CNEMT believes that nonprofits need to respond strategically, embracing creative ways to reach new clients, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and supporters. As agencies continue to serve their current clients through well-established programs, they must also implement plans for new constituents and supporters, including those in different age groups (younger or older), new Middle Tennessee residents, and previously untargeted demographics ("New Generations"). Not only are there new constituents, but also new circumstances and information to convey in an ever-changing environment.

To encourage and reward these efforts, the CNEMT New Generations Award will be given for the effective utilization of specific projects, programs, activities, or campaigns that engage new clients, volunteers, and donors. Any marketing techniques, projects, or campaigns differentiated from a nonprofit's established programs and used to connect with New Generations can be considered. Organizations must clearly describe and quantify how these efforts attract New Generations of constituents, stakeholders, and supporters. Although effective use of social media is one way to focus these efforts, it is not necessary for being an award candidate. Examples of initiatives that warrant potential award consideration include:

- Effectively enhancing the agency's customer base or reaching prospective new clients of the agency's services, particularly those customers or clients of an age or demographic not historically accessed, through new projects, programs, or activities;

- Creating programs, events, or marketing campaigns to increase New Generation involvement with the agency, either through serving new clients or increasing volunteers and donors in this category;

- Developing recognition of the agency or its programs in new pockets of the broader community through social media or focused marketing and outreach campaigns; or

- Furthering the agency's mission using other marketing tools, projects, or campaigns directed at specific New Generations.

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Finalists Awards:

The category winner 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 the New Generations Award:

- Must be an organization that has been a 501(c)(3) entity for at least three years, is a member of CNEMT, and provides significant services to the Middle Tennessee area.

- 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 Winners and Finalists:

Previous winners of this award are not eligible to reapply for three years. (For example, if the agency was a winner 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. Otherwise, your information will not be saved until the application has been fully submitted.

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* Organization

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* Name of Nominated Individual or Program

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* Organization Address

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* Organization's Phone Number

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* Nominator's Name

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* Nominator's Title

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* Nominator's Phone Number

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* Nominator's Email

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* Executive Director's Name

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* Executive Director's Phone Number

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* Executive Director's Email

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* Website Address

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* Year Organization Founded

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* Mission Statement

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* Please attach a high-resolution logo for your organization (PNG and JPEG files are highly preferred) and must be smaller than 16 MB.

PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG file types only.
Choose File

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* Please list how to find social media information for your organization below, if applicable. Example: @CNEMTNashville

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* Describe the program, project, activity, or campaign that you have undertaken to reach New Generations, including its goals and your strategies to accomplish those goals. Include quantitative metrics where possible. (Limit response to 300 words)

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* How have you included New Generations in this effort, either as recipients, advocates, volunteers, and/or the targets of the activity or campaign? Please explain in detail who or what those targeted New Generations actually are. (Limit response to 200 words)

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* What engagement, marketing, and outreach strategies were used to access and recruit your New Generations audiences? Describe the resources needed and utilized to accomplish your New Generations efforts and achieve your campaign goals. (Limit response to 300 words)

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* What has been the timeline and impact of this effort and how has it resulted in services to new Middle Tennesseans, success in increasing New Generations volunteers or donors, and/or enhanced revenues from New Generations your agency? Was this a one-time program or an ongoing initiative? Include specific metrics to quantify results, where possible. (Limit response to 300 words)

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* In applying for the Salute to Excellence Awards, we have carefully read the requirements for submitting the nomination. We 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 winner 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 my be publicized as a part of the Salute to Excellence Awards promotions.

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* I acknowledge my organization is a current CNEMT Member and has an up-to-date Giving Matters profile.

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* I acknowledge my organization may submit only two applications for Salute 2025 & this should be considered one of those submissions.

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