ChangeMakers Past Winners

Past Award Winners

AWARD FOR THE ART OF COLLABORATION

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
~ John Ruskin

2019 – Love the Hungry / WaterStep / Supplies Over Seas

2018 – Family & Children’s Place and Volunteers of America Mid-States

2017 – Louisville Ballet

2016 – Doctors & Lawyers for Kids

2015 – Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Kentucky Community & Technical College

2014 – Partnership for a Green City

2013 – Wellspring, Inc. & New Directions Housing Corp.

2012 – New Hope Services, Indiana Bankers Association & The New Washington State Bank

2011 – Coalition for the Homeless, Metropolitan Housing Coalition, and Network Center for Community Change

2010 – Maryhurst and Brooklawn Child & Family Services

2009 – Leadership Louisville Center

2008 – Phoenix Health Center, St. John Center and Society of St. Vincent de Paul

2007 – Bridgepointe Services & Goodwill of Southern Indiana and Southern Indiana Rehabilitation Hospital

2006 – Scott County Partnership

2005 – Gallopalooza, Operation Brightside & Louisville Metro Government

2004 – Family & Children First Child Advocacy Center

2003 – Louisville Asset Building Coalition

2002 – Eviction Prevention Advocates Group

2001 – Brain Injury Association of Kentucky & Kentucky Family Safety Foundation

AWARD FOR THE ART GOVERNANCE

Everyone has the power for greatness – not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.
~ The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2019 – Americana World Community Center

2018 – Second Chances Wildlife Center

2017 – The YMCA of Greater Louisville

2016 – Maryhurst, Inc.

2015 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana

2014 – Actors Theatre of Louisville

2013 – Nativity Academy of St. Boniface

2012 – Adelante Hispanic Achievers, Inc.

2011 – Kentucky Psychological Association

2010 – Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana

2009 – Gilda’s Club of Louisville

2008 – GuardiaCareServices, Inc.

2007 – Brightside, Inc.

2006 – Big Brothers Big Sisters

2005 – River City Housing

2004 – Actors Theatre of Louisville

2003 – Brooklawn Child & Family Services

2002 – Home of the Innocents

2001 – Metro United Way

2001 – Goodwill Industries of Kentucky

AWARD FOR THE ART OF INCLUSION (Formerly ART OF DIVERSITY)

Civilization is the process in which one gradually increases the number of people included in the term “we” or “us” and at the same time decreases those labeled “you” or “them” until that category has no one left in it.
~ Howard Winters

2019 – Community Foundation of Louisville

2018 – Eastern Area Community Ministries

2017 – Interfaith Paths to Peace

2016 – Kentucky Refugee Ministries

2015 – Kentucky Foundation for Women

2014 – New Roots, Inc.

2013 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana

2012 – Peace Education Program, Inc.

2011 – Center for Women and Families

2010 – Volunteers of America of Kentucky

2009 – Family Health Centers, Inc.

2008 – Catholic Charities of Louisville

2007 – Archdiocese of Louisville Office of Multicultural Affairs

2006 – World Affairs Council

2005 – Jewish Family & Vocational Services

2004 – Center for Women and Families

2003 – Juneteenth Legacy Theatre

2002 – Kentuckiana Minority Suppliers Development Council (KMSDC)

2001 – Americana Community Center

AWARD FOR THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

The great leaders are like the best conductors – they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.
~ Blaine Lee

2019 – Christen Boone, President & CEO, Fund for the Arts

2018 – Rod Napier, Director, Programs & Facilities, Cabbage Patch Settlement House

2017 – Dr. Anthony Zipple, President & CEO, Centerstone Kentucky

2016 – Marta Maria Miranda, President & Chief Empowerment Officer, Center for Women & Families

2015 – Randy Coe, President, Kosair Charities

2014 – Jane Burns, President & CEO, Volunteers of America KY

2013 – Cathe Dykstra, President & CEO, Family Scholar House

2012 – Allen Montgomery, President & CEO, Supplies Over Seas

2011 – Jennifer Bielstein, Managing Director, Actors Theatre of Louisville

2010 – Craig Buthod, Executive Director, Louisville Free Public Library

2009 – Ramona Johnson, President & CEO, Bridgehaven, Inc.

2008 – Gordon Brown, President & CEO, Home of the Innocents

2007 – Kathy Beam, Head of School, Meredith-Dunn School

2006 – Roland R. Blahnik, President & CEO, Goodwill Industries

2005 – Edgardo Mansilla, Executive Director, Americana Community Center

2004 – Denise Watts-Wilson, Executive Director, LIGHT Center for Family Enrichment

2003 – Joseph Gliessner, Executive Director, New Directions Housing Corporation

2002 – Lynnie Meyer, President & CEO, Center for Women and Families

2001 – J. Barry Baker, Executive Director, TARC

AWARD FOR THE ART OF SOCIAL INNOVATION

Just as energy is the basis of life itself, and ideas the source of innovation, so is innovation the vital spark of all human change, improvement, and progress.
~ Professor Theodore Levitt

2019 – Hope Southern Indiana

2018 – Water With Blessings

2017 – Kentucky Yoga Initiative

2016 – Beaded Treasures Project

2015 – The Food Literacy Project

2014 – The Coalition for the Homeless

2013 – Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program

2012 – Rx: Housing 100K Homes/Louisville

2011 – Wayside Christian Mission

AWARD FOR THE ART OF VISION

Be the change you want to see in the world.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

2019 – Kosair Charities^® Face It^® Movement

2018 – Smoketown Family Wellness Center

2017 – Waterfront Botanical Gardens

2016 – The Louisville Orchestra

2015 – Kentucky Shakespeare

2014 – WHAS Crusade for Children and I.D.E.A.S. 40203

2013 – Educational Justice

2012 – Dreams With Wings, Inc.

2011 – The Council on Developmental Disabilities

2010 – EDGE Outreach

2009 – Hand in Hand Ministries

2008 – Fund for the Arts

2007 – Teach Kentucky

2007 – Women 4 Women

2006 – The Healing Place

2005 – Habitat for Humanity

2004 – Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana

2003 – Youth Build Louisville

2002 – Henry Heuser Hearing Institute

2001 – Louisville Science Center

THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
~ Robert Byrne

2019 – Bruce Maza, C. E. and S. Foundation, Inc.

2018 – Judy Freundlich Tiell, Jewish Family & Career Services

2017 – Benjamin K. Richmond, Louisville Urban League

2016 – Gordon Brown, Home of the Innocents
2016 – Joe Tolan, Metro United Way

2015 – Greg Fischer, Mayor, Metro Louisville

2014 – Barbara Sexton Smith, Fund for the Arts

2014 – Daniel P. Fox, Family & Children’s Place

2013 – Joan & Lee Thomas, The J & L Foundation

2012 – Christina Lee “Christy” & Owsley Brown II

2011 – David Grave, Brooklawn Child & Family Services

2011 – Christine Johnson, Leadership Louisville Center

2010 – Howard Bracco, Ph.D., Seven Counties Services

2009 – Charlotte S. Tharp, Norton Healthcare

2008 – C. Dennis Riggs, Community Foundation of Louisville

2006 – Alexander “Sandy” Speer, Actors Theatre of Louisville

2005 – James N. Davis, The Gheens Foundation

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We all profit when nonprofits thrive.

Current Blog Post

Advice for Handling Financial Uncertainity

By CNPE Staff • February 21, 2025

Dear Friends, With continued changes in government funding, the financial outlook for nonprofits feels more stressful than ever. But there are steps we can take right now to help insulate our organizations from the severity of what may come. In the spirit of "preparing for a rainy day" now is the time to take practical steps to identify and manage financial vulnerabilities in our organizations. From business and banking perspectives, here are a few items and actions to consider: Information is power. Now is a good time to assess your business model for more efficiency, resilience, and adaptability. Scrutinize your budget – trim non-essential costs and consider delaying investment in discretionary items. Cash is king - know your cash position and how long can you operate if funding stops. Manage payables carefully and take advantage of the full time your organization has to pay expenses. Talk with your banker – discuss ways to improve cash flow and ask about a potential line of credit for that rainy day. Have your bank provide a wellness checkup – how do they view your organization’s financial health? In general, don't be afraid to ask for help in times of financial strain. Your accounting firm, associations, and peers are helpful resources too - you are not alone. Plan for possible cuts. Nobody wants to think about this, but the reality of the moment calls for it. Staffing is typically the largest category of expense, so the hard question to wrestle with is how would we trim staffing expenses if needed without impacting our mission. Running a non-profit organization is stressful work. Throw in the uncertainty of our current environment and the task becomes even harder. Call upon trusted partners to help you see through the haze of uncertainty and take actions now that will extend your financial runway. There are additional considerations related to grants, contracts, funders, and social capital. The following resources can help you strategize and manage the financial needs of your organization during these times of uncertainty: 12 Urgent Financial Action Steps for Nonprofits: A 2025 Checklist How do Nonprofits Manage Cash Deficits? The Essentials of Cash Management for Nonprofits Small Business Resource Center | Pinnacle Financial Partners CNPE is partnering with Pinnacle Bank for our next Power Hour that will focus on bringing nonprofits more helpful advice about banking solutions and managing financial uncertainty. The event will provide opportunities for Q&A and networking with peers to help find answers you may be looking for. The date and time in March for Power Hour will be announced soon. We are available to connect with you to help where we can. With gratitude and admiration for everything you do to serve our community,

We all profit when nonprofits thrive.