If your question is not answered below or you would like clarifications, send an email to info@afpquebec.ca with “Excellence in Philanthropy Awards” in the subject line. Please note that the Committee will answer all emails received by August 20th, inclusive, but cannot guarantee answers to emails received after this date.

Why nominate?

Quebec AFP’s Excellence in Philanthropy Awards seek to celebrate the extraordinary leadership and community involvement  of exceptional individuals, businesses and organizations. Nominating a dedicated volunteer, major donor or exceptional employee allows the philanthropic sector to give them due recognition and to encourage others to get involved.

Who can nominate?

Any non-profit organization registered in Quebec, regardless of whether or not they are an AFP member, can submit a nomination.

Who can be nominated?

The candidate’s profile depends on the award category.

• Award for Outstanding Major Donor: an individual, family or private foundation that contributes to your organization through direct financial support.
• Award for Outstanding Major Corporate Donor: a business that contributes to your organization through direct financial support.
• Award for Outstanding Volunteer in Philanthropy: an individual or family who contributes to your organization through a philanthropic initiative.
• Award for Outstanding Corporate Citizen (fewer than 500 employees): a business with fewer than 500 employees that contributes to your organization through a philanthropic initiative.
• Award for Outstanding Corporate Citizen (500 or more employees): a business with 500 or more employees that contributes to your organization through a philanthropic initiative.
• Award for Outstanding Youth Committed to Philanthropy: a youth or a group of youths under 25 years of age who contribute to your organization through a philanthropic initiative and/or direct financial support.
• Award for Outstanding Innovative Professional in Philanthropy: an individual working within your organization who has demonstrated innovation in philanthropy through a specific initiative.
• Award for Outstanding Career in Philanthropy: an individual working within your organization who has led an exceptional career in the field of philanthropy.

Can someone self-nominate?

No. Only non-profit organizations registered in Quebec can nominate candidates.

How many nominations can we make?

Each organization can submit one nomination per category, for a maximum of eight candidates in total. For organizations with several chapters, each chapter can nominate one candidate per category.

What photo should be included with the nomination?

The photo should serve as a supporting document for the candidate. It can represent a charitable event, the presentation of a donation, volunteering, etc. The photo will be used by the Committee and the Jury. In addition, the photos of the winners will be published with the announcement of the results. You will have the opportunity to validate with the candidate the publication of the photo or to submit another photo of their choice at that time. 

Should we call on the person we are nominating or a member of their team to complete the nomination form?

This is at the discretion of the nominating organization.

What is the selection process?

AFP Quebec’s Prize Nomination Committee first verifies that each nomination respects the program’s eligibility criteria. Nominations that do not respect these criteria are disqualified. Each nomination is then read and evaluated by the members of AFP Quebec’s Prize Nomination Committee based on a pre-established grid. Each of the three (3) candidates for the eight (8) categories is evaluated by each Jury member using the same evaluation grid. The candidate with the best result in each category following the Jury members’ evaluation is the award winner. The Committee and the Jury reserve the right to decide between two candidates who received the same or similar scores. In September, the winners will be announced and invited to the International Philanthropy Day celebrations on November 15, 2022.

What is the evaluation of the nominations based on?

The members of the Committee and Jury seek to determine the exceptional nature of a contribution, as well as the candidate’s impact on the receiving organization. Consequently, the amount of a donation or the scope of the contribution are not the only determining factors in selecting a winner. What we are looking for is the degree to which a contribution was transformative for an organization. We will also privilege candidates who have had a concrete impact in Quebec.

What do the awards consist of?

The awards are prestigious titles, accompanied by an honorary plaque.

Can a candidate win a prize more than once?

An individual, business or foundation can win a prize in the same category only once in five (5) years. For example, a winner of the 2020 Award for Outstanding Volunteer in Philanthropy can be considered again for that particular award in 2025. However, this same person could win an award in another category, for example Award for Outstanding Major Donor, in 2022. Non-profit organizations are asked to verify the list of past winners before making a nomination in order to avoid disqualification.