SBJ selects 2025 class of nonprofit award winners

Last edited 2:23 p.m., July 18, 2025 [Editor's Note: Abilities First is not eligible for an award from this event and has been removed from this year's honorees.]

Springfield Business Journal’s Nonprofit Excellence Awards will honor nine area nonprofits and three individuals serving the field.

The event, which was started at Drury University and later hosted by what is now Forvis Mazars LLP, was revitalized last year by SBJ.

In the large organizations category, the top three nonprofits with an annual operating budget of over $3.5 million are:

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield Inc.
• The Arc of the Ozarks

The midsize category, representing nonprofits with budgets between $500,000 and $3.5 million, includes the following:

• Child Advocacy Center Inc.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks Inc.
• The Victim Center Inc.

The final category of small nonprofits with up to $500,000 operating budgets are:

• Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks Inc.
• GYN Cancers Alliance
• Women’s Medical Respite

A top honor in each category will be announced live at the event, which will be held Aug. 14 at Oasis Hotel & Convention Center.

Also at the gala, SBJ will honor professionals with individual awards.

Determined by the judges, the individual honors are awarded in three categories:

• CEO/Executive Director of the Year: Susan Stephanchick of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks Inc.
• Board Member of the Year: Corey Kilburn serving Springfield Little Theatre, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools and the Springfield Regional Arts Council Inc.
• Employee of the Year: Cosette Grooms of Harmony House

Find more information about the event at SBJ.net/NonprofitAwards.