Manhattan Institute Tocqueville Project: Civil Society Awards

The Manhattan Institute's Tocqueville Project celebrates and seeks to advance America’s long tradition of civil society organizations and leaders who, with the help of volunteers and private philanthropy, have come together to help communities address America's most serious social problems. 

The Project offers the Civil Society Awards, which recognize outstanding individuals and their nonprofit organizations who are contributing to a vibrant civil society in communities throughout the country. 

Eligibility is assessed according to the following:

• must be a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) domestic organization in the United States, founded and led by an individual or social entrepreneur;
• organizations provide specific services to an identifiable target group of those in need (for example assisting disadvantaged youth with academics, helping ex-offenders find employment, assisting new immigrants with life adjustments, etc.);
• organizations are based on original ideas by their founders, rather than a response to government request for proposals;
• preference for organizations reliant on private, philanthropic support rather than government funding; and,
• preference for organizations effectively engaging volunteers, including volunteer board of directors.

Nominations will be accepted from new and established organizations, as long as the organization is pursuing a new or innovative approach to addressing a social challenge.

Note: The ten-month Civil Society Fellows Program is available to previous recipients of the Civil Society Awards. 

Click here for more information