2027 Prebys Leadership Awards

Anyone can submit a nomination. The nominator should be familiar with the nominee and their work and be able to describe how they meet the selection criteria. We encourage the nominator to have a well-rounded understanding of the leader and their work, and we ask that you disclose your connection to the nominee.

Nominating a leader is a powerful way to honor someone who makes a real difference in their community. Each of the five leaders who are selected for the Award receive a $100,000 grant to accelerate their work, along with public recognition for their leadership and impact. Your nomination could open new doors for them and amplify the change they’re creating. 

Yes; however, the strength of the information provided in a nomination, not the number of submissions, will affect whether the nominee moves on to the next stage. In cases where we receive multiple nominations for the same leader, we may select only one to advance for further consideration. 

The official nomination form asks nominators to provide basic information about themselves and their nominee — including contact and demographic details — and to explain how their nominee meets the selection criteria for the 2027 Prebys Leadership Awards. You’ll also need to include contact information for two references. 

Please note: the nominations questions and character limits provided below pertain to the 2027 Awards and are subject to change for future years.  

The questions and word limits are as follows: 

1. Vision. How does the leader actively advance a clear vision to improve the well-being of San Diegans? (200 words) 
2. Courage. How does the leader demonstrate boldness and commitment to overcoming obstacles? Please provide one or more specific examples. (200 words) 
3. Inspiration. How does this leader inspire others and create pathways to take action? (200 words) 
4. Belonging. How does the leader help people feel like they belong and can shape their own futures? Please provide specific examples. (200 words) 
5. Impact. How has the leader’s work improved the well-being of San Diegans? Please provide concrete examples — such as data, stories, or outcomes — that demonstrate the reach and significance of their impact. (250 words) 
6. Timing. How is the leader’s work relevant and how will it be relevant for years to come? (200 words) 

Yes, we ask for contact information for two references as a part of the nomination. While most references will not be contacted, we may interview the references of a small subset of nominees to better understand the nominee’s leadership and impact. 

References should be people who can speak to the nominee’s work and leadership — such as beneficiaries or clients, board members, volunteers, or community partners. Ideally, these individuals should be able to offer different perspectives — for example, one might be a colleague, partner, or community member, and the other a beneficiary or collaborator. They should be able to speak to the nominee’s qualifications, character, and impact in the San Diego community. 

If we’re unable to reach the listed references, we may contact the nominator to suggest others.

Yes. There is no conflict of interest if a nominee is affiliated with an organization that is a past or current grantee of the Prebys Foundation. We recognize that many impactful leaders work within organizations we support, and we welcome nominations that highlight their individual leadership. The Leadership Awards are designed to celebrate and invest in leaders themselves — regardless of their organization’s grant history. 

Nominations for the 2027 Prebys Leadership Awards will open on June 5, 2026. 

You can submit a nomination by filling out the official online nominations form here. You will need to create a Submittable account to complete the nomination. We recommend that you review the eligibility requirements, the selection criteria, and the nominations questions before you submit a nomination. 

You may wish to draft your answers in a Word document first, then copy them into the official nominations form when you’re ready. 

You can also save your progress at any time by selecting the ​“Save Draft” button at the bottom of the form. Your Submittable log in allows you to return and edit your nomination before submitting it. 

Once you submit your nomination, you’ll receive a confirmation email. 

Completing a nomination might take several hours, depending on the level of detail you provide and on how much information you already have prepared. 

All nominations are carefully reviewed by Prebys Foundation staff and consultants. The nominations most closely aligned with the selection criteria are submitted to an independent selection committee of diverse San Diego leaders. The selection committee reviews nominations materials and identifies 10 – 15 finalists. Foundation staff and consultants take extra steps to learn more about each finalist, including checking their public online presence and calling references to better understand their work and impact. The Selection Committee utilizes findings from the background research and reference phone calls to identify five Award recipients. 

Receiving an Award means being recognized for your leadership and impact — and getting a $100,000 award to support the leader in recognition of their work. The award recipient has full discretion for how to utilize the funds including for personal purposes. Award recipients will be announced in February 2027 and celebrated publicly through the Foundation’s communications and events. 

Recipients may be invited to participate in optional promotional opportunities that highlight their story and impact. From time to time, the Foundation may also call on recipients to share their insights or help advise on future efforts, drawing on their lived experience and expertise. Additionally, events offer a chance to connect you with a cross-section of community and vice versa. 

You can explore past Award recipients and learn more about their incredible work by visiting this page. Each story highlights the impact these leaders are making across San Diego communities. 

Once you submit a nomination, you’ll immediately receive a confirmation email letting you know it’s been received. In late November – early December 2026, the Foundation will follow up with email updates about the status of the process. Award recipients will be announced publicly in February 2027. 

Nominees will only be notified if they are selected as a recipient of the 2027 Prebys Leadership Award. Foundation staff will personally call all Award recipients in mid-November 2026 to share the news. 

Each year, the Prebys Leadership Awards receives approximately 250 nominations. 

If you have questions or need support with the nomination process, feel free to reach out to us. You can contact communications@​prebysfdn.​org and we’ll be happy to help.