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Impact Award - 2026 Nomination Form

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated significant and measurable impact in addressing challenges within the employment service sector. The Impact Award aims to celebrate projects or initiatives that have made a quantifiable difference in the lives of individuals, the community, and/or organizations.

Submission Deadline: Friday, August 28, 2026
Please note, nominations are for First Work Members only. Submissions external to the network will not be considered.
Award Criteria:
This award acknowledges an individual who has demonstrated impact and commitment in developing programming through projects or initiatives that set a benchmark for best practices in the sector. Nominations are encouraged in the following areas:
  • Unique Program or Service Response: The nominated project or initiative should represent a distinctive program or service response to a challenge facing clients or the community.
  • Measurable Impact: Demonstrates a measurable impact supported by a clear and evidence-led illustration of the outcomes achieved.
  • Positive Influence: Provides evidence of the initiative's positive influence on individuals, the community, and the organization.
  • Recent Implementation: The program or service response should be a recent initiative, in place for no longer than five years.
  • First Work Membership: Open to First Work Members only. Organizations may nominate their impactful projects. If the nominated project is a result of a partnership, at least the lead organization must be a First Work member.
Nominator and Organization Information
This person will be the first point of contact should the nominee be selected as the winner of this award and would function as the primary contact to help coordinate First Work’s recognition efforts.
1.Provide the following Nominator and Organization information, and ensure it is accurate.(Required.)
2.Nominator's Region(Required.)
Nominee Information
3.Provide the following Nominee information and ensure it is accurate.(Required.)
4.Nominee's Region(Required.)
Nomination Details
Innovation refers to the creation or introduction of a novel concept, process, product, or service that has not been previously implemented or attempted in its current form. It must represent a departure from existing projects or solutions and cannot be merely a modification or iteration of an existing idea. Additionally, true innovation cannot be a reintroduction of a previously existing concept or solution.
5.Name of the Project or Initiative  
6.Start Date of the Project or Initiative. The program or service response should be a recent initiative, in place for no longer than five years. 
7.What challenge or issue within the employment services sector or community was addressed? (2000 words max) 
8.What measurable impact has the project or initiative had on clients, employers, or the community? Please provide specific examples such as physical or written evidence or feedback from clients, partners, or the broader community; positive changes resulting from the project or initiative; how many people were served, etc.: (2000 words max) 
9.What can other service providers or sector partners learn from this initiative that they can apply in their communities? (12000 words max) 
10.If the program or initiative was accomplished through a partnership, please list the partner organizations. (2000 words max) 
11.Based on the definition above, how does this project meet the criteria of innovation? (2000 words max)
12.Additional information: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about this project? (2000 words max)