In the universe, a NOVA is a star that suddenly increases in brightness to several times its normal magnitude. The NOVA Awards honor innovation in programming or operational excellence within Boulder County non-profit organizations. Organizations demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit, distinctive resourcefulness, unique approaches to service, and sustainable vision that has resulted in increased or improved services (i.e., transformational work and leadership) in Boulder County are encouraged to apply. The NOVA Awards were established by The Community Foundation in 1997 and are presented annually at The Community Stars, The Community Foundation's annual event.

Award Categories
One NOVA Award is awarded in each of the following categories, reflective of the main funding areas of The Community Foundation: Arts, Education, Environment, Health & Human Services, and Civic Engagement. Partnerships between businesses and non-profit organizations are often innovative collaborations and are welcome to apply in any of the above categories. Non-profit organizations may nominate themselves. No organization may receive an award two consecutive years.

What happens if you win?
One non-profit organization will be chosen, by a committee of Boulder County residents, to receive an award in each of the following categories: Arts, Education, Environment, Health & Human Services, and Civic Engagement. The winning organization will receive a cash award of $1,000 and a beautiful plaque designed by local artist John Haertling. In the case of winning partnerships between a non-profit and a business, each will receive a plaque and the non-profit organization will receive the cash award.

Sharing Innovative Practices
The ideas that come forward via the NOVA Award nomination process are often fantastic. This year we hope to share these ideas with Boulder County non-profit organizations via the COG Blog (www.cultureofgiving.org) so we may all benefit from lessons in the field.

Award Process Timeline

• Nominations for the 2009 awards are due Tuesday, September 30, 2008, at The Community Foundation
• The 2009 Awards will be presented at The Community Stars in September 2009.

Who do I contact with questions?
Gretchen Minekime, Director of Advancement,
303-442-0436 x107

The Community Foundation
1123 Spruce Street
Boulder, CO 80302
Fax: 303-442-1221


Firm Deadline: Tuesday, September 30, 2008.

The 2009 NOVA Awards Nomination Form is available as a Microsoft Word form. You can download this form, fill it in on your computer, and mail it, email it to , or fax it.

Your information goes in the shaded boxes. To move through the form, use the Tab key or position your cursor and click your mouse. The text boxes will expand as you type. Clicking on a checkbox will put an "x" in the box.