All nominations are due by 5pm on August 31, 2026.

This award recognizes a business or grantmaking organization in the Greater Louisville / Southern Indiana community with a proven record of exceptional generosity who, through direct financial support, demonstrates outstanding civic and charitable responsibility to our community, and whose generosity encourages others to take on philanthropic leadership roles on local, national, and international levels. This year, a winner will be selected in two different categories based off of the nominating non-profit's operating budget size: Small/Medium Non-Profit (under $10 million) & Large Non-Profit (over $10 million). 

Past Recipients
Brown-Forman Corporation (1989), James Graham Brown Foundation (1990), WHAS Crusade for Children (1991), GE Appliance Employees (1993), The Gheens Foundation (1994), The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (1995), Paul Ogle Foundation (1998), Younger Women's Club of Louisville Charities Group and Gordon Foundation (both 2000), Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (2001), Kosair Charities (2002), The Norton Foundation (2007), Yum! Brands (2009), Humana Foundation (2011), Brown-Forman Corporation (2012), Lift a Life Foundation (2013), UPS (2014), Horseshoe Foundation (2015), Irvin F. & Alice S. Etscorn Charitable Foundation (2016), Sam Swope Family Foundation (2017), Northwestern Mutual (2018), Churchill Downs (2019), Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence (2021), Kroger (2022), HealthTrackRX (2023 - Small Non-Profit), Ramage Company (2023 - Large Non-Profit), Delta Dental of Kentucky Foundation (2024- Small Non-Profit), Legacy Foundation of Kentuckiana (2024- Large Non-Profit), Kosair for Kids (2025-Small Non-Profit), Humana (2025-Large Non-Profit).

Eligibility and Expectations
- Philanthropist of the Year Award – Organization recipients from 2015 to 2025 are not eligible for nomination in 2026.
- The recipient is expected to be present to accept award.
- Organizations may submit a maximum of three award nominations for National Philanthropy Day. For these purposes "organizaton" is defined by EIN number. Any nominations submitted after the limit of three will be disqualified. AFP and the National Philanthropy Day will disqualify applications based on date and time the nomination was submitted.

Nomination Tips
- Nominations are sent to other AFP Chapters for blind judging so be sure to keep that in mind when explaining your nominee's impact
- All nominations are scored using a judging matrix. Please see below:

Rate nominee according to level of accomplishment (1 - 5). 
1 - Fails to meet expectations
2 - Somewhat meets expectations
3 - Meets expectations
4 - Exceeds expectations
5 - Exceeds expectations exceptionally

 

Criteria	1	2	3	4	5
Demonstrated volunteer history between nominee and nominating organization
Demonstrated impact of the nominee's contributions to nominating organization
Summary or list of affiliations and philanthropic activities with all organizations
Demonstrated impact of the nominee's fundraising activities on nominator's organization
Other achievements, awards and publications
TOTAL
GRAND TOTAL

 

All nominees will be announced but winners will not be disclosed until National Philanthropy Day. The National Philanthropy Day nominations committee reserves the right to decline to choose a winner.

In order to submit this nomination, please click the SUBMIT button below.  Once submitted, you will not be able to make changes. Thank you for your submission.