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2026 Leadership Award
All applications due by July 10th
The Leadership Award honors a nonprofit organization that has demonstrated exceptional resilience by successfully navigating significant fiscal or operational challenges. Through strong leadership and strategic decision-making, the organization has achieved a meaningful turnaround—emerging stronger, more stable, and better positioned to advance its mission and serve the community.
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Finalists Awards:
The category recipient will receive $5,000, which will be gifted to the organization.
$1,000 will be presented to each of the two finalists. This amount will be gifted to the organization.
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Requirements for this Award:
- Must be an organization that has been a 501(c)(3) for at least three years, is a member of CNEMT as of May 27, 2026, and have an active and current profile with GivingMatters.
- Organizations should have their mailing address listed in Middle Tennessee and provide significant services to residents of Middle Tennessee.
- Local chapters of national organizations are eligible to apply, provided they are locally managed, have financial information available on a local basis, and the program highlighted in the application had or has direct impact on the Middle Tennessee area.
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Previous Recipients and Finalists:
Previous recipients of this award are not eligible to reapply for three years. (For example, if the agency was a recipient in 2022, the agency is eligible to re-apply in 2026.)
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Please note: This application is a step-by-step process and requires you to pull together much information. You will want to set aside at least 30 minutes to complete it.
Information will not be saved until the application has been fully submitted.
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Nominator Information
(Required.)
Nominator Organization Name
Nominator First Name
Nominator Last Name
Title
Email
Phone Number
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Name of Nominee Organization
(Required.)
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Nominee Organization Information
(Required.)
Street
City
State
Zip Code
Phone Number
Website Address
Giving Matters Site Address
Year Organization Founded
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Nominee Organization Mission Statement
(Required.)
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Nominee Organization Executive Director Information
(Required.)
First Name
Last Name
Phone Number
Email
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Please attach a high-resolution logo for the nominee organization (PNG and JPEG files are highly preferred, must be smaller than 16 MB).
(Required.)
Choose File
No file chosen
Nominee Organization Social Media Handles (example: @CNEMTNashville)
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
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Please write a description of the Nominee Organization's turnaround including specific references and dates, before and after situations, as well as information about how the issue(s) was resolved (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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Include a description of how the turnaround has enabled the org to achieve its mission, and the success it's currently having in serving the community (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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In applying for the Salute to Excellence Awards, I have carefully read the requirements for submitting the nomination. I understand that: 1) This entry will be reviewed by the award panelists to ensure all requirements are met, 2) A panel of independent judges will evaluate entries and choose the finalists and a recipient, 3) We may be asked to provide additional information and may be visited by representatives of the judging panel (via Zoom), 4) Any submissions and attachments become the property of CNEMT and may be publicized as a part of the Salute to Excellence Awards promotions.
(Required.)
Yes
No
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I acknowledge the nominee organization is a current CNEMT Member as of May 27, 2026, and has an active and current Giving Matters profile.
(Required.)
Yes
No
