Catalyst Now Awards 2026: Nominations open
Nominations for the fifth edition of the Catalyst Now Awards 2026 are now open
The collaboration between social innovators and donors remains limited, posing a barrier to systemic change. That’s why, since 2021, the Catalyst Now Awards have celebrated corporate foundations, philanthropists, institutional donors, family enterprises, and governments who have chosen to walk alongside social innovators to drive systemic change.
In this fifth edition, and after a year in which the social sector has been under financial pressure, we will gather in December 2026 at Canada House, London, to recognize those allies who continue forging this partnership, highlighting best practices and reshaping how social impact is funded, across three categories:
- Leader in Trust: for those supporting evolving paths to system change & preparing for long-term engagement, lifting funders relinquishing control through multi-year unrestricted funding.
- Leader in Partnership: for those who work in true partnership, lifting funders who acknowledge and work against power dynamics, are relational over transactional, listen to what systems change leaders need, and provide targeted financial and non-financial support in an effort to co-create the desired impact approach and appropriate funding structure.
- Leader in Field Building: for those who invest in strengthening the ecosystem for systems change by building collective capacity and enabling conditions for social entrepreneurs to thrive.
Eligibility is based on two levels of criteria: general criteria shared across all categories and specific criteria for each category. Both were built from the collective experience of Catalyst Now members, and it reports Embracing Complexity and An Investigation into Financing Transformation.
The road to London begins with nominations, open from July 1 to 31, 2026, and this year, not only Catalyst Now members can nominate, but anyone outside the organization can submit their donor. From there, the 2026 Awards Committee, made up of Catalyst Now members, carries the process forward until an independent jury, with no affiliation to the organization, selects the finalists and winners.
Know a donor driving systemic change forward? Nominate them now!
Would you like to nominate a jury? Write to us at: [email protected]
