This year, voters and NIA judges chose 25 nonprofits — of all missions, sizes, and locations — to win cash prize donations! Congratulations to everyone! Winners were not required to be members of NIA.
Winners are listed below, or you can view a page with all the photos submitted here opens in a new window.
Best of Show • $1,000 winner
opens in a new windowFolsom Lake Symphony opens in a new window
Folsom, CA • opens in a new windowwww.folsomlakesymphony.com opens in a new window
The Folsom Lake Symphony has a mission to inspire and create community through the power of symphonic music. They serve as the premier orchestra for Folsom and its surrounding communities, as well as the resident orchestra at the Harris Center for the Arts.
With more than 70 dedicated musicians and hard-working volunteers, the symphony presents a wide range of orchestra literature through 10 performances each season, along with a variety of community programs, that include family activities, school performances, senior engagement efforts, and free outdoor concerts.
Standing Ovation (1 of 4) • $500 winner
opens in a new windowCompassion Without Borders opens in a new window
Santa Rosa, CA • www.cwob.org opens in a new window
Compassion Without Borders is a nonprofit that brings brighter futures to animals in need on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. They focus their efforts where the need is the greatest, where animals are the very least likely to be helped due to financial, geographic, and cultural barriers.
The organization’s programs include dog rescue programs in Mexico and California’s Central Valley, along with free veterinary wellness and spay/neuter clinics in underserved communities on both sides of the border.
Standing Ovation (2 of 4) • $500 winner
Children to Love International opens in a new window
Bakersfield, CA • www.childrentolove.org opens in a new window
Children to Love is a nonprofit with a mission focused on providing help and assistance to empower suffering children and families around the world.
Standing Ovation (3 of 4) • $500 winner
paws4people Foundation opens in a new window
Wilmington, NC • paws4people.org opens in a new window
paws4people has a mission to train assistance dogs and place them with people who need them, helping them to maintain their independence and transform their lives.
Over the past 25 years, this nonprofit has developed specialized training designed to offer a unique experience for every client they serve.
With more than 1,600 dogs trained, each one is brought through a highly qualified program that focuses on a holistic approach to working with clients and their families — supporting them in their recovery toward a normal life.
Standing Ovation (4 of 4) • $500 winner
United Strings of Color opens in a new window
Cary, NC • www.unitedstringsofcolor.org opens in a new window
The United Strings of Color was started as a project to address racial disparity in classical music through music education and community engagement. The organization began as a single outreach string quartet uniquely comprised of African American musicians, self-named and created in 2018.
Today, they present educational programs to the public, including their Instrument Zoo Project, which offers an introduction to string instruments. They also host Social Justice Concerts, called Violin Vigils, which give a voice to young people wanting to impact societal change.
Spotlight (1 of 20) • $100 winner
SoléAna Stables opens in a new window
Angleton, TX • soleanastables.org opens in a new window
SoléAna Stables is a nonprofit with a mission to provide therapeutic experiences with horses for members of the military community as well as individuals with disabilities.
Their equine programs include services for active-duty military and veterans who have experienced or witnessed trauma that has negatively impacted their lives to help improve their holistic health and wellness and to gain a sense of purpose through meaningful activity.
For those with disabilities, their programs provide adaptive experiences for those with differing levels of physical and communication ability, helping them confront anxiety and fears while improving their general well-being, self-esteem, and confidence.
Spotlight (2 of 20) • $100 winner
Life Lab opens in a new window
Santa Cruz, CA • www.lifelab.org opens in a new window
Life Lab is a nonprofit that cultivates children’s love of learning, nourishing food, and nature through garden-based education.
Since 1979, Life Lab has provided innovative training and award-winning curriculum, and has equipped tens of thousands of educators nationwide to engage students in vibrant, outdoor garden classrooms.
Spotlight (3 of 20) • $100 winner
Mundelein Tool Library opens in a new window
Mundelein, IL • toollib.org opens in a new window
The Tool Library of Lake County is an all-volunteer, community-based nonprofit tool-lending library. They provide access to high-quality, well-maintained tools to all residents, whatever their socioeconomic status may be, making home repair accessible to everyone.
Additionally, tool sharing also eliminates waste and negative environmental effects of manufacturing and shipping for tools that may only be used by an individual once or twice a year.
Spotlight (4 of 20) • $100 winner
Black Surf Santa Cruz opens in a new window
Black Surf Santa Cruz is a nonprofit with a mission to promote mental, physical, spiritual, and communal healing through surfing, recreation, education, and advocacy.
They accomplish this by intentionally centering and celebrating Black people, Indigenous people, and other communities of color, tearing down barriers that keep our oceans segregated and making Santa Cruz County a more inclusive, accessible, and joyous place for all.
Spotlight (5 of 20) • $100 winner
Empowered by Light opens in a new window
Oakland, CA • www.empoweredbylight.org opens in a new window
Empowered by Light is a nonprofit whose mission is to launch solar energy projects around the world in order to help vulnerable communities avoid using dirty fossil fuels and grow their economies while protecting unique ecosystems, habitats, and species.
With a particular focus on providing solar energy to indigenous peoples living off-grid around the world, allowing them to power their own progress with locally controlled, clean, and renewable energy.
Spotlight (6 of 20) • $100 winner
Tuolumne Spay and Neuter opens in a new window
Sonora, CA • www.tspayneuter.com opens in a new window
Tuolumne Spay and Neuter is committed to facilitating affordable spay-and-neuter services to manage and reduce the feral cat and unhomed pet populations in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.
In addition to facilitating spay-and-neuter services, they also facilitate rabies vaccinations, maintain tracking information on colonies of feral cats, and loan out non-harmful traps to help members of the community capture and bring in feral cats.
Spotlight (7 of 20) • $100 winner
Working Dogs for Conservation opens in a new window
Missoula, MT • wd4c.org opens in a new window
Working Dogs for Conservation is a nonprofit with a mission to train the world’s best conservation detection dogs and put them to work protecting wildlife and wild places.
Their trained dogs assist with ending wildlife crime, anti-poaching efforts, stopping invasive species, monitoring (and protecting) plant and animal species that may be threatened or endangered, and more.
Spotlight (8 of 20) • $100 winner
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary opens in a new window
Dalton, PA • www.indraloka.org opens in a new window
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary is an organization that provides a “heaven on earth” for farm animals that have nowhere else to turn. Their mission is to inform, inspire, advocate, and empower the community — especially children — on how to better care for themselves and the environment while helping farm animals.
Indraloka rescues and provides lifetime care for the most at-risk animals in the world — farm animals facing abuse, neglect, hoarding, and worse. Adoption and rehoming services are also a part of their mission.
Today, Indraloka has saved the lives of thousands of farm animals, and more than 200 animals of 15 different species now call the organization’s nearly 100 acres of land in Dalton, PA, their home.
Spotlight (9 of 20) • $100 winner
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan opens in a new window
St Clair Shores, MI • www.wigs4kids.org opens in a new window
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan is a local, grassroots nonprofit that provides wigs and support services to children, ages 3 to 18, at no charge throughout the state of Michigan. The program assists young people experiencing hair loss as a result of cancer treatment, alopecia, trichotillomania, burns, and other disorders.
Additionally, their Wellness Center & Salon helps the self-esteem of children as they journey through their health challenges by empowering them to look and feel better.
Spotlight (10 of 20) • $100 winner
Western Alliance for Nature (WAN) Conservancy opens in a new window
San Anselmo, CA • www.wanconservancy.org opens in a new window
The WAN Conservancy is a nonprofit that works with state and federal agencies, along with other conservancies and nonprofits, to purchase, restore, and manage critical ecosystems.
Their core mission and conservation strategy are to save the few remaining habitats left to give nature a chance to survive and heal, creating nature preserves and maintaining them to protect the planet’s natural heritage for future generations.
They do not charge overhead or brokerage fees for land acquisitions and conservation projects, and their officers and directors receive no compensation.
Spotlight (11 of 20) • $100 winner
Chicago Refugee Coalition opens in a new window
Chicago, IL • www.chicagorefugee.org opens in a new window
The Chicago Refugee Coalition was established in 2018 with a mission to provide innovative, dignity-centered relief services for refugees in the Chicagoland area.
Their organization is dedicated to compassionate poverty relief and community empowerment, striving to alleviate human suffering in all its forms through research, advocacy, a belief in the goodness of humanity, and its capacity for hospitality.
They aim to provide the highest quality services in the most effective and efficient way possible. Since August 2018, they have been able to distribute over 65,000 meals to the refugee community in Rogers Park.
Spotlight (12 of 20) • $100 winner
FEAST opens in a new window
Los Angeles, CA • feastforall.org opens in a new window
FEAST is dedicated to promoting health and wellness through the power of nutritious food, education, and community support. Their comprehensive programs have reached thousands of individuals, empowering them to make informed choices, improve their health, and build stronger communities.
Through a blend of food education, access to fresh produce, and peer support, FEAST works to combat poor nutrition, unhealthy eating habits, and social isolation, particularly in under-resourced neighborhoods.
Spotlight (13 of 20) • $100 winner
Peppermint Ridge opens in a new window
Corona, CA • peppermintridge.org opens in a new window
Peppermint Ridge’s 65-year (and counting) mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by providing compassionate care, fostering independence, and promoting inclusion within the community.
Their work helps to provide loving homes and empowering support services for adults with IDD can find a sense of belonging, independence, and purpose.
Spotlight (14 of 20) • $100 winner
Cast it Forward opens in a new window
Richfield, OH • castitforwardfishing.com opens in a new window
Cast it Forward is a sport-based nonprofit that provides outdoor and fishing opportunities to kids, veterans, and seniors.
Their activities are centered around a passion for sharing the joy, love, and benefits of fishing and the awe-inspiring outdoors — particularly for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy such experiences.
Spotlight (15 of 20) • $100 winner
Kitsap Humane Society opens in a new window
Silverdale, WA • www.kitsap-humane.org opens in a new window
The Kitsap Humane Society provides spay/neuter services for thousands of animals each year to prevent animal overpopulation, and to reduce the number of future homeless pets.
Sheltering animals since 1908, Kitsap Humane Society works toward a vision of all adoptable pets having loving homes. They accept, shelter, and rehabilitate companion animals in need, provide humane rescue, protection, prevention, adoption, and education services, and more.
Spotlight (16 of 20) • $100 winner
Generation Schools Network opens in a new window
Denver, CO • www.generationschools.org opens in a new window
Generation Schools Network has a mission to increase access to equitable learning experiences by partnering with a diverse network of education stakeholders to ensure all students have the opportunity to thrive.
They work with schools and districts to help them implement innovative and evidence-based strategies to better fulfill their missions in the areas of leadership and improvement, health and wellness, redesign and innovation, and college and career readiness.
Spotlight (17 of 20) • $100 winner
Chelsea Senior Center opens in a new window
Chelsea, MI • chelseaseniors.org opens in a new window
Chelsea Senior Center’s mission is to enhance the quality of life and well-being for seniors and their families in the Chelsea area by serving as a leader in fun, learning, and resources for all seniors throughout the community.
With more than 200 activities and programs offered every month, the organization provides seniors with a safe place to engage their minds, connect with peers, exercise, and get creative.
Spotlight (18 of 20) • $100 winner
Sand Tots Parent Participation Preschool opens in a new window
Redondo Beach, CA • www.sandtots.com opens in a new window
Sand Tots Parent Participation Preschool is a co-op preschool where parents play an integral role in administering the school. From working in the classroom, to committee work or serving on a committee or the board of directors, Sand Tots relies on the participation of its members.
Each child learns by creating an environment that promotes reasoning and helps them realize patterns and relationships that they have intuitively observed. These communication and socialization skills ultimately provide children with the self-confidence and foundation to set the stage for successful “academic” learning in their early school years.
Spotlight (19 of 20) • $100 winner
Great Lakes Astrophotography Society opens in a new window
Westlake, OH • facebook.com/greatlakesastro opens in a new window
The Great Lakes Astrophotography Society is an organization based on a fascination with photography and space. They specialize in hosting events where enthusiasts and the public alike can observe and take dramatic photos of far-off stars, planets, and other celestial phenomena.
Spotlight (20 of 20) • $100 winner
Canal Alliance opens in a new window
San Rafael, CA • www.canalalliance.org opens in a new window
Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants who are challenged by a lack of resources and an unfamiliar environment.
Their programs include immigration legal services, education and career programs, and social services to help Latino immigrants and their families overcome the barriers to success.
Through policy and civic engagement, they work to erase the extreme inequities that exist in the Marin County area by changing the systems and structures that oppress and marginalize the low-income Latino immigrant community.
