
BCF’s Annual
Philanthropic Achievement Awards
Nominations for the 7th Annual Philanthropic Achievement Awards are now open!

The Benton Community Foundation Annual Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism.
The deadline for nominations is Thursday, May 29th @ 10pm.
Awards will be given out in these categories:
Outstanding Nonprofit Professional
The Benton Community Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Outstanding Nonprofit Professional award recognizes an exceptional local nonprofit professional whose bold ideas, passion, and dedication have inspired others to give, collaborate, and create a lasting impact in our community. This award is open to nominees whose leadership and dedication has played a vital role in advancing the mission of nonprofits throughout Benton County and surrounding areas.
- Describe the nominee and their nonprofit work in the community.
- Describe the nominee’s approach to leadership in the nonprofit sector. This can include mentorship, involvement in professional organizations, advocacy, or otherwise.
- What is the most ambitious or impactful project the nominee has been involved in? What were the tangible outcomes of this project?
Outstanding Volunteer
The Benton Community Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Outstanding Volunteer award goes to a volunteer who donates their time, expertise, and energy without compensation and shows significant dedication to advancing the mission of the organizations with whom they choose to partner. This award is open to nominees who have volunteered with organizations throughout Benton County and surrounding areas.
- Describe the nominee and their volunteer work in the community.
- Describe up to three projects the nominee has supported. What were the outcomes of these efforts?
Outstanding Volunteer Group
The Benton Community Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Outstanding Volunteer Group award goes to a group of volunteers who donates their time, expertise, and energy without compensation and shows significant dedication to advancing the mission of the organizations with whom they choose to partner. This award is open to nominees who have volunteered with organizations throughout Benton County and surrounding areas.
- Describe the nominees and their volunteer work in the community.
- Describe up to three projects the nominees have supported. What were the outcomes of these efforts?
Outstanding Philanthropic Business
The Benton Community Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Outstanding Philanthropic Business award goes to a community-minded business who donates their time, expertise, and energy without compensation and shows significant dedication to advancing the mission of the organizations with whom they choose to partner. This award is open to nominees who conduct business throughout Benton County and surrounding areas.
- Please describe the nominee and their work to move the needle on issues they care about.
- How has the business changed or improved because of the focus on employee volunteerism, philanthropy, and community involvement?
- How has the business included employee input in decision making related to philanthropy?
Outstanding Project or Program
The Benton Community Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Outstanding Project or Program Award recognizes a dynamic, innovative, or unique project or program working to serve our region. This award is open to nominees who conduct programming throughout Benton County and surrounding areas.
- Please describe the project or program; who was involved and what were the goals?
- How did this project impact the local community?
Outstanding Rising Changemaker
The Benton Community Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Rising Change Maker Award recognizes an individual or group under the age of 30 that has improved the community through dedicated action and exhibit extensive commitment to the missions they care about. This award is open to nominees who have contributed energy, expertise, or funds to projects throughout Benton County and surrounding areas.
- Describe the nominee and their work to move the needle on issues they care about.
- Describe up to three projects the nominee has led or been involved in. What were the outcomes of these efforts?
- Describe how to nominee effectively inspires and motivates others to give back.
Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy
The Benton Community Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Awards celebrate the power of generosity, honoring visionary leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy award recognizes an exceptional individual or family whose philanthropic activities have made a significant positive impact on the community. This award is open to nominees whose leadership and dedication has played a vital role in advancing causes throughout Benton County and surrounding areas.
- Describe the nominee and their philanthropic work in the community. This can include contributions of time, talent, or resources to support the causes they care about.
- What impact does the nominee hope to achieve through their philanthropic efforts?
- Describe how to nominee effectively inspires and motivates others to give back.
Questions? Contact our office at 541-753-1603 or info@bcfgives.org.
Join us at the 7th Annual Awards
Tables of 8 are available for purchase at $1,000. If interested please contact Lisa@bcfgives.org.
Sponsorship Information Packet
A variety of sponsorship opportunities are open and available for the Philanthropic Achievement Awards.
PAA Recipients
Thank you to everyone who joined the Benton Community Foundation to honor our 2024 Philanthropic Achievement Awards recipients! We’re extremely grateful to the recipients, nominators, sponsors, friends and family who helped us celebrate the spirit of giving back. Thank you!
If you missed the 2024 event, you can still catch it on YouTube.
About the awards
The Benton Community Foundation’s Philanthropic Achievement Awards brings together nonprofit leaders, business leaders, and community members to recognize outstanding achievements in philanthropy in Benton County.
The event showcases the hard work of our talented, generous community, and celebrates the people and organizations that volunteer, donate, and inspire others to create a bright future for families and children.

Working with local artists
In 2019, BCF began partnering with The Arts Center to create the physical awards presented to recipients of the Philanthropic Achievement Awards. Each year, The Arts Center distributes a call to artists soliciting submissions of a three-dimensional sculpture representing the spirit of philanthropy, and a winning design is chosen by BCF.





National Philanthropy Day
November 15th was first recognized as National Philanthropy Day by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Since then, charitable organizations across the United States and throughout the world have designated November 15th as a day to honor their neighbors’ investment of time, talent, and financial resources.
The Benton Community Foundation is excited to bring this celebration to Benton County. We know donors and volunteers don’t give back in order to be recognized, but we think it’s important to highlight the outstanding contributions being made every day to our communities. We are grateful for our generous neighbors, and we look forward to honoring what you do.
