On Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach.

Nominations in 10+ categories will open to the public on June 17, 2024. They close at 5:00 PM sharp on July 31st.

Nominations are open to the public. Anyone may nominate an organization or an individual for an award. All nominees will be announced and honored. We kindly ask that you notify the person or organization before you nominate them to make sure they can attend the celebration on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center.

Nominations are evaluated by an impartial panel of 40+ leaders from the business and philanthropic communities. Complete transparency regarding the judging process is critically important to the Hats Off Nonprofit Awards committee. Strategic measures are taken to ensure the highest degree of integrity, including keeping the names of the judges confidential, so there is no opportunity to lobby for an individual or organization. We are confident in the nomination and judging process and appreciate the professionalism of our 40 judges.

Judges are looking for applications that are a good fit with the award category. They want a compelling story and examples that illustrate how the nominee is making a difference in the community.

No. Although there will be "honorees", Hats Off is about honoring all nominees and celebrating the Palm Beach County nonprofit community. The anticipation is part of the experience! Please join us!

Unfortunately, no. We work hard to keep the ticket price reasonable, and we hope you will purchase a ticket and enjoy the party! 

Honorees will be announced live at the Hats Off Nonprofit Awards. Honorees will be kept secret up until that point.

Yes. Nominations are not, though, weighted by the number of submissions either in a particular category or overall. Each submission is scored individually.

No. Nominations are open to the public. Anyone who meets the eligibility requirements listed on any category.

Nominations are open to the public. Anyone may nominate an organization or an individual who meets the eligibility requirements listed on any category.

Yes.

Yes. Please see eligibility requirements for each category, but yes, a nominator is not limited in the number of nominations they may submit.

ARTS AND CULTURE IMPACT AWARD

This award honors a current nonprofit with mission and service dedicated to Arts and Culture and whose distinguished achievements have resulted in significant progress toward improving the Arts and Culture of Palm Beach County. They must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Recognized by peers and the community as a leader in the sector, this organization demonstrates exceptional qualities skills and achievements in leadership and management, and inspires others to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results.

COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS

Respondents were asked to consider how the collaborators defined roles, allocated resources, utilized efficient communication, and implemented a clear process for accountability to achieve meaningful results.

COMMUNITY HERO OF THE YEAR

This special award was created to honor a community leader for their extraordinary service during the year. This person demonstrates a passionate commitment to the health and the wellbeing of the community, and their work inspires others to hope and act. Nominees must work or volunteer at a nonprofit organization serving the Palm Beach community, or serve as a first responder, medical professional, elected official or another civil servant.

NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

This award honors a current nonprofit staff leader whose distinguished achievements have resulted in significant progress toward improving a community issue. They must work on behalf of a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Recognized by peers as a leader in the sector, this person demonstrates excellence in leadership and management, and inspires others to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results.

NONPROFIT INNOVATION

Recognizes creative and nontraditional approaches to solving community challenges. This award is intended to honor true innovation in the work of a nonprofit and is NOT intended to recognize overall organizational achievements. The organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Nominated nonprofit innovations should:

• Bring creative solutions to community challenges
• Employ a variety of strategies in developing these solutions and services

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who has made a positive and notable difference during their career in the nonprofit or public sector in Palm Beach County. Through their actions and influence, they have created positive change in our community. They are recognized by their peers as a leader and role model.

NONPROFIT MVP OF THE YEAR

This award honors an outstanding nonprofit team member. This nominee is a behind-the-scenes administrative person, a direct service provider or an intern who went above and beyond the expectation of duties for a nonprofit this year. This person is a valuable team player and they prioritize their team over their success. Shine a light on someone who may easily be overlooked but who does great work in our nonprofit community: your nonprofit organization's hero! Nominees in this category are not eligible for the Nonprofit Executive, Professional or Volunteer of the Year categories.

NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

This award honors the nonprofit Professional whose work has made significant impact benefiting the local community. This category includes non-CEO C-suite executives, VPs, Directors, and Management level staff whose work impacts Palm Beach County communities in a meaningful way. Recognized by peers as an outstanding steward of the mission, this person demonstrates innovative approaches to addressing community issues and demonstrates ongoing collaboration in the nonprofit or public sector.

NONPROFIT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

This award honors the program volunteer or board member who has shown outstanding dedication to a nonprofit or multiple nonprofit organizations whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Active volunteerism can be ongoing or linked to a specific project or cause. For this award, the gifts of talent and time are weighted more heavily than treasure.

NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR - SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY

For organizations with an annual operating budget less than $500,000. This award honors a current nonprofit whose distinguished achievements have resulted in significant progress toward improving a community issue. They must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Recognized by peers as a leader in the sector, this organization demonstrates excellence in leadership and management, and inspires others to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results. Budget size can be found on line 12 on Form 990 or line 9 on Form 990-EZ for the most recent fiscal year. 

NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR - MEDIUM BUSINESS CATEGORY

For organizations with an annual operating budget between$500,001 and $2.49 million. This award honors a current nonprofit whose distinguished achievements have resulted in significant progress toward improving a community issue. They must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Recognized by peers as a leader in the sector, this organization demonstrates excellence in leadership and management, and inspires others to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results. Budget size can be found on line 12 on Form 990 or line 9 on Form 990-EZ for the most recent fiscal year.

NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR - LARGE BUSINESS CATEGORY

For organizations with an annual operating budget over $2.5 million. This award honors a current nonprofit whose distinguished achievements have resulted in significant progress toward improving a community issue. They must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Recognized by peers and the community as a leader in the sector, this organization demonstrates exceptional qualities skills and achievements in leadership and management, and inspires others to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results. Budget size can be found on line 12 on Form 990 or line 9 on Form 990-EZ for the most recent fiscal year.

Nominees must work or volunteer on behalf of a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose program(s) serve the Palm Beach County community. Winners in these categories have best contributed to the long-term impact of the nonprofit that he or she serves and whose leadership exhibits best practices in nonprofit governance. For Volunteer of the Year, active volunteerism can be ongoing or linked to a specific single project or cause.

Nonprofit Innovation Award:
The nominee should be an individual or organization who has demonstrated a creative or non-traditional approach to solving a community challenge. This award is intended to honor true innovation in the work of a nonprofit and is not intended to recognize overall organizational achievements.

Nonprofit Lifetime Achievement:
The nominee should be an individual who has made a positive and notable difference during their career in the nonprofit or public sector in Palm Beach County and whose actions and influence have created positive change. 

Nonprofit of the Year:
Three Awards will be given in this category. Nonprofits of all sizes and services operating in Palm Beach County are eligible. One small, medium and large-sized organization will be honored in this category. Budget size can be found on line 12 on Form 990 or line 9 on Form 990-EZ for the most recent fiscal year. 

1. Organization with an annual operating budget less than $500,000
2. Organization with an annual operating budget between$500,001 and $2.49 million
3. Organization with an annual operating budget over $2.5 million

Nonprofit Executive, Professional, MVP, and/or Volunteer of the Year:
Nominees in any of these four categories are not eligible in the other three of the four categories. However, they may be eligible for any of the categories beyond these four. These awards are intended to honor an individual, who depending on their role/title is recognized for their contributions in their organization or in the greater community.

Community Collaborators:
Nominees in this category should include those who have a demonstrated partnership of 2 or more organizations to achieve a common goal to address a problem that could not have been solved as effectively by a single organization. Nonprofit organizations, individuals, and other entities whose combined efforts have had a significant impact on our community are eligible. Examples include but are not limited to a for-profit business collaborating with one or more nonprofit organizations on a common goal; two or more organizations collaborating on a single project or goal; or one or more organizations collaborating with an elected official on a specific project or goal.

People’s Choice Live Award
Organizations who have been nominated in the Nonprofit of the Year category are automatically entered to win the People's Choice Award. The winner will be chosen "live" at the event via ballot voting by event attendees. Ballots will be distributed at the door and must be received by 6:15 PM.

Yes, if an organization has a fiscal sponsor, is a chapter member, or works under a "parent organization", that organization must also be listed on the Nomination Form. Example: Susie's Nonprofit, A Chapter of the Susy Q National Nonprofit Org. We also prefer the EIN of the organization who holds the 501(c)3 Determination Award (letter). 

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