2027 SAVMA Awards Nominations Are Now Open

The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2027 SAVMA Awards. This annual recognition program celebrates the volunteers, organizations, businesses, public agencies, and Volunteer Engagement Professionals who strengthen communities throughout Southern Arizona.

Every day, volunteers and volunteer engagement leaders create meaningful change. They improve programs, expand services, mobilize community support, and help organizations achieve their missions. The SAVMA Awards shine a spotlight on those contributions and help elevate the profession of volunteer engagement.

If you know an individual or organization making an extraordinary difference, now is the time to nominate them.

Nominate Now

Why the SAVMA Awards Matter

Recognition is more than a certificate or trophy. Recognition helps organizations retain volunteers, inspires others to serve, and highlights effective volunteer engagement practices.

The SAVMA Awards also support one of SAVMA’s core goals: increasing visibility for the volunteer engagement profession. When we celebrate excellence, we demonstrate the value that volunteers and Volunteer Engagement Professionals bring to our communities.

Most importantly, every nomination tells a story. It captures the impact of service and helps ensure that outstanding contributions do not go unnoticed.

Who Should Be Nominated?

The 2027 SAVMA Awards recognize excellence across multiple categories. Consider nominating:

  • Outstanding volunteers
  • Volunteer leaders
  • Volunteer teams
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Public agencies
  • Corporate volunteer programs
  • Volunteer Engagement Professionals
  • Community partners

Many deserving candidates are never recognized simply because nobody submits a nomination. A few hours spent preparing a nomination can create a lasting acknowledgment of someone’s service and impact.

What Makes a Winning Award Nomination?

Strong nominations do more than describe good work. They demonstrate impact.

Successful nominations typically:

  • Directly address the award criteria
  • Include measurable outcomes and results
  • Provide specific examples and stories
  • Highlight leadership, innovation, or community impact
  • Include testimonials or supporting evidence
  • Explain why the nominee stands out from others

Remember, selection committees can only evaluate the information provided in the nomination packet. The strongest submissions clearly connect achievements to the award criteria.

Learn How to Write a Stronger Nomination

To help nominators prepare stronger submissions, SAVMA offers two free resources.

Watch the Training Video

Our training video, Creating Winning Volunteer Nominations, walks participants through the nomination process and shares practical strategies for developing compelling submissions.

Video: https://youtu.be/99JrkUKaeCs?si=xEpiNnzcaXwNkQjP

Read Our Award Writing Guide

Before you begin writing, review our article:

10 Tips to Increase Your Odds of Writing a Winning Volunteer Award Nomination

The article provides practical guidance on:

  • Understanding award criteria
  • Collecting testimonials
  • Using data effectively
  • Writing compelling narratives
  • Avoiding common nomination mistakes

Article:
https://www.savma.org/10-tips-to-increase-your-odds-of-writing-a-winning-volunteer-award-nomination/

Together, these resources can significantly improve the quality of your nomination and increase the likelihood that deserving individuals and organizations receive the recognition they have earned.

Start Your Nomination Early

One of the most common reasons nominations fall short is lack of preparation time.

Starting early allows you to:

  • Gather meaningful data
  • Request testimonials
  • Review award criteria carefully
  • Collect supporting documentation
  • Refine your narrative

A thoughtful nomination often requires multiple contributors and several rounds of review. Giving yourself adequate time can make a significant difference in the final submission.

Help SAVMA Celebrate Excellence in Volunteer Engagement

Volunteers strengthen communities. Volunteer Engagement Professionals create the systems that make volunteer service successful. Together, they improve lives throughout Southern Arizona every day.

The SAVMA Awards recognize those efforts and help elevate the profession of volunteer engagement.

We encourage nonprofit organizations, public agencies, businesses, community leaders, and SAVMA members to identify deserving nominees and submit a nomination for the 2027 SAVMA Awards.

Recognition begins with a nomination.

Ready to Get Started?

Submit a nomination and help us celebrate excellence in volunteer engagement.

Related Resources

  • Creating Winning Volunteer Nominations (Video)
  • 10 Tips to Increase Your Odds of Writing a Winning Volunteer Award Nomination
  • SAVMA Awards Program Information
  • Become a SAVMA Member