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Event Details
Event Date
December 9, 2026
Time
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location
DoubleTree by Hilton Bell Tower, Fort Myers, FL
Why This Year Is Different
Extraordinary dedication, compassion, and innovation
Ten years ago, the ENPY Awards set out to do one thing: put a spotlight on the individuals doing exceptional work across Southwest Florida's charitable sector — often without the recognition that work deserves. A decade later, hundreds of honorees later, we're marking the occasion the way it deserves to be marked: with our biggest ENPY Awards yet.
Seats Are Limited — Reserve Yours Today
Celebrate this year's honorees alongside the nonprofit leaders, board members, and community champions who make Southwest Florida stronger. Bring your team, sponsor a table, or reserve individual seats for the region's premier nonprofit recognition event.
Nominate Someone
Know a Nonprofit Leader Who Deserves Recognition?
Every year, the ENPY Awards celebrate the individuals and organizations quietly driving Southwest Florida's nonprofit sector forward — from executive leaders and program directors to volunteers and rising stars. If you know someone whose work deserves the spotlight, nominate them today.
Nominations for the 2026 ENPY Awards Are Open
Recognize the dedication behind the mission. Nominate a colleague, partner, volunteer, or leader in any of our 12 award categories. Nominations are free and take just minutes. Submit your nomination by October 9, 2026.
01
Dennis Gingerich Faith in Action Award
Recognizing a church or ministry leader whose faith-driven leadership makes a meaningful impact through service, outreach, and community support.
02
Lifetime Achievement Award
This is the capstone. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a career of nonprofit leadership — sustained impact and the deliberate work of developing the next generation of leaders behind it.
03
Volunteer Leadership Award
Leadership matters more than hours. This award honors a volunteer who takes on a genuine leadership role and drives meaningful results.
04
Small but Mighty
Leadership Award
Making the most of limited resources, this award honors a leader who achieves exceptional impact with a small staff or budget through resourcefulness and innovation.
05
Emerging Leader Award
Recognizing a rising nonprofit professional—typically under 35 or with fewer than five years in leadership—whose early impact and potential make them one to watch.
06
Partnership Builder Award
Honoring a nonprofit leader who builds significant, lasting cross-sector partnerships that create scalable, meaningful value.
07
Nonprofit Program Director of the Year
Honoring the leader closest to the mission, whose program design and service delivery achieve measurable results and meaningful community impact.
08
Marketing & Communications Trailblazer
Recognizing a marketing, PR, or communications leader whose strategic storytelling and campaigns have measurably increased their organization’s visibility, reach, and engagement.
09
Development & Fundraising Excellence Award
The region’s top fundraising professional, judged on results against goals and the creativity and effectiveness of the strategy behind them—not the events themselves.
10
Finance Leadership Award
Honoring a senior finance leader whose sound financial management provides the stability needed for an organization to grow.
11
Vice President of Operations / COO Excellence Award
Honoring an operations leader who strengthens, modernizes, and streamlines the systems that keep an organization running—HR, IT, compliance, logistics, facilities, and more.
12
CEO / Executive Director of the Year
Recognizing a nonprofit CEO or Executive Director for one exceptional, measurable leadership achievement over the past 12–18 months—whether a turnaround, growth milestone, or crisis successfully managed. This award celebrates the year they just had, not their lifetime career.