At their core, the most important themes in life are universal. Across cultures and continents, parents share the same hopes for their children: lives filled with love, safe communities, access to quality healthcare and education, and opportunities to explore their passions.
The Make It Better Foundation and Better Magazine exist to make it easier for our audience to find, support, and learn from outstanding nonprofits that help make those hopes a reality. Our readers — engaged, philanthropic, and fortunate to raise their families in abundance — are eager to give back.
Through our unique blend of strategic storytelling designed to reach and inspire more people, and vetted nonprofit partnerships, we connect generous audiences with high-impact organizations. The nonprofits we feature consistently see increased donations, sponsors, volunteers, in-kind support, and visibility.
Our Philanthropy Awards are a cornerstone of this mission — and the 2025 cycle is officially underway. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Are the Philanthropy Awards?
The Philanthropy Awards are the Make It Better Foundation’s keystone program — think Academy Awards for nonprofits. Each year, we identify, elevate, and amplify the most effective nonprofits across multiple categories.
What Do Winners Receive?
In 2025, Winning nonprofits will receive an award package valued at over $250,000, including:
- $100,000 in unrestricted cash
- Professionally produced original video content
Runners-Up will receive award packages valued at over $100,000.
All honorees will be celebrated at our Philanthropy Awards Ceremony on Nov. 12, 2025, in honor of National Philanthropy Day (Nov. 15).
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for a 2025 Philanthropy Award, nonprofits must have submitted at least one You Said It article that has been accepted for publication by Better Magazine and/or be an existing Make It Better Foundation grant content partner prior to Aug. 1, 2025. Here are some examples of recently published You Said It pieces.
How Are Winners Selected?
Winners and Runners-Up are selected by an Academy of Judges, which includes:
- Philanthropy experts
- Sponsors
- Make It Better Foundation board members
- Past award recipients
- MIBF nonprofit partners who have received a $25,000 Grant + Content Collaboration Campaign in the past two years
Judging Criteria: A Venture Philanthropy Lens
Judges evaluate nonprofits based on five key areas:
- Effectiveness: Number of people served, outcomes achieved, long-term impact, and efforts to break cycles of dependency
- Efficiency: Collaboration and cost-effectiveness
- Leadership: Board engagement, diversity, mission alignment, and strategic risk-taking
- Scalability: Ability to grow programs and funding independent of government support, and potential to replicate regionally
- Excellence: Commitment to integrity, transparency, and the highest service standards
Why Do the Philanthropy Awards Matter?
The Philanthropy Awards are designed not just to recognize impact — but to amplify it.
Winning organizations gain:
- National visibility
- New donors and sponsors
- Volunteer support
- Stronger long-term momentum
Our mission is to make it easier for generous audiences to discover and support nonprofits that deliver real, lasting impact. The result? Stronger communities and a better world — one story, one organization at a time.
Want Your Nonprofit To Be Considered?
Want To Get Involved?
Interested in supporting the awards as a Sponsor, Judge, or Media Partner? Please contact foundation@makeitbetter.net, Attn: Mindy Fauntleroy, President or Susan B. Noyes, Founder.
Meet past Winners
We are proud to honor the inspiring, innovative nonprofits who have received this award — and the dedicated teams behind them.
Susan B. Noyes is the founder of the Make It Better Foundation, which publishes Better Magazine, writer, philanthropist and civic activist who has founded or served on many boards — including the American Red Cross, Chicago Public Education Fund, Harvard Graduate School Of Education, Joffrey Ballet, Poetry Foundation, Rush Nerobehavioral Center for Children, New Trier High School District, and her beloved Kenilworth Union Church.
