The 2025 EGA awards nomination process has closed. Please check back in 2026 for next year's awards nomination process.
Donald K. Ross Founders Award
The Donald K. Ross Founders Award honors the tenacity, dedication, commitment, and creativity of an individual EGA member who is innovating for effective philanthropy. It was established in memory of one of EGA’s founders, Donald K. Ross, whose vision and forethought set in motion our association, which is now the largest and oldest within environmental philanthropy. This award honors a member of the EGA philanthropic community whose work supports sustainable democratic institutions, demonstrating an extraordinary civic personality of resilient stamina, motivating skills and relentless focus.
We invite nominations for individuals in the EGA membership who have:
- Created a new organization, project, or philanthropic initiative that resulted in unexpected partnerships between people and/or organizations contributing to impactful wins; and
- Contributed a replicable innovation in philanthropy to enable funders to be more effective.
In addition to nominating leaders you know, EGA also invites you to celebrate your own efforts through self-nominations.
Eligibility
The award honors individuals who are affiliated with EGA member organizations who:
- Have maintained an active membership for at least 2 years; and
- Are current members. If you have questions about your membership status, please reach out to Celia Bottger, EGA's Membership Manager.
EGA Risk Taker Award
This icon represents EGA’s Racial Equity POV
The EGA Risk Taker Award honors the vision, creative power, and boldness of a valued member and member team of the philanthropic community. The award celebrates bold leaders in the philanthropic sector whose leading-edge work on racial equity inspires the future of resourcing for people and planet. Recipients drive the future of environmental grantmaking by example. Guided by our Racial Equity POV, EGA is proud to mark this member achievement.
We invite nominations for environmental grantmakers who have completed groundbreaking work to:
- Direct financial resources to projects that address past and current injustice;
- Bring in diverse perspectives and voices by embracing non-white centered learning and wisdom; and
- Explore/integrate new practices that promote racial equity.
In addition to nominating risk takers you know, EGA also invites you to celebrate your own efforts through self-nominations.
Eligibility
The award is available to environmental grantmakers. *Nominees do not have to be an EGA member to be eligible for this award.
Past Award Recipients
- Read about the 2025 award recipients here.
- Read about the 2024 annual award recipients here.
- Read about the 2023 inaugural award recipients here.