Austin Gives Awards 2025
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Get ready to nominate for the 2025 Austin Gives Awards! The Austin Gives program honors businesses for their commitment to giving back. We recognize companies across the Austin area for their contributions to the local community, including financial donations, the donation of products or services, and volunteer hours. On this page you will find all the information you need to nominate your business for an Austin Gives award.


Nominations have been EXTENDED until Friday, June 6th! Finalists will be recognized at the Austin Gives Awards on Thursday, September 18th.

We highly encourage you to keep your answers on a separate document, in case your submission times out.

  • Companies DO NOT need to be a member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce to apply or win, and there is NO cost to apply. 
  • For-profit companies of any size may submit a nomination in one or more categories and submit information based on our 5-county region consisting of Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastrop. An expert panel of judges will independently judge these categories.
  • Nonprofit organizations and givernment entities are NOT eligible to apply.
  • Identify the number of employees for the 5-county region, as nominations will be grouped by employee size.
  • A company may not nominate in a category if they previously won that category in 2024. 
  • Please answer the questions based on the company’s performance in the 5-county area and stay within the word-count when filling out the nomination form to bring clarity to your mission and value.
  • A logo and group photo or headshot (Volunteer of the Year) is required.

THREE SEPARATE CATEGORIES:  
 

INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR  

 This award recipient is a stellar employee of a generous company who demonstrates exceptional leadership and dedication to address community challenges through dedicated volunteerism while inspiring others to serve.  

  • What is the company’s total number of employees for the 5-County Metro Area?  
  • What is the name of the employee, the department they are in, and how long have they been with the company?  
  • What volunteer activities does the nominee participate in on an ongoing basis?  
  • Provide the top examples for how and why this individual should receive the volunteer of the year awards.  
  • How does the nominee engage and inspire others to volunteer?  

INDIVIDUAL VOUNTEER OF THE YEAR CATEGORIES  

  • Small (1-20 employees)  
  • Medium (21-50 employees)  
  • Large (51-250 employees)  
  • Extra Large (251+ employees)  

  

 EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AWARD   

 A company that promotes volunteerism and community engagement with non-profits through groups projects or by encouraging skilled volunteer efforts.  

  • What is the company’s total number of employees for the 5-County Metro Area?  
  • Describe: the volunteer project, length of the project, resources needed, employees deployed  
  • Highlight why this project was identified and how it maps to the company values?  
  • Describe the measurable impact of your project on the non -profit systems, facilities, its clients and/or the community in which they operate as well as your workforce.  
  • How does your program facilitate a long -term partnership with your workforce and the non-profit?  
  • How do you measure success and celebrate it with the nonprofit you serve?  

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT CATEGORIES  

  • Small (1-20 employees)  
  • Medium (21-50 employees)  
  • Large (51-250 employees)  
  • Extra Large (251+ employees)  
     

GENEROUS BUSINESS AWARD  

A Generous Business winner is a company that creates a fully developed program of giving back through employee engagement, donations of products, services intellectual capital and dollars in support of a non-profit.  

  • What is the company's total number of employees for the 5-County Metro Area?  
  • Describe the elements of your giving program including but not limited to financial gifts, volunteer/employee engagement, in-kind donations (products & services) or loaned expertise.  
  • Describe the impact of your giving including but not limited to non-profit results/outcomes, employee skills, employee attraction & retention and community recognition/awards.  
  • How does your program demonstrate or reflect your innovation, leadership, and good citizenship for your business community?  
  • How does the giving program connect to company values? Please illustrate.   

GENEROUS BUSINESS AWARD CATEGORIES  

  • Charitable Champion (Small, 1-20 employees)  
  • Big Heart (Medium, 21-50 employees)  
  • Bold Giver (Large, 51-250 employees)  
  • Community Leader (X-Large, 251+ employees)  

  

FINALISTS WILL CELEBRATE AT THE AUSTIN GIVES AWARDS ON SEPT 18, 2025:  

If your company is a finalist, who should be contacted for information on attending the awards event: name, phone and email.