.Org Impact Awards: 35 Finalists Named and Donation Prizes Guaranteed
Each finalist is guaranteed a donation prize in this year’s contest.
Public Interest Registry, the steward of the .org domain, has announced the 35 finalists for the annual .Org Impact Awards. From a pool of 4,200 submissions, the organization selected five finalists in each award category to recognize nonprofit and mission-driven efforts that create measurable social good.
The awards highlight work across seven focus areas that reflect common nonprofit goals and global challenges. The categories for this year’s awards are:
- Community Building
- Quality Education for All
- Environmental Stewardship
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Health and Healing
- Hunger and Poverty
- Rising Star
Every organization that advances to the finalist stage will receive a guaranteed donation of $2,500. Category winners will be awarded $10,000 each, and one standout organization will receive the top prize of $50,000. These awards are designed to provide both recognition and meaningful financial support to organizations making an impact in their communities.
The winners will be revealed during an awards ceremony on October 6 in Washington, D.C. The event brings together finalists, nonprofit leaders, and supporters to celebrate achievements and to spotlight innovative solutions to pressing social issues.
Hosting the ceremony this year is Emmy-winning television host Karamo Brown, who is widely known simply as Karamo. His involvement underscores the event’s focus on storytelling, community empowerment, and civic engagement.
Selection for the finals involved a competitive review process that narrowed thousands of nominations down to a curated group of thirty-five. Finalists were chosen for their demonstrated effectiveness, scalable approaches, and clear community benefits. The awards aim to elevate organizations that combine passion with measurable outcomes and to encourage best practices across the nonprofit sector.
For many nonprofits, recognition through the .Org Impact Awards not only brings a financial boost but also raises visibility, helps attract new supporters, and creates opportunities to share successful models with a wider audience. The structure of guaranteed finalist donations and tiered prize amounts ensures that multiple organizations benefit, while the grand prize helps accelerate the work of one organization with exceptional promise.
The seven award categories reflect a broad view of social impact, from improving access to education and healthcare to promoting environmental responsibility and combating hunger and poverty. The Rising Star category highlights emerging organizations that show strong potential for growth and expanded impact in the near term.
Public Interest Registry’s annual awards are part of a wider effort to support the nonprofit ecosystem and to recognize how digital identity and online presence via .org domains can amplify mission-driven work. The finalists represent a range of missions and geographies, united by measurable outcomes and community-focused solutions.
Winners will be announced at the October 6 ceremony in Washington, D.C., where finalists will be honored and the $50,000 top prize will be awarded. The event promises to be an opportunity to celebrate nonprofit innovation and to inspire continued investment in community-centered work.