● Public Interest Registry opens applications for sixth annual .ORG Impact Awards – a global awards program that honors outstanding mission-driven organizations and individuals working to make the world a better place
● Winners eligible for prize donations up to $50,000 USD
● All 35 finalists will be invited to in-person Washington D.C. awards ceremony
A Gen Z founder lighting up communities across Africa, an American food waste delivery app, and a village-based Malaysian workshop educating indigenous engineers. These changemakers hail from all across the world and serve very different communities, but they all have one thing in common: they are all former winners of the .ORG Impact Awards.
For the past five years, Public Interest Registry (PIR), the nonprofit that runs the .ORG domain, has hosted the global annual awards program that honors and celebrates outstanding mission-driven organizations and individuals working to make the world a better place. And applications for the 2024 awards are now officially open for submissions through June 19, 2024. To nominate an organization or individual for a .ORG Impact Award, visit orgimpactawards.org.
The awards are eligible to anyone associated with a .ORG website – no matter how big or small the organization. All .ORG Impact Award finalists and winners are eligible to receive a monetary donation of up to $50,000 USD and a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the awards ceremony and network with top policy experts and mission-driven leaders from around the world. But all 35 finalists get to take home so much more than just a donation – they’ll leave with a life-changing network of the .ORG Community of changemakers.
“What I believed would have been a simple one-off award event night has beautifully evolved into an ecosystem of supportive changemakers,” said May Wang, the co-founder of Linens n Love and a 2023 .ORG Impact Award Finalist. “Following the event, I had the privilege of staying connected to fellow finalists and event sponsors who continued to support our nonprofit through generous donations and advising. One incredible element of the awards is that it brings together diverse organizations from all around the world, which rapidly accelerated our own networks to international levels. We are so grateful and privileged to have been a part of this experience!”
And May isn’t alone. Stanley Anigbogu, the 2023 .ORG Impact Award Rising Star Winner and CEO of LightEd, a nonprofit working to end energy poverty in Africa by building renewable energy solutions from waste materials, shares a similar sentiment.
“Winning the .ORG Impact Award as the Rising Star Winner in 2023 significantly boosted our efforts at LightEd,” said Anigbogu. “The recognition and financial support from the award enabled us to provide sustainable energy access to over 600 individuals, acquire new tools and materials essential for expanding our operations, and enhance our credibility within the global sustainability community. This has contributed significantly to our growth and strengthened our capacity to make a meaningful impact.”
The awards program has recognized more than 190 individuals and organizations across 70 countries, and has granted a total of $505,000 USD to honor the work of changemakers from every corner of the world. .ORG Impact Awards winners are united by their success in connecting communities, transforming lives, and achieving their missions through the power of the Internet.
Nominations are invited in seven categories: 1) Health and Healing, 2) Quality Education for All, 3) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 4) Environmental Stewardship, 5) Hunger and Poverty, 6) Community Building, and 7) Rising Star. Additionally, the winners in each category will be eligible to win the 2024 .ORG of the Year award. Organizations may apply for multiple categories of awards if more than one category is a good fit.
“We started the .ORG Impact Awards to uplift and celebrate those within the .ORG Community that work tirelessly to create positive change. From Kenya, to the United Kingdom to the United States and beyond – the .ORGs we celebrate come from all over the world, but they are all dedicated to making a positive impact on their communities,” said Jon Nevett, CEO of Public Interest Registry. “If you are, or know, a changemaker committed to mission-driven work, we encourage you to submit a nomination to be recognized for their impact.”
The entries will be evaluated by a judging panel of leaders in the Internet, nonprofit and marketing sectors. The top five entries in each category will be named as finalists on August 13, 2024, and will be eligible to be named the 2024 .ORG of the Year. Winners will be officially announced at an in-person, invitation-only event in Washington, D.C. on October 8, 2024. Don’t miss your opportunity to apply!
