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2026 Community Impact Award
All applications due by July 10th
The Community Impact Award honors an organization or collaborative effort driving systemic change in health and human services. This award recognizes initiatives that address root causes, influence policy and practice, and engage diverse stakeholders to create long-term, equitable improvements for entire populations.
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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. If you are part of a collective initiative, the backbone organization(s) should be the primary applicant and meet the criteria.
- Applicant's systems change projects must have been active for 12 months or more with documented evidence of progress.
- If applicable, please note a comprehensive list of collaborating partners.
- 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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High quality applications will include:
a. Visual map showing the relationship between multiple parts of the system
b. Logic model that demonstrates how various inputs will bring about desired change
c. Evidence that stakeholders within the system have been convened to surface systemic issues and co-design solutions
d. Strategic plan to define priorities and action steps
e. Demonstrated work across multiple levels of systems change
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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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What community outcomes are you trying to solve (limit response to 1,000 words)?
(Required.)
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What system does your collaboration desire to impact (limit response to 1,000 words)?
(Required.)
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What progress and outcomes have you accomplished (limit response to 1,000 words)?
(Required.)
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Describe how your agency’s initiative(s) have broken down barriers and improved access to care for a population. Please be specific and detailed in your response (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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Describe how your agency’s specific, effective systems change advocacy has been employed and detail how your agency engages its core constituency (target population) in its advocacy efforts (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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List any coalition partners with whom your agency has worked to advocate for policy, institutional, or program changes in order to improve access to care for the vulnerable or underserved. Please briefly describe their role in the coalition (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
If you would like to include a visual map, logic model, or any additional files to support this application, please attach them here:
Choose File
No file chosen
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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
