Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize 2027: Global Call for Nominations for One of the World’s Largest Humanitarian Awards

The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize is one of the most prestigious international humanitarian awards recognizing organizations that have made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering.

Established by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Prize celebrates nonprofit organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in addressing global humanitarian challenges.

Each year, hundreds of organizations from around the world are nominated for this prestigious award. After a rigorous selection process conducted by an independent international jury, one organization is selected as the laureate.

The Prize is widely recognized as one of the world’s largest humanitarian awards for nonprofit organizations, honoring those that have created meaningful and lasting impact in communities across the globe.

Organizations addressing issues such as poverty, health, disaster response, education, displacement, food insecurity, and social inequality are encouraged to be nominated.

About the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize

The Hilton Humanitarian Prize recognizes nonprofit organizations that demonstrate:

• Exceptional contributions to reducing human suffering

• Strong track records of impactful humanitarian work

• Innovative and sustainable program approaches

• Effective partnerships and collaborations

• Organizational strength and accountability

The Prize highlights organizations that not only address urgent humanitarian needs but also create sustainable solutions that transform lives.

Each year, more than 300 organizations worldwide are nominated, reflecting the global reach and prestige of the award.

Why the Hilton Humanitarian Prize Matters

The Hilton Humanitarian Prize is more than recognition. It elevates the visibility of organizations that are making meaningful contributions to humanity.

Receiving the Prize can:

• Amplify global awareness of the organization’s mission

• Strengthen credibility and partnerships

• Increase funding opportunities

• Expand humanitarian impact worldwide

Through this prestigious recognition, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation continues to highlight organizations that are leading the fight against human suffering and driving sustainable change around the world.

Current Nomination Cycle

Nominations are accepted year-round, but the nomination date determines which Prize cycle the organization will be considered for.

Current nomination timeline:

2027 Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Submission period: May 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026

Deadline: April 30, 2026

Organizations nominated within this timeframe will be considered for the 2027 Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

Who Can Be Nominated

The Hilton Humanitarian Prize is awarded to organizations rather than individuals.

Eligible nominees must meet the following criteria:

1. Must be a nonprofit organization.

2. Must be an established nongovernmental and publicly supported charitable organization.

3. Must possess tax-exempt status such as:

   • U.S. 501(c)(3), or

   • International equivalent documentation.

4. Must have been legally established for at least five years.

5. Must have audited financial statements for at least five consecutive years.

6. Must have operational expenditures greater than USD 750,000 during the most recent audited fiscal year.

7. Must not be:

   • A previous Hilton Humanitarian Prize laureate

   • A local office or branch of a previous laureate

   • A program or project within a larger organization

   • A university or academic institution that grants degrees

However, organizations affiliated with academic institutions may qualify if they:

• Maintain independent nonprofit status

• Have their own audited financial statements

Who Can Submit a Nomination

The nomination must be submitted by an individual who has direct knowledge of the organization’s work.

The nominator must meet the following conditions:

• Must not be an employee or officer of the nominated organization

• Must not receive compensation from the nominated organization

• Must not be the founder of the organization

• Must not be a family member of the organization’s employees or officers

• Must not be a member of the Hilton Foundation staff, jury, or board

• Must not be a Hilton family member

Board members and volunteers may nominate an organization only if they receive no compensation for their services.

Additionally, each nominator may submit only one nomination per Prize cycle.

Nomination Letter Requirements

The nomination letter is one of the most important components of the submission.

Key requirements include:

• Must be written in English

• Must be submitted through the online nomination portal

• Must include a handwritten or electronic signature

• Must not exceed four typed pages

• Must use 12-point font

The letter should be addressed to:

Hilton Humanitarian Prize Jury

The nomination letter should focus on the organization’s achievements rather than future plans.

Key areas that should be addressed include:

• The organization’s extraordinary contributions to alleviating human suffering

• The significance of the humanitarian issues the organization addresses

• The organization’s proven track record of impactful work

• The strength and innovation of its programs

• The sustainability and scalability of its approach

• Partnerships and collaborations that enhance impact

• Evaluation and learning mechanisms within programs

• The potential impact the Prize would have on the organization’s mission

Evaluation Criteria

All nominations undergo a thorough review process based on several evaluation considerations.

These include:

1. Extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering.

2. Importance and urgency of the humanitarian issues addressed.

3. Demonstrated record of achievements and measurable impact.

4. Strength of the organization’s programmatic strategy.

5. Organizational capacity and operational effectiveness.

6. Evidence of partnerships that enhance program reach and impact.

7. Commitment to program evaluation and continuous improvement.

8. Potential impact of the Prize on the organization’s work and mission.

Nomination and Selection Process

The Hilton Humanitarian Prize selection process is rigorous and multi-staged.

Step 1: Nomination Submission
The nominator submits the nomination through the official nominations portal and uploads the signed nomination letter.

Step 2: Nominee Notification
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation contacts the nominated organization and invites them to submit additional information.

Step 3: Phase 1 Application
The nominated organization completes the Phase 1 application within approximately five business days.

Phase 1 includes:

• Organizational profile

• Mission and program descriptions

• Communities served

• Geographic scope of operations

• Financial information

• Audited financial statements

• Annual reports or newsletters

Step 4: Internal Review
The Foundation conducts an internal review of all Phase 1 submissions.

Step 5: Phase 2 Application
Selected organizations are invited to complete a more detailed Phase 2 application. They are given approximately ten business days to submit additional materials.

Step 6: Finalist Selection
Following the Phase 2 review, a shortlist of finalist organizations is selected.

Step 7: Jury Review
Finalists are reviewed by an independent international jury.

Step 8: Prize Recipient Selection
The jury selects the final recipient of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

Timeline of the Selection Process

The general timeline is as follows:

1. Nomination submission before the deadline

2. Nominee notification via email

3. Phase 1 application submission

4. Phase 1 review

5. Phase 2 application invitation

6. Phase 2 review

7. Shortlist of finalists

8. Jury review

9. Final Prize recipient selected

All nominators are notified of the final decision via email.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do I need to do to submit a nomination?

To submit a nomination, visit the Hilton Humanitarian Prize nominations portal and upload the required nomination form and signed nomination letter before the deadline.

Email submissions are not accepted.

Can I nominate an individual for the Prize?

No. The Prize is awarded only to nonprofit organizations. Individual nominations are not accepted.

Can I nominate myself or my own organization?

No. Self-nominations are not allowed. The nomination must be submitted by an external nominator.

Can I nominate an organization where I serve as a board member?

Yes. Board members and volunteers may nominate an organization if they receive no compensation for their service.

How many organizations can I nominate in one cycle?

A nominator may submit only one nomination per Prize cycle.

However, it is possible to nominate two different organizations within the same year if they fall under different Prize cycles.

What happens if multiple people nominate the same organization?

Only the first nomination received will serve as the official nomination. Additional nominations will be registered as letters of support.

A maximum of four letters of support will be recorded.

How will organizations know they have been nominated?

The Hilton Foundation will contact the nominated organization directly via email using the contact information provided by the nominator.

Do organizations need to work internationally to qualify?

No. Organizations may operate in a single country or across multiple countries.

Are current or past Hilton Foundation grantees eligible?

Yes. Both current and past grantees are eligible to be nominated.

Read more and apply through the Official Website.

Discover other global awards on OFY HERE.