Purpose and Vision

 

The Kaufman Awards for Outstanding Social Innovation recognize organizations, programs, and initiatives that achieve measurable, sustainable improvements in human and societal performance. Established by the Kaufman Center and the Performance Improvement Institute (PII), the awards honor the legacy of Dr. Roger Kaufman (1932–2020)—a pioneer in defining “Mega Planning,” which links organizational success to societal value creation. The awards aim to spotlight practical, scalable models that transform communities, improve quality of life, and strengthen systems of education, economy, governance, and environment.

 

History

 

First launched in the early 2010s, the Kaufman Awards grew out of the international Kaufman Center for Societal Performance network. Building on decades of research and applications in social innovation and human performance technology, the program was created to connect academic rigor with real-world impact. The awards have since evolved into a global benchmark for performance-based social innovation, celebrating both nonprofit and for-profit initiatives across multiple regions and sectors.

 

Selection Criteria

 

Nominees are evaluated using a comprehensive performance framework derived from Kaufman’s Mega–Macro–Micro model. Projects are assessed on:

• Outcomes – demonstrable improvements in people’s lives, institutions, and communities.

• Systems View – integration across individual, organizational, and societal levels.

• Sustainability – long-term social, environmental, and economic viability.

• Innovation – creative use of technology, partnerships, and design to achieve systemic change.

• Evidence – measurable data and transparent evaluation of results.

 

Eligibility

 

The Kaufman Awards accept nominations and applications from a broad range of organizations, including NGOs, academic institutions, corporations, and public agencies. Projects must demonstrate verifiable impact and alignment with social value outcomes, rather than short-term outputs. Both nonprofit and for-profit models are eligible, provided they contribute to the public good through innovation, inclusiveness, and measurable results.

 

Impact and Significance

 

Over time, the Kaufman Awards have become a reference point for excellence in social innovation, bridging the worlds of business performance and social responsibility. The awards promote a science of societal improvement, encouraging organizations to measure success not only in profits or productivity, but in contributions to human development, equity, and environmental stewardship. By sharing case studies and connecting innovators worldwide, the Kaufman Awards advance a new paradigm of leadership—one that links doing well with doing good.