2022 nominations now open

Nominate a donor, volunteer group, business, fundraising professional, or innovative project for a philanthropy award! 2022 nominations are open now for our 4th Annual Philanthropic Achievement Awards which will be held in November 2022. Questions? Contact our office at 541-753-1603 or Info@bcfgives.org.

Nominations are now open in the following categories:

2022 sponsorships now available

A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available for the 4th Annual Philanthropic Achievement Awards. Questions? Contact our office at 541-753-1603 or contact Lisa@bcfgives.org.

2022 Sponsorship Opportunities

Categories and recipients

Congratulations to Liv Gifford from the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation! Liv is the 2021 Outstanding Fundraising Professional, which recognizes a local development professional who has pursued ambitious ideas and successfully inspired and engaged others in philanthropy.
2020 Recipient: Jessica McDonald, Greenbelt Land Trust
2019 Recipient: Kate Caldwell, Old Mill Center for Children & Families
Congratulations to Suraj Kulkarni, the 2021 Outstanding Emerging Philanthropist! This category recognizes an individual or group that has improved the community and increased opportunities for others through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteerism, and/or philanthropic leadership. Individuals age 30 or younger are eligible.
2020 Recipient: Kappa Alpha Theta
2019 Recipient: Raider Royalty Students at Crescent Valley High School
Congratulations to Ken and Paula Krane, the 2021 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers! This category recognizes a volunteer who motivates others to give, commits time and energy without compensation, and shows talent for fundraising strategy, relationship building, and successful resource development.
2020 Recipient: Alice Rampton
2019 Recipients: Ann Smart and Ken Johnson
Congratulations to Safe Place, the 2021 Outstanding Innovative Project or Program, accepted by Rev. Jen Butler. This category recognizes exceptional innovation and creativity in a recent charitable project. Innovation may be in terms of design, public involvement, and/or overall impact.
2020 Recipient: The Power of 100 People Who Care
2019 Recipient: Benton Habitat for Humanity Home Repair Initiative
Congratulations to the Old Mill Center Auction Committee, our 2021 Outstanding Volunteer Group. This award - accepted by Cheryl Narver, George Cuniff, and Jan Zajicek - recognizes a collective volunteer effort that has proven effective in moving community programs and projects forward.
2020 Recipient: Assistance League of Corvallis
2019 Recipients: Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and Benton County Museum team leaders
Congratulations to Citizens Bank, the 2021 Outstanding Philanthropic Business, accepted by President and CEO George Zimmerman. This award recognizes a community-minded business that, through its foundation, grant-making and/or employee involvement, commits significant resources to assist local organizations in meeting community needs.
2020 Recipient: Starker Forests, Inc.
2019 Recipient: Samaritan Health Services
Congratulations to Rosalie and the late Peter Johnson, recipients of the 2021 BCF Board of Directors’ Award for Outstanding Philanthropic Achievement. This award recognizes an exceptional individual or family whose philanthropic leadership has made significant positive impact on the community.
2020 Recipient: John and Shirley Byrne
2019 Recipient: Clifford and Jo Anne Trow

2021 Philanthropic Achievement Awards

Thank you to everyone who joined the Benton Community Foundation to honor our 2021 Philanthropic Achievement Awards recipients! We’re extremely grateful to the recipients, nominators, sponsors, friends and family who helped us celebrate the spirit of giving back. Thank you!

If you missed the 2021 event, you can still catch the broadcast on YouTube.

The Gazette-Times’s coverage of the awards event is available here.

About the awards

The Benton Community Foundation’s Philanthropic Achievement Awards brings together nonprofit leaders, business leaders, and community members to recognize outstanding achievements in philanthropy in Benton County.

The event showcases the hard work of our talented, generous community, and celebrates the people and organizations that volunteer, donate, and inspire others to create a bright future for families and children.

Working with local artists

In 2019, BCF began partnering with The Arts Center to create the physical awards presented to recipients of the Philanthropic Achievement Awards. Each year, The Arts Center distributes a call to artists soliciting submissions of a three-dimensional sculpture representing the spirit of philanthropy, and a winning design is chosen by BCF.

“I chose a theme of a sheltering tree,” said Dr. Jerri Bartholomew, the artist who created the 2021 award. “I did that because trees mean different things to different people but I think to everyone they’re a sheltering image. We think of root systems. We think of our ancestors. We think of building community.”

National Philanthropy Day

November 15th was first recognized as National Philanthropy Day by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Since then, charitable organizations across the United States and throughout the world have designated November 15th as a day to honor their neighbors’ investment of time, talent, and financial resources.

The Benton Community Foundation is excited to bring this celebration to Benton County. We know donors and volunteers don’t give back in order to be recognized, but we think it’s important to highlight the outstanding contributions being made every day to our communities. We are grateful for our generous neighbors, and we look forward to honoring what you do.

2021 Event Sponsors

Mission Sponsors

Community Sponsors

Ilene Kleinsorge

Tammy Bray