The Bend Magazine presents the inaugural Purpose & Impact Awards. These awards and the corresponding editorial feature honor leaders, companies and nonprofit organizations who actively work to make the world around them better. Please use the form below to nominate a deserving individual or organization. Self-nominations are welcome. You may submit in multiple categories; please submit a separate form for each nomination. If reporting figures, please use FY26 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026). Projected annual averages are accepted.
The Bend will reveal the winners in its February 2027 issue, with a cocktail awards reception later that month.
Nominations: September 22 through October 16.
Categories:
NONPROFIT IMPACT AWARDS:
- Nonprofit Leader of the Year: An exceptional nonprofit CEO, executive director or organizational leader whose vision and leadership have strengthened both their organization and its impact on the community.
- Innovation in Impact: Recognizes a nonprofit introducing new ideas, programs or strategies to better serve its mission, address a community need or improve the way the organization operates.
- Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Honors a nonprofit organization demonstrating exceptional service, meaningful community impact and success in advancing their missions. This category will recognize two winners:
- Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Small: Annual operating budget under $750,000
- Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Large: Annual operating budget of $750,00 or more
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARDS:
- Collaboration of the Year: Recognizes an outstanding partnership between two or more organizations that combined their resources, expertise, or reach to address a community need or create measurable positive impact. Eligible partnerships may include nonprofits, businesses, foundations, schools, government entities and other community organizations.
- Community Investment Award: Recognizes a business that has made an exceptional commitment to supporting the Coastal Bend through financial contributions, sponsorships, volunteerism, in-kind support, board service or other sustained investments in the community.
- Emerging Impact Award: This award honors an individual who, while relatively new to their work in the Coastal Bend, has already demonstrated a meaningful commitment to strengthening the community and shows promise for continued impact.
PURPOSE-LED BUSINESS AWARDS:
- Purpose-Driven Leader of the Year: A business leader who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to purpose-driven leadership, using their position and influence to encourage community involvement, lead by example and make a positive impact as an integral part of their company’s culture.
- Purpose-Led Business of the Year: Honors a company that has made community impact a meaningful part of how it operates, consistently investing its time, resources, people and influence in strengthening the Coastal Bend. This category will recognize two winners:
- Purpose-Led Business of the Year – Small: 1-49 local employees
- Purpose-Led Business of the Year – Large: 50+ local employees
