Salute to Excellence
Why is Salute 2023 being postponed?
Salute to Excellence, the annual celebration of nonprofit excellence in Middle Tennessee, has been postponed until 2024. Our team, board, and event chairs made the difficult decision to delay the awards ceremony while our organization takes dedicated time to assess our services to the community and conclude the search for our future chief executive officer. Stay tuned! We can’t wait to unveil our plans for the 30th Anniversary celebration and highlight the remarkable individuals, funders, and organizations who have been pivotal resources throughout Salute’s history. Contact our Director of Development & Marketing, Kara Duke, for any Salute-related questions.
What is Salute to Excellence?
For 30 years, CNM’s ‘Salute to Excellence’ has been a cornerstone event in Middle Tennessee, celebrating nonprofit leadership, impact, and innovation. Over the years, the event has honored over 600 nonprofit organizations and awarded over $3.5 million to exemplary organizations and their leadership.
As the nation’s largest nonprofit award ceremony, last year’s event featured 34 finalists in 12 award categories of excellence. The finalist organizations comprise large and small nonprofits in diverse service areas supporting communities across Middle Tennessee. Winning organizations will receive cash prizes in amounts collectively totaling more than $250,000 and recognition for their accomplishments in serving the Middle Tennessee community.
When and where will the next Salute to Excellence be held?
Salute to Excellence has been postponed until 2024. We plan to host the 30th-anniversary celebration in October 2024. Stay tuned for future updates!
How do I join as a Salute to Excellence event sponsor?
Local nonprofits bring exceptional grit and resolve to the table, making incredible strides toward social change. We celebrate with great pride and gratitude for their countless achievements throughout this past year. We invite you to join local nonprofit leaders and community influencers by partnering with CNM as a future ‘Salute to Excellence’ event sponsor.
As a CNM partner, your funding will support nonprofit strategic growth, capacity building, and sustain CNM’s strength as the social sector’s hub and thought leader. Connect with our Director of Development & Marketing, Kara Duke, to explore upcoming Salute Event Sponsor Opportunities.
Who judges the Salute Applications and how do they make their decisions?
Each award will have a panel of 5-8 community volunteers reading through the applications. They discuss if the application meets the award description and requirements, then recommend winners and finalists to CNM. For some awards, panelists also visit finalist organizations via virtual or in-person site visits.
