Nonprofit Mascot of the Year | The 2026 Mascot Awards
The Nonprofit Mascot of the Year is the Mascot Hall of Fame’s top annual honor for mission-driven mascots. It’s a Golden Reggy for the character that best brought its organization’s mission to life through outstanding character, community engagement, creativity, and meaningful impact.
Nonprofit mascots have a unique job. They don’t sell tickets or products. They make a cause approachable, memorable, and human. A friendly character can get a child to listen, get a family to show up, and get a whole community to care. This award celebrates the mascots that do exactly that.
What the Nonprofit Mascot of the Year Award Honors
The Nonprofit Mascot of the Year honors an outstanding mascot representing a nonprofit, charitable, civic, or mission-driven organization. The winner will have shown exceptional community engagement, character performance, mission advocacy, and positive impact during the award year.
The winning mascot uses its character to advance its organization’s mission while building meaningful connections with the people it serves. It raises awareness, inspires participation, supports fundraising, and brings joy to its community.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible nominees may represent:
- Registered nonprofit organizations
- Charitable foundations
- Community organizations
- Museums
- Healthcare nonprofits
- Public-service and advocacy organizations
- Other qualifying mission-driven entities
What Judges and Fans Look For
Judges and fans consider each nonprofit mascot‘s:
- Mission alignment
- Character performance
- Community engagement
- Creativity and visibility
- Audience connection
- Demonstrated impact during the eligible award year
The strongest nominees show that their mascot is more than an entertaining add-on at events. The character should actively serve as an ambassador for the organization’s purpose, helping it communicate its mission, reach new audiences, and strengthen its relationship with the community.
Nonprofits vary widely in size and resources, so this award doesn’t favor the biggest budget or the longest appearance list. We evaluate impact relative to each organization’s mission, community, and resources.
The Question This Award Asks
Which nonprofit mascot did the most to bring its organization’s mission to life and make a meaningful difference in the community this year?
How to Nominate a Nonprofit Mascot
Each entrant may submit:
- One 60–90 second highlight video
- 5–10 photographs
- An impact statement of 250 words or fewer explaining the organization’s mission, the mascot’s role, and its most significant accomplishments from the eligible year
- Up to three supporting links (optional): social content, media coverage, campaigns, or additional video
Where available, include measurable evidence such as people reached, appearances completed, funds or awareness generated, program participation or volunteer engagement.
The Four Dimensions Every Nomination Should Show
Mission Connection + Community Engagement + Character & Creativity + Demonstrated Impact
Open Mascot Awards Nonprofit Mascots Can Enter
Nonprofit mascots can also compete in the open categories, which are eligible to all levels:
- Stunt of the Year
- Best Dance Performance
- Greatest Community Impact
- Mascot Fail of the Year
- Awwww Inspiring Moment
- Mascot First
- Most Iconic Viral Moment
- Best New Mascot Reveal
- Rising Star Award (Mascots 5 Years and Younger)
- Mascot Prop of the Year
- Mascot Video Short of the Year
Did You Know?
One of the most recognized mission-driven mascots in America is a trench-coated bloodhound. The Ad Council introduced McGruff the Crime Dog in 1979–80 to teach Americans everyday crime prevention, from locking doors to putting lights on timers. The Ad Council launched his slogan, “Take a bite out of crime,” at a New York press conference in November 1979.
The name came from a nationwide contest in July 1980. A New Orleans police officer submitted the winning entry, and “Shurlocked Homes” finished as the runner-up. McGruff became the advertising icon of the nonprofit National Crime Prevention Council, and McGruff costumes remain a staple of police outreach to kids, proving a mission-driven mascot can have a very long tail.
About the Mascot Awards
The Mascot Awards, presented by the Mascot Hall of Fame, celebrate the best moments in mascotry every year. Hall of Fame induction honors a career. The Golden Reggys honor what happened this year, and every mascot program can earn one.
The 2026 Mascot Awards
