2026 NLIHC POLICY FORUM ORGANIZING AWARDS

INSTRUCTIONS

NLIHC is accepting nominations for the 2026 Annual Organizing Awards. These awards recognize two organizations' outstanding achievements in statewide, regional, citywide, neighborhood, or resident organizing over 2025. "Organizations" are any group with a shared purpose, including but not limited to tenant unions, nonprofits, mutual aid groups, grassroots coalitions, student groups, and more. NLIHC will recognize accomplishments that further NLIHC’s mission of achieving racially and socially equitable public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice.

Guidelines:

Consideration will only be given to organizations that conducted organizing around a campaign or issue that furthers NLIHC's mission (above) and not on general achievements.
Special consideration will be given to nominations that incorporate resident/tenant-led organizing and prioritize racial equity.
Nominated organizations must be current NLIHC members. Contact the NLIHC Field Team at membership@nlihc.org to check your membership status, or visit nlihc.org/membership to join.
Organizations may self-nominate.
NLIHC board members and Award Committee members may not nominate an organization with which they are employed or affiliated.
The award selection committee, made up of NLIHC board members and previous awardees, will choose two award recipients for different types of achievement (e.g., one recognizing statewide or regional achievements, and one recognizing citywide or neighborhood achievements).

NLIHC will provide two representatives of each honored organization complimentary Policy Forum registrations and lodging for the 2026 Policy Forum in Washington, DC.

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026

Questions? Email the NLIHC Field Team at outreach@nlihc.org.

Question Title

* 1. ORGANIZATION YOU ARE NOMINATING

Primary Contact First and Last Name

Organization

Organization Address

Organization City

Organization State

Organization Zip Code

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 2. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Your First and Last Name *

Your Organization & Title (if applicable)

City *

State *

Email Address *

Phone Number *

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* 3. WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE GROUP YOU ARE NOMINATING?

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* 4. PLEASE GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION OR THE CAMPAIGN YOU ARE NOMINATING AND THE ORGANIZING ACHIEVEMENTS MADE IN 2025:

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* 5. DESCRIBE HOW THE NOMINEE'S ORGANIZING EFFORTS HAVE FURTHERED NLIHC'S MISSION OF "ACHIEVING RACIALLY AND SOCIALLY EQUITABLE PUBLIC POLICY THAT ENSURES PEOPLE WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES HAVE QUALITY HOMES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE IN COMMUNITIES OF THEIR CHOICE."

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* 6. WHAT IS THE SCALE AND SCOPE OF THE ACHIEVEMENT -- STATEWIDE, REGIONAL, CITYWIDE, NEIGHBORHOOD, RESIDENT ORGANIZING?

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* 7. DESCRIBE HOW THE CAMPAIGN INCORPORATED THE PERSPECTIVES AND ELEVATED THE LEADERSHIP OF PEOPLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY HOUSING INSTABILITY/HOMELESSNESS.

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* 8. APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE ACHIEVEMENT? APPROXIMATELY WHAT PORTION OF THOSE IMPACTED WOULD BE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME RENTERS?

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* 9. WHAT OBSTACLES (OPPOSITIONAL, POLITICAL, FUNDING, RELATIONAL, ETC.) DID THE NOMINATED CAMPAIGN OR ORGANIZATION FACE IN PURSUING ITS GOALS?

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* 10. WAS THE CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL? HOW WAS SUCCESS MEASURED?

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* 11. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (optional)
You may use the text box below to further describe the organizing in action or its impact and provide links to any supporting materials such as media coverage, campaign materials, or other documentation. Separate documents of supporting materials may also be uploaded under "supporting materials" below.

Question Title

* 12. SUPPORTING MATERIALS (optional)
Please upload supporting materials for your nomination here. Materials should further describe the organizing in action or its impact and can include media coverage, campaign materials, or other documentation.
Note: Only one document can be uploaded per space provided.

Question Title

* 13. SUPPORTING MATERIALS (optional)
Please upload supporting materials for your nomination here. Materials should further describe the organizing in action or its impact and can include media coverage, campaign materials, or other documentation.
Note: Only one document can be uploaded per space provided.

Question Title

* 14. SUPPORTING MATERIALS (optional)
Please upload supporting materials for your nomination here. Materials should further describe the organizing in action or its impact and can include media coverage, campaign materials, or other documentation.
Note: Only one document can be uploaded per space provided.

Question Title

* 15. SUPPORTING MATERIALS (optional)
Please upload supporting materials for your nomination here. Materials should further describe the organizing in action or its impact and can include media coverage, campaign materials, or other documentation.
Note: Only one document can be uploaded per space provided.

Question Title

* 16. SUPPORTING MATERIALS (optional)
Please upload supporting materials for your nomination here. Materials should further describe the organizing in action or its impact and can include media coverage, campaign materials, or other documentation.
Note: Only one document can be uploaded per space provided.