Call for Philanthropy Award Nominations
We are currently accepting nominations for our 2025 Philanthropy Awards!
We invite you to review the five award opportunities below and consider nominating an inspiring leader using the linked online form. Nominations are being accepted through June 30. The award recipients will be honored during main stage events at the CMF 53rd Annual Conference in Kalamazoo on October 14-16, a time to build on CMF's collective equity journey with our membership, lifting up leading-edge practices and learning opportunities around centering community voices and lived experiences, trust and relationship building with partners and communities and ways philanthropy can help bridge differences and foster belonging.
To help ensure the nomination process is as accessible as possible, please note that you can save your progress on the nomination form and finish at a later date, and the CMF team is happy to work with you to collect nomination information over the phone or a video chat. We have additionally provided blank copies of the nomination forms so you can preview the form fields.
The Karen Aldridge-Eason Innovations for Equity Philanthropy Award
The Innovations for Equity Award was established in 2023. In 2024 the award was renamed in honor of Karen Aldridge-Eason, the first-ever Foundation Liaison for the Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison, who served in that role for more than 20 years and was an exceptional trailblazer in public/partnerships across the state throughout her tenure and always centered in a commitment to equity. This award honors the work of CMF members engaged in shifting narratives, broadening relationships, addressing power, expanding access and/or opportunity through philanthropic practice, examining policy or people-focused strategies, and other forms of equity-centered philanthropy. This award celebrates the unique and outstanding efforts of Michigan philanthropy to advance equitable outcomes for Michigan. The nominees will have demonstrated significant, bold action to create positive change, remove barriers and address structural inequity within their local context or for the philanthropic field at large. Examples include, but are not limited to innovative public-private partnerships, reimagined grantmaking strategies, exceptional community engagement, leadership in critical policy change, etc. This award celebrates new ways of thinking and innovative action, which may look different based on a foundation’s region, size, mission, stakeholder needs and more. Recognizing that deep and lasting change takes time, this award recognizes effort, not necessarily demonstrated outcomes.
To qualify, the nominee must be a staff member or trustee of a CMF member organization, or a team of people (group/committee) which includes at least one such individual. Implementation of the innovative approach or effort must have started or primarily occurred during the last year (May 2024 – May 2025).
Download a PDF of the nomination form.
Emerging Leader in Philanthropy Award
The Emerging Leader in Philanthropy Award was established in 2021 by CMF and the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) Michigan Chapter. The award honors an emerging practitioner in the field for their demonstrated leadership, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and advocacy for social justice in their work. The award celebrates emerging leaders working in Michigan who have advanced connections in the field and shown support for peers in the emerging leader space. Emerging leaders include individuals from all career pathways, positions and ages with experience levels under 10 years.
To qualify, the nominee must be a staff member, trustee or committee member of a CMF member organization.
Download a PDF of the nomination form.
Dr. Gerald K. Smith Award for Philanthropy
The Dr. Gerald K. Smith Award for Philanthropy was established in 2013 to honor the work and philosophy of Dr. Smith, who was a strong advocate and mentor, a bold and charismatic leader, and a pioneer in the field. Dr. Smith was also one of the original co-chairs of CMF’s Michigan Forum for African Americans in Philanthropy (MFAAP) affinity group. He dedicated his entire career to making the Detroit community better for children and their families. The award honors the legacy and leadership of Dr. Smith, recognizing significant efforts and contributions of individuals in the field whose work and grantmaking activities promote effective and responsive social change in African American communities and who have demonstrated leadership, impact, creativity and collaboration.
To qualify, the nominee must be a staff member, trustee or committee member of a CMF member organization and have at least four years of experience in the field. The current co-chairs of MFAAP are not eligible for this award.
Download a PDF of the nomination form.
Community Philanthropy Award
The Community Philanthropy Award was established by CMF and the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) in 2006 to honor a living individual and/or family for their exceptional service and commitment to supporting community philanthropy in Michigan on behalf of one or more community foundations. This award recognizes generosity of time, talent, treasure, ties and testimony (the 5 Ts of Philanthropy), specifically the individual or family's leadership, impact, creativity and collaboration. Examples of eligible honorees include community foundation volunteers, donors, partners, youth leaders and others who have contributed to the foundation and community philanthropy through partnership, impactful initiatives, special projects, efforts toward movement building, etc.
To qualify, the nominee must be a living individual or family and the nomination must be submitted by staff or a trustee of a community foundation in CMF’s membership. Public officials, foundation staff and CMF trustees are not eligible for nomination.
Download a PDF of the nomination form.
Dr. Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy
The Dr. Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy was established by CMF and the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) in 1995 upon the retirement of Dr. Mawby as chairman and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The late Dr. Mawby was a founder and former chair of both CMF and MNA and led creation of the Michigan Community Service Commission. This award honors an individual or family who have encouraged private action for the public good through philanthropy and demonstrated leadership in championing collaborative solutions for communities.
To qualify, the nominee must be a living individual or family with at least five years of philanthropy experience or active engagement connected to CMF or a CMF member organization. CMF trustees are not eligible for nomination.
Honoring our 2024 award winners
Learn more about the award winners, announced during our Annual Conference in Traverse City on October 7-9, 2024. Watch their award presentations in the YouTube video links below.
award Descriptions and past award winners
