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2026 Pinnacle Financial Partners - CEO of the Year Award
All applications due by July 10th
The CEO of the Year Award, sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners, recognizes an outstanding nonprofit executive whose leadership drives organizational excellence and meaningful mission impact. This award honors a CEO who demonstrates strategic vision, effective management, and the ability to inspire teams, stakeholders, and communities to achieve measurable and lasting results.
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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:
- The individual must work for at least three years for a 501(c)(3) organization who is a member of CNEMT as of May 27, 2026, and has an active and current profile with Giving Matters.
- 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 Individual
(Required.)
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Nominee Individual's Organization Information
(Required.)
Street
City
State
Zip Code
Phone Number
Website Address
Giving Matters Site Address
Year Organization Founded
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Nominee Individual's Organization Mission Statement
(Required.)
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Nominee Individual's 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 individual's organization (PNG and JPEG files are highly preferred, must be smaller than 16 MB).
(Required.)
Choose File
No file chosen
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Please attach a high-resolution headshot for the nominee (PNG and JPEG files are highly preferred, must be smaller than 16 MB).
(Required.)
Choose File
No file chosen
Nominee Individual's Organization Social Media Handles (example: @CNEMTNashville)
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
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Share how the individual's leadership has contributed to the organization's mission and success. Give specific examples as applicable (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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Describe the nominee's leadership style. Please include how the individual leads and motivates staff, volunteers, and board members (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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How does the nominee maximize resources? Describe how he or she attracts, develops, and retains high-performing staff and volunteers. Give specific examples as applicable (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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Among the demands of a CEO, how has this person excelled beyond the day-to-day responsibilities? Give specific examples as applicable (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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In light of the considerable challenges, describe the nominee's greatest accomplishment throughout the last few years (limit response to 1,000 words).
(Required.)
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Highlight some of the nominee's greatest career accomplishments (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
