Since 1987, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) has been honored to recognize dozens of nonprofit organizations making incredible contributions to Minnesota’s high quality of life. The Minnesota Nonprofit Awards honor these contributions in the areas of Innovation, Nonprofit Advocacy, Anti-Racism Initiative, and Responsive Philanthropy.

• Recognition in front of hundreds of nonprofit peers at the MCN Annual Conference
• A professional video production capturing the organization's work 
• A one-of-a-kind art glass award
• A feature profile of the organization in MCN's Nonprofit News
• A cash award (for all recipients except for Responsive Philanthropy recipient)

2000 Award Recipients

• The Loft Literary Center - Innovation
• Advocating Change Together (ACT) - Advocacy
• Camp Sunrise/YouthCARE - Anti-Racism Initiative
• The Ordean Foundation - Responsive Philanthropy

1999 Award Recipients

• Multicultural Resource Center, Mankato - Innovation
• Legal Services Advocacy Project and Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (tie) - Advocacy
• Community Action Against Racism (CAAR) - Anti-Racism Initiative
• Philanthrofund Foundation - Responsive Philanthropy

1998 Award Recipients

• Damiano of Duluth - Innovation
• Minnesota AIDS Project- Advocacy
• Penumbra Theatre Company - Anti-Racism Initiative
• Children, Families, and Community Initiative and the F.R. Bigelow Foundation - Responsive Philanthropy

1997 Award Recipients

• Resource Center of the Americas - Innovation
• West Side Neighborhood Organization - Advocacy
• Pillsbury Neighborhood Services - Anti-Racism Initiative
• The Grotto Foundation - Responsive Philanthropy

1996 Award Recipients

• Helping Paws - Innovation
• Neighborhood House Association - Advocacy
• Committee Seeking Equal Justice - Anti-Racism Initiative
• Minnesota Council on Foundations - Responsive Philanthropy

1995 Award Recipients

• Minneapolis Urban League - Innovation
• District 202 - Advocacy
• Asian Media Access - Anti-Racism Initiative
• Headwaters Fund - Responsive Philanthropy

1994 Award Recipients

• Brainerd Healthy Community Project - Innovation
• Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action - Advocacy
• Innovative Trainings/Family Service, Inc. - Anti-Racism Initiative
• The Otto Bremer Foundation - Responsive Philanthropy

1993 Award Recipients

• Minnesota Food Bank Network - Innovation
• All Parks Alliance for Change - Advocacy
• Worthington Cultural Diversity Coalition - Anti-Racism Initiative
• Cooperating Fund Drive - Responsive Philanthropy

1992 Award Recipients

• Hearing Dog Program of Minnesota - Innovation
• Women Against Military Madness - Advocacy
• Coalition for Police Accountability - Anti-Racism Initiative
• Northern States Power Company - Responsive Philanthropy

1991 Award Recipients

• Teen Health Center/NW Youth Services - Innovation
• BIHA Women in Action - Advocacy
• Minnesota AIDS Funding Consortium - Responsive Philanthropy

1990 Award Recipients

• Indian Health Board of Minnesota - Innovation
• Food First Coalition - Advocacy
• Minnesota Women’s Fund - Responsive Philanthropy

1989 Award Recipients

• At the Foot of the Mountain Theatre - Innovation
• Anishinabe Akeeng, White Earth - Advocacy
• Headwaters Fund - Responsive Philanthropy

1988 Award Recipients

• American Indian Business Development Corporation - Innovation
• Advocating Change Together - Advocacy
• St. Paul Companies, Inc. Foundation - Responsive Philanthropy

1987 Award Recipients

• JOBS NOW Coalition, St. Paul - Advocacy
• The Otto Bremer Foundation - Responsive Philanthropy