There are eight award categories, with a total of ten awards in 2024, including:

  • Outstanding Leader*
  • Outstanding Emerging Leader*
  • Outstanding Leadership in Talent Growth
  • Outstanding Education Provider
  • Outstanding Scholar
  • Outstanding Leadership in Wellbeing Governance
  • Outstanding Service to Sector Governance
  • Outstanding Leadership in Philanthropy

*There will be two awards in these categories for leaders currently working with organisations and/or organisations with annual revenue of over $3 million, and under $3 million.

Category descriptions

Outstanding Leader

Over $3 million category Supported by The NonProfit Alliance and Orchard Talent Group as 2024 For-Purpose Leadership Awards Presenting Partner

An individual with a minimum of ten years in a leadership role and who reports to the CEO or board. They have demonstrated outstanding leadership for their organisation and are recognised by their achievements through personal leadership, initiative and innovation. They will have a reputation for integrity, positive values and be well-regarded by their peers. They have either led system change and/or strengthened the organisational capacity of their organisation. Please note: Leadership experience does not need to have been gained simply in your current role or organisation however your current CEO or board will need to verify your entry.

Criteria to be addressed:

a) Demonstrated impact on your organisation through personal leadership. Possible examples:

  • Encouraging and enabling co-workers to solve problems that directly impact what they do
  • Embrace diversity and inclusion
  • Proactively asking for and sharing knowledge with others.

b) Has encouraged talent growth, by recognising those with high potential and has helped to promote them and grow their skills in order for them to succeed.
c) Led innovation and system change. Possible examples:

  • Implemented system changes necessary to fulfil the organisation’s mission
  • Encouraged different parts of the organisation to work together to make improvements
  • Developed deep and effective relationships with the community it serves.

Applicants must address the above criteria in their statement (up to an 500-word limit), and have their application verified by their CEO or Board. Applicants can include up to two testimonials on letterhead, no longer than one page each and up to three items of supporting material.

There will be two awards in this category for leaders currently working with organisations and/or organisations with annual revenue of over $3 million, and under $3 million.

Outstanding Emerging Leader

Over $3million Supported by Meritos and Under $3million Supported by Bright Agency as 2024 For-Purpose Leadership Awards Partner.

An individual with a minimum of five years experience in a leadership role who has demonstrated outstanding achievement for their organisation and is recognised through personal leadership, initiative and innovation. They will have a reputation for integrity, positive values and are well-regarded by their peers. Please note: Leadership experience does not need to have been gained simply in your current role or organisation however your current CEO or board will need to verify your entry.

Criteria to be addressed:

a) Demonstrated impact for your organisation through personal leadership. Possible examples:

  • Encouraging and enabling co-workers to solve problems that directly impact what they do
  • Embrace diversity and inclusion
  • Proactively asking for and sharing knowledge with others
  • Capacity to collaborate within the organisation and/or with external stakeholders.

Applicants must address the above criteria in their statement (up to an 500-word limit) and have their application verified by their direct manager or CEO. Applicants can include up to two testimonials on letterhead, no longer than one page each and up to three items of supporting material.

There will be two awards in this category for leaders currently working with organisations and/or organisations with annual revenue of over $3 million, and under $3 million.

Outstanding Leadership in Talent Growth

An organisation, a learning and development leader or team, who has demonstrated best practice leadership, having an employee focus, such as the professional development of staff, retention and attraction.

Criteria to be addressed:

a) You have established strong relationships with people, curated the right resources and experiences for your teams, and above all else, articulated a learning strategy matching your company’s needs.
b) Demonstrated innovative strategies to attract and retain staff.

Applicants must address the above criteria in their statement (500-word limit) and have their application verified by their CEO or Board. Applicants can include up to two testimonials on letterhead, no longer than one page each and up to three items of supporting material.

Outstanding Education Provider

An education provider who has demonstrated the impact and relevance of their programs for promoting outstanding professional development opportunities in the not-for-profit sector, including providing scholarships for the ongoing professional development of the sector and/or enhanced scholarship opportunities.

Criteria to be addressed:

a) Relevance of course content
b) Number of places provided
c) Value of places provided.

Applicants must address the above criteria in their statement (500-word limit). Applicants can include up to three items of supporting material. Entrants for the Outstanding Education Provider Award can be an education institution or a private/for profit organisation.

Outstanding Scholar

Supported by Australian Scholarships Foundation as 2024 For-Purpose Leadership Awards 

An Australian Scholarships Foundation (ASF) alumni scholar who has made a significant contribution to their organisations following studies undertaken as part of their scholarship. Entrants should reflect on the goals and potential impact they highlighted in their original scholarship application and detail what they have achieved against those goals and what the real-life impact has been.

Criteria to be addressed:

a) Reference back to their original scholarship application, how has the scholar taken the learnings from their scholarship program and introduced them to their organisation and team. For example:

  • Scholar has actively driven the introduction of changes within the organisation, in line with the focus of their studies
  • Scholar has shared the learnings with their colleagues or peers in the NFP sector, to increase capability throughout the organisation and sector more broadly.

b) Tangible impact has been made on the organisation and the individual as a result of the scholarship and the scholar’s dedication to implementing the learnings. For example:

  • Management, peers and direct reports have noted an improvement in the scholars quality of work and performance
  • The program has contributed to and improved the scholars career progression plans
  • Outstanding contribution.

Applicants must address the above criteria in their statement (500-word limit), and have their application verified by their direct manager, CEO or Board. Applicants can include up to two testimonials on letterhead, no longer than one page each and up to three items of supporting material.

Outstanding Leadership in Wellbeing Governance

Supported by Benefolk Foundation as 2024 For-Purpose Leadership Awards Partner

An organisation that has demonstrated exceptional leadership in governing for strong wellbeing outcomes. The organisation has a reputation with staff and among sector peers, for prioritising the mental health and resilience of their employees and/or volunteers.

Criteria to be addressed:
a) Demonstrated and tangible commitment towards providing a psychologically safe workplace
Possible examples:

  • Developed, or has in place an organisation-wide Wellbeing Strategy
  • Proactively invests resources in supporting the prevention of burnout, exhaustion, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and frontline trauma
  • Within their workplace, seeks to proactively address the cultural and systemic conditions and barriers that can lead to poor mental health outcomes for social sector professionals.

b) Demonstrated commitment at the Board or Committee of Management level towards wellbeing stewardship and best practice. Possible examples:

  • Board Sub Committee or Steering Group for Wellbeing Governance
  • Wellbeing goals for their organisation have been established and monitored by the Board
  • Board has undertaken mental health and/or wellbeing professional development.

c) Demonstrated commitment towards monitoring the mental health and wellbeing of the organisation’s employees and/or volunteers. Possible examples:

  • Conducts an Annual Survey to track and understand internal and external impacts on their employees and/or volunteers
  • Proactively consults with internal Wellbeing Committee representative/s to understand and manage risks
  • Takes action to address feedback and involve employees and/or volunteers in solutions

Important note: The focus of the award and demonstrated commitments is the organisation towards its own employees and/or volunteers, not its end beneficiaries/users.

Applications must address the above criteria in their statement (up to an 500-word limit) with tangible evidence. The applicant will have their application verified by the CEO. Applicants must include two testimonials or letters of support from a member of their management or leadership team, no longer than one page each. Applicants should also provide a minimum of two items of supporting material or evidence.

Outstanding Service to Sector Governance

Supported by Russell Investments as 2024 For-Purpose Leadership Awards Partner

This award is peer-nominated and self-nominated. Recognising the outstanding and ongoing contribution of a For Purpose Board member. Entrants of this award should be either the Chair, Treasurer or Secretary of their current board and provide details of their achievements in governance matters and demonstrate the leadership which has made them stand apart and deserve this unique recognition, this could be through mentorship, innovative processes in governance or other impactful achievements.

Criteria to be addressed:

a) Contribution to the sector over time – please list past and current board involvement. Only those who have served on a minimum of three boards will be considered.
b) Demonstrated wider community contribution – please provide two examples.
c) Demonstrated achievements in governance matters and leadership.

This award has been designed to recognise the outstanding contribution by an individual to the role of the governance professional in the For Purpose Sector.

Entrants must address the above criteria in their statement (up 500 words), and have their application verified by their current CEO or Board Chair.

Applicants can include up to two testimonials on letterhead, no longer than one page each and up to three items of supporting material.

Important note: Governance experience does not need to have been solely gained on NFP boards, but the examples given should provide an insight into your contribution to the For Purpose Sector.

Outstanding Leadership in Philanthropy

This award category is peer-nominated and self-nominated. Recognising either a Philanthropy Foundation, Trust or an individual grant maker who has contributed to capacity building in the For-Purpose sector. The award focuses on capacity building that enables for-purpose organisations and their leaders to develop competencies and skills that can make them more effective and sustainable, thus increasing the potential for charitable for-purpose organisations to enrich lives and solve society’s most intractable problems. This award category will look favourably on holistic support which may include indirect costs. Nominations for this award may come from the CEO’s, Board Directors or the Philanthropy sector.

Criteria to be addressed:

a) The problem that was addressed and how it was solved.

b) The impact outcomes as a direct result of the funding.

c) The three things that make this a standout nomination.

d) Historical funding where you can demonstrate significant impact will be considered.

e) Nominations will be assessed taking into consideration the varying funding resources available.

Nominations must address the above criteria in their statement (up 500 words), be verified by the CEO and include at least two testimonials from the sector, no longer than one page each and may include up to three items of supporting material.

In entering the For-Purpose Leadership Awards, the entrant acknowledges that Australian Leadership Hub may reproduce, and communicate materials submitted for the purposes of promoting the For-Purpose Leadership Awards, conducting the presentation ceremony, and making finalists’ and winners’ entries available to the public. The entrant agrees that the Australian Leadership Hub can use the material for these purposes. Judges have the right to reject an entry that in their opinion does not comply with the requirements of the competition. The judges’ decision will be final.

Resources for Entrants