We fund individuals, not organizations. • We fund people whose work is primarily focused in the United States (rather than other parts of the world). • We do not fund new projects or provide startup capital. • We seek tenacious leaders who are leaning in, who haven’t gotten the financial recognition or acclaim they might deserve yet. • We are looking for individuals for whom $100,000 is a game changer – if you are a seasoned fundraiser and have significant philanthropic sources, we applaud you, but this prize is not for you. • This is a prize for individuals who are deep into their work but not over the finish line – this is not a lifetime achievement award. • We’re searching for people who are not only doing great work but have the potential to scale up. • We care about character – we get excited when we read about people who are brave, determined, unrelenting, fearless, and visionary.

Please read through our list of criteria to see if you qualify. Cause: Your work must advance the greater good of a community – local or national – by addressing inequity or otherwise driving positive change. Character: You work hard, radiate curiosity, think independently, act with integrity and pursue principles without compromise. Results: Your efforts have yielded substantial progress and are likely to continue doing so.

The applications process for 2026 is currently closed. Applications for 2027 will re-open later this year.

Yes! If you know someone whom you believe deserves this award, please fill out our nomination form (https://www.wilmersintegrityprize.org/nomination-form)and we will contact your nominee with an invitation to apply (when applications are open).

The Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize honors individuals, rather than organizations. If there is a group or company you have in mind, consider an individual within whose work is essential to its operation, and let us know about that person.

The application deadline is March 31, 2026.

The winner will be announced at the award ceremony on October 5, 2026 at an event in Buffalo, NY.

The award consists of three unrestricted $100,000 awards, which can be used at the winner’s discretion.

Applications and nominations will be screened to ensure they fit our candidate criteria. Applicants who qualify will be evaluated by our Selection Committee. The ten finalists will be contacted for further information. And the top three candidates should expect a site visit and a reference check. Finalists should expect to be vetted before the announcement of the winner in October.

Not necessarily. We are looking for individuals who work with integrity and make an impact across fields. Our goal is to highlight important work in many disciplines.