The Be More Awards honors and applauds our community volunteers' outstanding
but often unrecognized efforts. If you know a volunteer serving organizations in Bloomington or Monroe County, consider nominating them for a Be More Award.
Each Be More Award recipient will receive a $1,000 cash award provided by the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County for the recipient's nonprofit organization, in honor of their outstanding service. All organizations must have a 501(c)3 tax-exempt status (or school or government equivalent exempt status) - no exceptions.
Here is the 2026 Be More Awards Nomination Form
The 2026 Be More Award categories:
- Be More Bloomington
Presented to an individual or group demonstrating excellence in addressing the issues of 2024, such as housing/homelessness, immigration, and food insecurity issues. - Be More Creative
Honors volunteer work within the arts community. - Be More Dedicated
Presented to an individual or couple over the age of 60 for their lifetime of service. - Be More Energized
Honors an individual or group under the age of 25. - Be More Engaged
Honors an individual or a group employed at a business or organization who engages in volunteer activities and programs on behalf of their employer. - Be More Impactful
Honors the volunteer or volunteer group of the year. - Be More Involved
Presented to an individual who has volunteered for at least three non-profit organizations for a year or longer. The recipient will select which of the non-profit organizations they serve will receive the cash award.
- Be More Phenomenal
Presented for outstanding leadership through board, commission, or committee involvement.
Nomination Eligibility Criteria
- Nominees must volunteer with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or a school or government entity with equivalent exempt status. All cash awards are issued to qualifying nonprofit organizations; individuals do not receive monetary awards.
- Both individuals and groups are eligible in applicable categories, but nominees may not receive awards in consecutive years.
- Nominees may be renominated in future years if they remain actively volunteering.
- Each nonprofit organization may submit up to three (3) nominations, with no more than one cash award per organization. There is no limit on nominations from unaffiliated individuals.
- Volunteers whose service was completed entirely for course or service-learning credit are not eligible; volunteers who receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses remain eligible.
- Nonprofit staff, community members, and relatives or friends of volunteers may submit nominations. Volunteers may not nominate themselves as individuals but may nominate a group of which they are a member.
- The City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department (including its affiliated commissions and program divisions), the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, United Way of Monroe County, and any entities employing selection committee judges and their immediate family members are not eligible to to be nominated. No selection committee judge may nominate someone for a Be More Award, nor may they be nominated, as this constitutes a conflict of interest. Employees of these organizations, if they are not on the selection committee, are still eligible to submit a nomination provided the person they are nominating serves an organization or group not affiliated with their employer.
- Nominee organizations must serve the broader community. Organizations that serve only their own members (e.g., religious, fraternal, or professional groups) are not eligible.
- If a volunteer is nominated for service with multiple organizations, the cash award may be split at the discretion of the judges.
Ready to submit a nomination? Use this for to nominate someone for the 2026 Be More Awards.
A Community Collaboration
The Be More Awards have been made possible in partnership with City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, IU Credit Union, United Way of South Central Indiana, and WTIU Public Television.
