Apply Now for Social Current’s 2026 Innovative Impact Award

Social Current is seeking competitive submissions for its 2026 Innovative Impact Award. Too often great ideas are kept in-house without recognizing their potential to create change beyond the communities where they were born. Social Current’s Innovative Impact Award identifies, documents, and celebrates examples of successful management and service delivery strategies adopted by our network organizations.

The Innovative Impact Award spotlights the efforts of Social Current network organizations—their staff, board, volunteers, and partners—who innovate for good to create lasting change with families and communities.

We invite you to share your effective strategies and serve as a resource for community-based organizations, leaders, researchers, and advocates across the full spectrum of human and social services.

Applications should be submitted online by March 3. Submissions must include a synopsis of your innovative strategy and case study narrative that addresses the evaluation criteria.

Learn More About Past Winners

• 2024: Children & Families First Delaware, which was recognized for its Brain Science Training Institute. Read their guest article, The Business of Healing: How Trauma-Informed Care Revolutionizes Organizational Strategy.
• 2025: LifeWorks, which was recognized for its Travis County Transformation Project. Listen to their interview on their youth pre-arrest diversion program.

Winner Benefits

The 2026 Innovative Impact Award winner will receive national visibility and promotion from both Social Current and participating national associations. The winner will also receive the following benefits:

• Showcase on Social Current’s website, newsletter, and social media platforms
• A 60-minute webinar to share your innovative strategy
• A virtual interview promoting your strategy
• Special award promotion toolkit including image assets, quotes, and sample language to develop your communications and use on your website
• Award plaque

Submission Guidelines

Use our online submission form to submit a synopsis (2,500 character maximum) and case study narrative (five page maximum) about your innovative strategy by March 3, 2026. Your case study narrative should introduce the innovative strategy and how it has contributed toward positive service delivery outcomes and organizational success. In writing your case study narrative, note the award evaluation criteria and consider addressing the following:

• Describe your target population
• Describe your work and the strategy or approaches that make it innovative
• What evidence or results demonstrate its positive impact

When filling out the form, you’ll need to indicate:

• Your organization’s name
• The primary contact for the award submission
• The name of your innovative strategy

Evaluation Criteria

Planning and Presentation (20%)

• Well-written, succinct, and logical presentation of the goals
• Well-designed plan for approach and implementation of the innovative strategy
• Strategy addresses an important problem or issue
• Effective use of all resources in the implementation of the innovative strategy

Performance and Quality Improvement (30%)

• The goals of the improvement activity show measurable results, as documented in program, client, or other positive organizational outcomes
• Statistical data and/or conclusions drawn from qualitative and/or quantitative data are sound and support positive outcomes over a sustained period
• Risk factors or other obstacles associated with the strategy have been identified, and a plan for mitigating them has been developed
• Results can be replicated, and innovative practices can be implemented and integrated into existing systems at other organizations

Innovation (50%)

• Descriptive evidence that the applicant supports creative activities that lead to innovation
• Demonstration that the strategy being highlighted is new and forward thinking as evidenced by a creative, novel, inventive, or original improvement in an area(s) that ultimately provides measurable benefit (i.e., increases in service quality, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, learning, collaboration, timeliness, etc.) to the organization, its workforce, and/or the population targeted for service
• There is reach, depth, and impact of the innovative strategy:
  • On the community, government regulations and/or initiatives, and/or the human services field, in general
  • In addressing an urgent, relevant, or complex need
  • In expanding traditional organizational boundaries

Eligibility Terms and Conditions

Primary applicant must:

• Be currently COA-accredited, undergoing COA Accreditation (in-process) with no major vital occurrences on file, and/or an Impact Partner
• Submit a complete and thorough application form and case study narrative according to the submission guidelines
  • Previously published case studies may be submitted if the applicant has received permission from the award committee for republication; this permission must be documented on the application form
  • Case studies that were submitted for Social Current’s Innovative Impact Award in previous years may only be resubmitted when the associated strategy and/or outcomes have significantly changed
• Agree they have read and understand the following conflict of interest statements:
  • Award applications do not confer, impart, or guarantee positively or negatively on any current or future accreditation decision
  • Applications representing more than one organization need to have the consent of all applicable parties
  • Organizational applicants that permit research with service recipients are in accordance with applicable legal requirements
• Agree that, if selected as award winner, Social Current can promote and distribute the case study narrative in its entirety and recognize the organization and authors in any related marketing promotions

Social Current reserves the right to consider public and organizational record information pertaining to any applicant for the Innovative Impact Award.

Note: Social Current will not accept submissions that are designed to endorse, market, or sell commercial products and/or services.

Apply online by March 3. Contact Social Current with questions.