Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award is an annual national competition that recognizes nonprofit organizations in the United States that have demonstrated exceptional leadership through collaborative partnerships. These partnerships bring together public, private, or social sector leaders working as equal partners to build cohesive communities and advance the greater good. Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has honored 268 partnerships across various cities and towns in America. Mutual of America Foundation is committed to making a direct and positive impact on society, aligning with the goals of the nonprofit community it supports. The award program is designed to highlight partnerships that address significant social issues with innovative approaches and measurable outcomes. The competition emphasizes partnerships that not only deliver impact but also have the potential to be replicated in other communities, encouraging the spread of successful models across the country. Three awards are presented each year: the Thomas J. Moran Award, the Frances R. Hesselbein Award, and the Social Impact Award. The Thomas J. Moran Award recognizes a partnership that significantly and measurably improves lives and communities and serves as a model for replication. The Frances R. Hesselbein Award honors partnerships that are addressing social challenges in multiple communities or demonstrate strong potential for replication. The Social Impact Award acknowledges a partnership making a positive difference in its community with the capacity to scale its efforts. To apply for the 2025 Community Partnership Award, organizations must submit an application by July 1, 2025. Winners will be announced in December 2025. The application requires general information about the organization and its partners, a written statement detailing the organization's mission and goals, project description, partnership scope, impact and outcomes, partnership duration, and evidence of replicability and innovation. Additionally, applicants are asked to provide their most recent annual report, financial statement, and a comprehensive list of their governing body members. If these documents are unavailable, an explanation must be provided. The evaluation criteria focus on the strength and clarity of the partnership, the duration and sustainability of the collaboration, evidence of impact, the potential for replication, and innovation in addressing social issues. Partnerships must be a minimum of one year old, and all partners should contribute relatively equally to the program's success. Applicants are encouraged to provide data such as testimonials, outcome statistics, and participant numbers to demonstrate impact. For more information, including previous award winners and documentary videos of past national award-winning programs, interested parties can visit the Community Partnership section of mutualofamerica.com. Questions regarding the 2025 Community Partnership Award can be directed to mutualofamericafoundation@mutualofamerica.com.