Introducting the Vanguard Award

Associations are constantly finding better ways to serve their members, strengthen their communities, and prepare for what comes next. Now, that work has a new spotlight.

We are proud to introduce the Vanguard Award, a new honor recognizing a Midwest associations that turn forward-thinking ideas into meaningful results.

Presented by Novi AMS, with Powering What’s Next support from Bell Bank, the award will elevate bold association work and share those stories so others can learn, grow, and move forward together.

What is Vanguard work?

Vanguard work can take many forms. Strong nominations may demonstrate one or several of these qualities:

• Courageous leadership: Tell us about a difficult decision your association made and stood behind. Examples might include merging or forming a strategic alliance,
• Innovation: Share how your association found a better way to solve a meaningful challenge. This could include launching a new member service, reinventing an established event, creating a sustainable non-dues revenue stream, using technology to improve the member experience, or developing a new approach to engagement.
• Forward-thinking action: Show us how your organization is preparing members and the association for what comes next. Examples include modernizing governance, building a workforce or leadership pipeline, investing in new technology, responding to an emerging industry challenge, or developing the capabilities your members will need in the future.
• Meaningful impact: Share results, outcomes, or meaningful progress. Numbers help, but impact is not always measured in dollars. Your story might include reversing a membership decline, increasing participation, expanding member value, improving financial sustainability, strengthening a community, or helping members navigate significant change.

You may nominate your own association or another association whose work deserves recognition. Organizations may submit more than one nomination.

Why submit?

The Vanguard Award is more than a moment on stage. It is an opportunity to turn your association’s work into a story that can inspire the broader association community.

The winning association will receive recognition at FutureFest, an opportunity to share the decisions and lessons behind its work, regional social media visibility, a case study others can learn from, and continued recognition throughout the year.

Most importantly, your story could help another association find its next bold move.

Key dates and details

• Nominations close: November 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT
• Finalists announced: November 13, 2026
• Winner announced: Live at FutureFest on November 19, 2026
• Nomination fee: $50
• Multiple nominations: Yes

Ready to put meaningful progress in the spotlight?

Submit a Vanguard Award nomination or explore the Vanguard Award.