Greater Purpose Awards

The Greater Purpose Awards celebrate outstanding individuals, organisations, and initiatives that are driving social purpose and community impact across Canada. These awards recognise leadership, innovation, and measurable impact, honouring those who are embedding purpose into their strategies and shaping the next generation of business.

More Than an Award - A Movement

This is more than an awards ceremony - it's a milestone moment for Canada's purpose-driven economy. The Greater Purpose Awards bring together trailblazers and changemakers who are redefining success through social purpose.

Award recipients will be recognized on stage at the Greater Purpose Conference in Toronto, gaining national visibility and joining a growing community of leaders who are inspiring others through their work.

Want to see what this community looks like? Learn more about the 2025 Winners here.

Why Apply?

Claim Your Place in a National Movement - The Greater Purpose Awards don't just put you on a stage—they place you inside Canada's defining community for purpose-led business. Being recognised here signals that your leadership is shaping what comes next.
Connect with Your People - Join a national network of purpose-driven professionals and organisations who understand exactly what you're doing and why it matters.
Amplify What You're Already Building - Award recipients gain national visibility through press coverage, social campaigns, and a platform at the Greater Purpose Conference—so the work you're already doing can inspire the next generation of leaders.

2026 Award Categories:

The 2026 program represents a significant expansion - growing from 3 categories to 7 - to more comprehensively reflect the many ways purpose leadership shows up across Canadian business.

Purpose Leader Award
Innovative Impact Partnership Award
Outstanding Social Purpose Company (Small/Medium/Large)
Social Purpose CEO of the Year Award (Small/Medium/Large)
Emerging Purpose Leader (Under 40)
Purpose Reporting Award
Purpose Storytelling Award

Each category is an opportunity to be recognized for your leadership and you may submit an entry in more than one.

Recognition Levels: Each category will recognise one (1) Winner and up to three (3) Finalists. All honourees receive recognition at the Greater Purpose Awards Ceremony on October 28, 2026.

We also encourage applicants, nominees, and CEOs to support the Canadian Purpose Economy Project's Call to Purpose - a growing movement to make social purpose business the norm in Canada.

This is your moment. Apply Today!

Deadline for entries: All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm PST August 14, 2026, through the official online portal.

How to Apply

Submissions are accepted in English and French. If you require an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at info@greaterpurpose.inc.

You can apply for a Greater Purpose award in two ways: submit an application for yourself or your organisation, or nominate someone else whose work you believe deserves recognition. We welcome and encourage nominations from colleagues, peers, partners, and community members.

For Greater Purpose members, entry is free. Non-members may apply for a fee of $249 + HST per award category.

Not a member yet? Learn more about Greater Purpose membership here.

Here’s everything you need to get started.

Step-by-Step Entry Process

1. Register

Click on the "Register" link (top right) and complete the registration form to create your account.

2. Login

Use your email and password to log in to the awards platform.

3. Create Your Entry

Select the award category. You may submit entries in multiple categories; each requires a separate application and a $249 + HST fee for non-members.
Complete the application form with details about your organization or initiative.
Optional: Upload supporting materials (e.g., impact reports, testimonials, case studies, media, or purpose-related content) that illustrate your purpose journey. Acceptable formats include PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, JPG, JPEG, XLS, XLSX, PPT, MP4, JPG, PNG, AVI, MOV, MP4 and link to external webpage or video.

4. Save Your Progress

You can save your entry as DRAFT until all required information is completed.
As sections are finalized, a checkmark will appear in the entry form tab.

5. Submit Your Entry

Once your entry is complete, save and submit it as FINAL.
Please review all information and check that uploaded materials are correct before submitting.

6. Payment (For Non-Members Only)

If you are a Greater Purpose member, your entry is free.
Non-members must pay $249 + HST per award category.
Please note: Each award category requires a separate form and a separate payment. If you are submitting entries for multiple categories, you must complete a new form and make a separate payment for each one.
Once payment is processed successfully, your entry qualifies for judging.

Need Assistance?

For any questions about your entry, please contact us at info@greaterpurpose.inc.

Start your application today!

Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm PST August 14, 2026, through the official online portal.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

2026 Award Categories

Deadline for Entries: All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm PST August 14, 2026, through the official online portal.

Important: All awards recognise work completed by June 1, 2026.

The following categories are open for entry. Each is described in detail below-including who can apply, what judges look for, and the application questions.

Award Criteria

All entries are evaluated by an independent panel of experts based on the following criteria:

Purpose Fit: Clear expression of social purpose
Authenticity: Clarity, originality, and genuine expression of the applicant's own voice and experience.
Impact: Evidence of meaningful impact and measurable results
Influence: Demonstrated innovation, collaboration, or leadership in advancing social purpose and purpose-led business

Recognises an individual who demonstrates exceptional leadership in embedding social purpose across their organisation's core business, and in advancing purpose through collaboration and influence beyond the company.

Who Can Apply?
Leaders driving social purpose across Canada. You can apply for yourself or nominate a colleague or peer whose leadership inspires you.

Judges Look For:

Demonstrated impact in embedding purpose across their organisation's core business, systems and decisions.
Innovation in advancing purpose through strategy, operations, products or partnerships.
Leadership that mobilizes colleagues, partners, stakeholders and community around purpose.
Measurable social and/or environmental outcomes that relate to the organisation's purpose.

Celebrates cross-sector collaborations that demonstrate bold, purpose-driven innovation with lasting impact.

Who Can Apply?
Open to partnerships involving businesses and/or charities with operations in Canada. Charities may only apply under this category. You can apply on behalf of your partnership or nominate a partnership whose collaboration you admire.

Judges Look For:

Multi-stakeholder collaboration and advocacy.
Creative approaches to advancing social or environmental goals.
Measurable and enduring results.
Scalability or replicability of the partnership model.

Celebrates companies that fully integrate social purpose in their core business, integrating it into governance, operations, culture, interest group relationships and reporting, and that advance purpose-led business in Canada.

Who Can Apply?
You can apply on behalf of your company or nominate another organisation whose purpose integration you admire. Open to businesses operating in Canada, categorized by revenue size.

Awards will be presented in each category:

Small: Revenue up to $10M
Medium: Revenue $10M-$100M
Large: Revenue $100M+

Judges Look For:

Evidence that purpose shapes how the company operates — whether through formal governance and strategy or through cultural practices and everyday decision-making — and is reflected across products, services, customer experience, and culture.
Evidence of how social purpose has influenced the organisation's products, services, or operations and where relevant, its business performance.
Measurable social or environmental impact as a result of the purpose.
Impactful social purpose collaborations.
Leadership in advancing purpose-led business in Canada.

Recognises CEOs who champion social purpose from the highest level of leadership, embedding it in strategy, governance, culture, and interest group relationships and serving as a visible spokesperson for purpose-led business.

Who Can Apply?
Open to CEOs of businesses operating in Canada categorized by revenue size. CEOs can apply for themselves or you can nominate a CEO whose leadership inspires your organisation.

Awards will be presented in each category:

Small: Revenue up to $10M
Medium: Revenue $10M-$100M
Large: Revenue $100M+

Judges Look For:

Visionary CEO leadership that mobilizes the organisation, stakeholders and community around its purpose.
Measurable organisational purpose impact driven by CEO leadership and evidence that purpose leadership contributes to business performance and long-term value creation.
Purpose reflected in strategy, decisions, and how the organisation is run through formal or informal means.
Cultural transformation that embeds purpose across the organisation.
Industry leadership or influence in advancing purpose-led business in Canada.

Recognises rising leaders who are helping shape the future of purpose-led business through innovation, leadership and impact.

Who Can Apply?
Young professionals (under 40 as of June 1, 2026) pioneering purpose-led innovation and impact. You can apply for yourself or nominate an emerging leader whose work you believe deserves recognition.

Judges Look For:

Demonstrated impact advancing social purpose within and beyond their organisation, despite early-career stage.
Innovative approaches to purpose integration or purpose impact.
Emerging leadership and strong potential and trajectory as a future purpose leader and influencer.
Ability to mobilize colleagues, partners, stakeholders and community to advance social purpose.
Commitment to advancing purpose-led business over the long term.

Brought to you in partnership with the Canadian Purpose Economy Project, this award recognises excellence in transparently reporting on an organisation’s social purpose, how it is embedded in the organisation, and the progress, performance and impact achieved in advancing it.

Who Can Apply?
Open to businesses operating in Canada (any size, any industry). You can submit your report or nominate another organisation whose reporting you admire.

Judges Look For:

Clear articulation of the organisation’s social purpose and disclosure of board and management oversight and accountability.
Evidence that pursuing purpose contributes to commercial success, including revenues from purpose-aligned products or services.
Meaningful disclosure of purpose integration across strategy, operations and culture, supported by metrics and targets.
Transparency about how partners and value chain stakeholders contribute to advancing the organisation’s purpose.
Honest communication of progress, challenges and learning, demonstrating authenticity and accountability.

Recognises organisations that authentically and compellingly communicate their purpose and impact, inspiring stakeholders and community and advancing the broader purpose movement.

Who Can Apply?
Organisations and individuals who excel at communicating their purpose journey in authentic, compelling, and accessible ways. Submit your story or nominate someone whose storytelling moves you.

Judges Look For:

Authentic storytelling reflecting genuine commitment (not purposewashing).
Creative and engaging approaches that resonate with diverse audiences.
Demonstrated impact of storytelling on interest group engagement or behaviour, evidenced through campaign, viewership, visitor or other metrics.
Strategic use of narrative to advance both organisational and societal goals.
Contribution to shifting public understanding of purpose-led business.

Membership

Join the Greater Purpose Community

Empower your business to lead with purpose. Become part of Canada’s most dynamic and inclusive network of purpose-driven professionals and organisations. As a member, you’ll unlock exclusive benefits, unparalleled networking opportunities, and the recognition your impact deserves.

Why Join Greater Purpose?

At Greater Purpose, we believe purpose is a journey. That’s why our criteria-free membership welcomes businesses and professionals at every stage - whether you’re just starting to integrate purpose into your strategy or leading the way in social impact.

Join a thriving network that fosters collaboration, amplifies visibility, and supports meaningful growth for businesses of all sizes.

Membership Benefits at a Glance

Membership strengthens both the leaders doing the work and the organisations they represent. Members unlock:

National Events & Community - Access to Conferences, Impact Circles, and year-round peer programming that delivers practical frameworks and honest conversations you can apply to your work.
Awards & Recognition - Complimentary entries to the Greater Purpose Awards—a national platform that elevates your organisation’s credibility and influence across Canada’s purpose economy.
Brand Positioning - The Greater Purpose Trustmark, national visibility, and storytelling amplification that signals your commitment to the market and strengthens your positioning among Canada’s purpose-driven leaders.
Peer Learning & Growth - Renewed momentum and resilience through honest peer learning, exclusive content, partner training, and a dedicated Member Success Manager.
Talent & Culture Advantage - Attract purpose-driven professionals and strengthen your culture’s identity as a values-led organisation within Canada’s growing purpose economy.

Ready to elevate your impact and help shape the next generation of business?

Visit our website to explore the full benefits of membership.

Already convinced?

Become a Member Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the awards?

Individuals, partnerships, and businesses operating in Canada who have demonstrated commitment to social purpose. Specific eligibility criteria vary by category. You can apply for yourself or nominate someone else.

Revenue Tiers: Small – up to $10M | Medium – $10M–$100M | Large – $100M+

Can I nominate someone else for an award?

Yes! Nominations are encouraged and welcomed. If you are submitting on behalf of someone else (a colleague, peer, partner, or organisation), you will need to provide detailed information about the nominee and their contributions. The nominator is responsible for completing the application, and the same fee applies as for self-nominations.

Can I apply for multiple categories?

Yes! Each category requires a separate application and separate payment (except for members, for whom all categories are free).

What is the application fee?

Members: Free entry to all award categories
Non-members: $249 + HST per category
The fee is the same whether you're applying for yourself or nominating someone else.

When are winners announced?

Winners and finalists will be notified in September 2026. Winners will be announced on October 28, 2026 at the Greater Purpose Awards Ceremony.

What do winners and finalists receive?

Both winners and finalists receive recognition at the ceremony and a physical award. Winners will also be featured in Greater Purpose promotional campaigns, media coverage, and press releases.

Will the nominee be contacted?

If you are nominating someone else, we recommend speaking with the nominee before submitting to ensure they are comfortable being recognised and to gather the information needed for a strong application. If you prefer not to, we will contact the nominee directly to confirm their interest.

Need more information?

Apply now and be recognized as a leader in social purpose!

Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026

Forgot Password?

Key Dates

Application Open:

June 16, 2026

Application Close:

August 14, 2026

Contact Us

Greater Purpose
261 Davenport Road, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M5R1K3
Phone: (647) 547-1006 x109
Email: info@greaterpurpose.inc