The Givie Awards:
Where innovation meets impact.
The
Givie Awards
The annual Givie Awards celebrate excellence in fundraising, recognizing organizations and fundraisers who go above and beyond to make a difference. Honorees are evaluated on key criteria, such as effective strategy, measurable results, compelling storytelling, impactful statements, and innovative use of fundraising tools. The awards highlight creativity, dedication, and the transformative power of giving, inspiring others in the community to strive for meaningful change.
Check out our
2025 winners!
Game Changing Campaign
The 2025 Givie for Game-Changing Campaign was awarded to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue of North Carolina for their innovative strategies in an exceptional campaign. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Brother Wolf lost its shelter and all physical assets, but thanks to their efforts, all 150 animals in the shelter were safely evacuated. Once their team regained access to power and the internet, they launched a campaign using a Bloomerang giving form and exceeded all expectations, raising over 1.1 million dollars with 5,500+ new donors. To show appreciation for these first-time donors, they also started a volunteer program to make thank-you calls to supporters across the country. With outstanding fundraising efforts, effective use of technology, strong leadership, and relentless dedication, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is making tremendous progress toward rebuilding.
Fundraiser of the Year
The 2025 Fundraiser of the Year was Meghan Walsh, Founder and Board Chair of Roots Ethiopia. This award honors an individual who displays exceptional skill and innovation in the nonprofit sector, living the values of their mission through unwavering dedication. With 14 years of fundraising experience, Meghan exemplifies these qualities, generating awareness for her nonprofit’s mission to improve schools, educate children, and enable livelihoods. By partnering directly with communities, Roots Ethiopia has helped turn local ideas into lasting change. She and her Board of Directors have grown the organization’s recurring donation program, improved donor loyalty, and increased the average lifetime contributions of her donors by nearly 20%.
Heart of Service
The Heart of Service award celebrates the creative use of volunteer acquisition, retention, and stewardship to foster a culture of service in the community and was awarded to Pensacola Habitat for Humanity in 2025. Their inaugural Pride Build attracted 37 volunteers, primarily from the LGBTQIA+ community, many of whom were first-time volunteers with the organization. Partnering with local queer-owned businesses, they raised awareness and secured over $20,000 in sponsorships, while reaching more than 5,000 people through social media and local news coverage. The event featured Pride-themed activities like free gender-affirming haircuts and friendship-bracelet making. Through this campaign, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity demonstrated their commitment to supporting historically marginalized groups and transforming from a traditional construction charity into an active advocate for social justice and equity in housing.
Dynamic Duo
The Dynamic Duo Award for 2025 was presented to the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia, an organization dedicated to life recovery for men, women, and children facing addictions, domestic violence, sexual abuse, poverty, homelessness, and other life challenges. By partnering with fundraising agency BDI, they added new digital payment options and the Express Donate feature to their Bloomerang giving forms, resulting in a 36% year-over-year increase in donations. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, they received over $20,000 in donations via PayPal, Venmo, and ApplePay, with $4,000 coming through Express Donate. Together, the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia and BDI have implemented innovative solutions to help families break the cycle of addiction, violence, and abuse in their community.
Good Neighbor
The 2025 Good Neighbor Givie Award went to Kids Cooking For Life of California, an organization whose creative strategy reflects an unwavering commitment to community betterment. Kids Cooking For Life hosts classes that equip students with essential cooking skills, recipes, and, depending on the type of class, provides them with ingredients and garden-fresh produce to take home. These improved eating habits help eliminate health disparities for families throughout their community, enabling them to prevent and manage various chronic diseases. The nonprofit partners with dozens of local schools, after-school and summer camp programs, libraries, community centers, hospitals, and fellow nonprofits to provide children with recipes and curriculum developed by nutritionists, dieticians, teachers, and parents. Their efforts have led to measurable growth in students’ confidence with preparing basic recipes, identifying healthy foods, and understanding food labels.