteering programs
- Enabling sustained, organization-wide participation and impact
Host Awards
Goodera will honor exceptional hosts who have created 11/10 volunteering experiences worldwide.
nonprofit Awards
Goodera will honor outstanding nonprofit partners whose collaborations have mobilized transformative impact in local communities through corporate volunteering.
Past Award Winners
The Volunteering Powerhouse (>20k employees)
The Volunteering Powerhouse (<20k employees)
The Innovator
Impact Accelerator
The Mobilizer
The global Champion
The purpose pioneer
Changemaker of the year
Meire Braga
Community Ally
Marissa O'Rourke
Rising star
Parnita Rane
Impactpreneur
Kenrick Fraser
Engagement Architect
Shannon Coyne Rosado
Evaluation Process
Nomination
Nominees can submit their
application forms by
Feb 15, 2026
Evaluation
A select group of independent social impact leaders will evaluate submissions based on predefined criteria
Announcement
The winners will be announced at the Global Volunteering Summit '26 on Feb 25, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Eligibility and Nominations
Who is eligible to submit a nomination?
How do I submit my nomination?
Can I apply for multiple award categories?
Is there a fee to submit a nomination?
Award Categories and Evaluation
How many award categories are there?
What are the evaluation criteria for the awards?
Who evaluates the nominations?
Can an company or individual win multiple awards?
Submission Process
Can I save my nomination form and complete it later?
Do I need to submit supporting materials like photos or videos?
Award Ceremony
When and where will the awards ceremony be held?
Do I need to attend the ceremony to win?
Miscellaneous
Will finalists be notified in advance?
Where can I get help or ask additional questions?
