The Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation is given each fall to a nonprofit organization that best demonstrates Druckerʼs definition of innovation: “change that creates a new dimension of performance.” The award has been given annually since 1991 and is accompanied by a first-place prize of $100,000. The program is generously supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation.
Greg Berman, Director of The Center for Court Innovation—the 2009 Drucker Award winner—used a Spider Man comic to tell his organization’s story at a Drucker Institute Innovation Forum. “We may never be the biggest, the strongest or the fastest,” he said, “but we can always be the smartest.”
The 2013 Drucker Award application is now available. Click here to access the application portal.
Application Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Drucker on Innovation reading
- 2013 Application (For reference only. The application must be created and submitted through the online portal to be eligible for the Drucker Award.)
Purpose of the Drucker Award
“In the years ahead, America ‘s nonprofits will become even more important,” Drucker said. “As government retrenches, Americans will look increasingly to the nonprofits to tackle the problems of a fast-changing society. These challenges will demand innovation—in services, and in nonprofit management. The purpose of the annual Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation is to find the innovators, whether small or large; to recognize and celebrate their example; and to inspire others.
Past First-Place Winners
2012 I AM A STAR, American Refugee Committee
2011 Direct Relief International
2010 Safe Families for Children, Lydia Home Association
2009 Center for Court Innovation
2008 KickStart International
2007 Brooklyn Workforce Innovations
2006 United Through Reading
2005 The Landscape Bank, Keep Alachua County Beautiful
2004 Wheel Get There, Minnesota Valley Action Council
2003 River Falls First Responders
2002 Crafts with Conviction, Crayons to Computers
2001 The Eloy Model, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
2000 Peer Educator Training Program, SAGE Project
1999 California Transportation Training Institute, California Emergency Foodlink
1998 Times Square Jobs Training Program, Common Ground Community
1997 Computer Clubhouse, The Computer Museum
1996 Second Family Program, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
1995 ECO-O.K. Banana Project, Rainforest Alliance
1994 Community Schools, Children’s Aid Society
1993 Project Teamwork, Center for Study of Sport in Society
1992 Parish Partnership Transitional Housing Program, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri
1991 Living in Family Environments, Judson Center
