The 16th Annual FAVE Awards
Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 PM | Austin Central Library
The FAVE Awards honor the businesses, nonprofit organizations, and leaders strengthening Central Texas through community engagement, workforce development, innovation, business growth, and purpose-driven leadership.
This year’s theme, Unbound: Austin’s Rising Narrative, celebrates the bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and collaborative spirit redefining leadership across our region.
Partner With Us
Connect your organization with Austin’s business, nonprofit, and young professional communities while supporting the Austin Young Chamber’s year-round leadership and professional development work.
Recognizing Excellence and Impact Across Central Texas
Presented by the Austin Young Chamber, the FAVE Awards recognize businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individual leaders making a measurable difference across Central Texas.
The 2026 awards celebrate achievement in six areas: community engagement, workforce and leadership development, sustainable growth, innovation, nonprofit leadership, and community leadership beyond the workplace.
Four organizational awards recognize teams whose strategies, programs, and investments are creating meaningful results. Two individual FAVE ChangeMaker Awards honor leaders whose influence and service are strengthening organizations and communities throughout the region.
Through FAVE, the Austin Young Chamber elevates work that deserves broader recognition and shares examples of what intentional, community-minded leadership can accomplish.
Recognizing Impact Across Central Texas
The 2026 FAVE Awards include four organizational award categories and two individual ChangeMaker Awards.
Organizations may apply for the category that best reflects their most significant work and impact. Organizational applicants will also select a company size tier so they can be evaluated alongside similar organizations.
Organizational Size Tiers
- Small: 1–25 employees based in Central Texas
- Mid-Sized: 26–150 employees based in Central Texas
- Large: 151 or more employees based in Central Texas
- Nonprofit: Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations
FAVE Community Connector Award
FAVE Community Connector Award
Honoring teams strengthening Austin through meaningful community engagement.
The Community Connector Award recognizes organizations that intentionally invest their time, talent, resources, and influence in the Austin community. Strong applicants will demonstrate that community involvement is integrated into their culture and operations rather than treated as a one-time initiative.
This award celebrates:
- Volunteerism and service
- Civic engagement and advocacy
- Local partnerships and collaboration
- Support of nonprofit organizations
- Employee involvement in the community
- Long-term investment in a stronger, more connected Austin
FAVE Workforce Catalyst Award
FAVE Workforce Catalyst Award
Recognizing teams accelerating talent, leadership, and workplace culture.
The Workforce Catalyst Award recognizes organizations creating environments where employees can learn, grow, contribute, and lead. Strong applicants will demonstrate an intentional approach to talent development, employee engagement, workplace culture, and the advancement of emerging professionals.
This award celebrates:
- Leadership development and career pathways
- Mentorship and coaching
- Employee engagement and retention
- Inclusive and people-first workplace practices
- Internal mobility and advancement
- Investment in the next generation of talent
FAVE Momentum Builder Award
FAVE Momentum Builder Award
Honoring teams building sustainable growth through strategy, resilience, and execution.
The Momentum Builder Award recognizes organizations that have created measurable progress by making thoughtful decisions, navigating challenges, and positioning themselves for long-term success. Growth may be reflected through revenue, market reach, talent, operations, audiences served, or other meaningful indicators.
This award celebrates:
- Revenue and organizational growth
- Market expansion and new opportunities
- Talent and team growth
- Scalable systems and operations
- Strategic pivots and adaptability
- Sustainable planning and execution
FAVE Innovative Engine Award
FAVE Innovative Engine Award
Recognizing teams turning bold ideas into impactful solutions.
The Innovative Engine Award recognizes organizations using creativity, experimentation, collaboration, and technology to solve problems or create new opportunities. Innovation may take the form of a new product, service, program, process, system, or approach.
This award celebrates:
- New products, services, or programs
- Process and operational innovation
- Technology adoption and advancement
- Creative problem-solving
- Cross-functional or cross-sector collaboration
- Measurable improvements for customers, employees, or communities
FAVE ChangeMaker – Nonprofit Leader
FAVE ChangeMaker – Nonprofit Leader
Honoring nonprofit leaders creating measurable impact and strengthening the Austin community through purpose-driven leadership.
This award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose vision and leadership have advanced an organization, cause, sector, or community. Strong nominees will demonstrate measurable mission-driven impact, a commitment to long-term change, and meaningful investment in Austin’s next generation of leaders.
FAVE ChangeMaker – For-Profit Leader
FAVE ChangeMaker – For-Profit Leader
Honoring business leaders who use their influence, time, and platform beyond the workplace to strengthen the Austin community.
This award recognizes a for-profit leader whose community impact extends beyond their professional responsibilities. Strong nominees will demonstrate how they have used their expertise, network, resources, or leadership platform to mobilize others and create a positive ripple effect across Austin.
The organizational and ChangeMaker categories are designed to recognize distinct forms of impact, from workforce investment and innovation to community leadership beyond the workplace.
Help Us Illuminate the People and Organizations Moving Austin Forward
Whether you are recognizing an outstanding business or leader, applying on behalf of yourself or your organization, or completing an application after being nominated, you are in the right place.
The FAVE Awards form can be used in three ways.
Nominate a Business or Individual
Nominate a Business or Individual
Know an organization or leader whose work deserves recognition?
Submit a nomination with their contact information and a brief explanation of why they should be considered. The Austin Young Chamber will contact the nominee and invite them to complete the full application.
A nomination brings someone to our attention, but the nominee must complete an application to be formally considered for an award.
Apply on Behalf of Yourself or Your Organization
Apply on Behalf of Yourself or Your Organization
Organizations and individual leaders do not need to wait to be nominated.
You may self-nominate and continue directly into the appropriate application. Organizational applicants will select one award category and one company size tier. Individual applicants will select the appropriate ChangeMaker category.
Complete an Application After Being Nominated
Complete an Application After Being Nominated
Were you notified that you or your organization received a nomination?
Return to the same form, indicate that you were previously nominated, and complete the full application for the appropriate category.
Before You Begin
Applicants should be prepared to provide clear, specific examples of their work and impact.
Organizational applications will include:
- An overview of the organization and its Central Texas impact
- Examples of how young professionals are empowered to contribute and lead
- Two questions specific to the selected award category
- Measurable outcomes from the past 12 months
ChangeMaker applications will include:
- The nominee’s leadership journey and motivation
- Examples of measurable community or organizational impact
- Examples of investment in young professionals
- An external endorsement from a colleague, partner, board member, mentee, volunteer, or collaborator
Organizations may apply for more than one award category, but a separate application must be submitted for each category.
Connect Your Brand with Austin’s Business Community
FAVE sponsorships offer organizations a meaningful way to build visibility, engage local leaders, and demonstrate their commitment to the people and businesses contributing to a stronger Central Texas.
Sponsors can align their brands with the specific areas recognized through FAVE, including community engagement, talent development, innovation, organizational growth, and purpose-driven leadership.
Ways to Partner
Sponsorship opportunities include:
- Presenting sponsorship
- FAVE Award category sponsorships
- Event activation sponsorships
- Event-level sponsorships
- Custom and in-kind partnerships
Benefits vary by sponsorship level and may include event tickets, digital promotion, on-site recognition, brand placement, activation opportunities, and direct engagement with attendees.
Support That Reaches Beyond the Event
FAVE sponsorship revenue helps the Austin Young Chamber provide year-round opportunities for young professionals to build skills, relationships, leadership experience, and stronger connections to Central Texas.
Sponsor support contributes to programs and experiences such as:
- Middle Manager Accelerator
- LEAD Series
- Professional and leadership development
- Networking and relationship-building opportunities
- Community engagement initiatives
Your partnership helps the Austin Young Chamber recognize outstanding work today while continuing to develop the people who will lead our region tomorrow.
Explore Sponsorship Opportunities
Review the available levels, benefits, and event opportunities in the 2026 FAVE Awards Sponsorship Deck.
Interested in discussing a custom partnership or in-kind opportunity? Contact Mel Martin, Interim CEO, at mel@austinyoungchamber.org
- About the FAVE Awards
-
Recognizing Excellence and Impact Across Central Texas
Presented by the Austin Young Chamber, the FAVE Awards recognize businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individual leaders making a measurable difference across Central Texas.
The 2026 awards celebrate achievement in six areas: community engagement, workforce and leadership development, sustainable growth, innovation, nonprofit leadership, and community leadership beyond the workplace.
Four organizational awards recognize teams whose strategies, programs, and investments are creating meaningful results. Two individual FAVE ChangeMaker Awards honor leaders whose influence and service are strengthening organizations and communities throughout the region.
Through FAVE, the Austin Young Chamber elevates work that deserves broader recognition and shares examples of what intentional, community-minded leadership can accomplish.
- 2026 Award Categories
-
Recognizing Impact Across Central Texas
The 2026 FAVE Awards include four organizational award categories and two individual ChangeMaker Awards.
Organizations may apply for the category that best reflects their most significant work and impact. Organizational applicants will also select a company size tier so they can be evaluated alongside similar organizations.
Organizational Size Tiers
- Small: 1–25 employees based in Central Texas
- Mid-Sized: 26–150 employees based in Central Texas
- Large: 151 or more employees based in Central Texas
- Nonprofit: Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations
FAVE Community Connector Award
FAVE Community Connector Award
Honoring teams strengthening Austin through meaningful community engagement.
The Community Connector Award recognizes organizations that intentionally invest their time, talent, resources, and influence in the Austin community. Strong applicants will demonstrate that community involvement is integrated into their culture and operations rather than treated as a one-time initiative.
This award celebrates:
- Volunteerism and service
- Civic engagement and advocacy
- Local partnerships and collaboration
- Support of nonprofit organizations
- Employee involvement in the community
- Long-term investment in a stronger, more connected Austin
FAVE Workforce Catalyst Award
FAVE Workforce Catalyst Award
Recognizing teams accelerating talent, leadership, and workplace culture.
The Workforce Catalyst Award recognizes organizations creating environments where employees can learn, grow, contribute, and lead. Strong applicants will demonstrate an intentional approach to talent development, employee engagement, workplace culture, and the advancement of emerging professionals.
This award celebrates:
- Leadership development and career pathways
- Mentorship and coaching
- Employee engagement and retention
- Inclusive and people-first workplace practices
- Internal mobility and advancement
- Investment in the next generation of talent
FAVE Momentum Builder Award
FAVE Momentum Builder Award
Honoring teams building sustainable growth through strategy, resilience, and execution.
The Momentum Builder Award recognizes organizations that have created measurable progress by making thoughtful decisions, navigating challenges, and positioning themselves for long-term success. Growth may be reflected through revenue, market reach, talent, operations, audiences served, or other meaningful indicators.
This award celebrates:
- Revenue and organizational growth
- Market expansion and new opportunities
- Talent and team growth
- Scalable systems and operations
- Strategic pivots and adaptability
- Sustainable planning and execution
FAVE Innovative Engine Award
FAVE Innovative Engine Award
Recognizing teams turning bold ideas into impactful solutions.
The Innovative Engine Award recognizes organizations using creativity, experimentation, collaboration, and technology to solve problems or create new opportunities. Innovation may take the form of a new product, service, program, process, system, or approach.
This award celebrates:
- New products, services, or programs
- Process and operational innovation
- Technology adoption and advancement
- Creative problem-solving
- Cross-functional or cross-sector collaboration
- Measurable improvements for customers, employees, or communities
FAVE ChangeMaker – Nonprofit Leader
FAVE ChangeMaker – Nonprofit Leader
Honoring nonprofit leaders creating measurable impact and strengthening the Austin community through purpose-driven leadership.
This award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose vision and leadership have advanced an organization, cause, sector, or community. Strong nominees will demonstrate measurable mission-driven impact, a commitment to long-term change, and meaningful investment in Austin’s next generation of leaders.
FAVE ChangeMaker – For-Profit Leader
FAVE ChangeMaker – For-Profit Leader
Honoring business leaders who use their influence, time, and platform beyond the workplace to strengthen the Austin community.
This award recognizes a for-profit leader whose community impact extends beyond their professional responsibilities. Strong nominees will demonstrate how they have used their expertise, network, resources, or leadership platform to mobilize others and create a positive ripple effect across Austin.
The organizational and ChangeMaker categories are designed to recognize distinct forms of impact, from workforce investment and innovation to community leadership beyond the workplace.
- Apply or Nominate
-
Help Us Illuminate the People and Organizations Moving Austin Forward
Whether you are recognizing an outstanding business or leader, applying on behalf of yourself or your organization, or completing an application after being nominated, you are in the right place.
The FAVE Awards form can be used in three ways.
Nominate a Business or Individual
Nominate a Business or Individual
Know an organization or leader whose work deserves recognition?
Submit a nomination with their contact information and a brief explanation of why they should be considered. The Austin Young Chamber will contact the nominee and invite them to complete the full application.
A nomination brings someone to our attention, but the nominee must complete an application to be formally considered for an award.
Apply on Behalf of Yourself or Your Organization
Apply on Behalf of Yourself or Your Organization
Organizations and individual leaders do not need to wait to be nominated.
You may self-nominate and continue directly into the appropriate application. Organizational applicants will select one award category and one company size tier. Individual applicants will select the appropriate ChangeMaker category.
Complete an Application After Being Nominated
Complete an Application After Being Nominated
Were you notified that you or your organization received a nomination?
Return to the same form, indicate that you were previously nominated, and complete the full application for the appropriate category.
Before You Begin
Applicants should be prepared to provide clear, specific examples of their work and impact.
Organizational applications will include:
- An overview of the organization and its Central Texas impact
- Examples of how young professionals are empowered to contribute and lead
- Two questions specific to the selected award category
- Measurable outcomes from the past 12 months
ChangeMaker applications will include:
- The nominee’s leadership journey and motivation
- Examples of measurable community or organizational impact
- Examples of investment in young professionals
- An external endorsement from a colleague, partner, board member, mentee, volunteer, or collaborator
Organizations may apply for more than one award category, but a separate application must be submitted for each category.
- Sponsor the FAVE Awards
-
Connect Your Brand with Austin’s Business Community
FAVE sponsorships offer organizations a meaningful way to build visibility, engage local leaders, and demonstrate their commitment to the people and businesses contributing to a stronger Central Texas.
Sponsors can align their brands with the specific areas recognized through FAVE, including community engagement, talent development, innovation, organizational growth, and purpose-driven leadership.
Ways to Partner
Sponsorship opportunities include:
- Presenting sponsorship
- FAVE Award category sponsorships
- Event activation sponsorships
- Event-level sponsorships
- Custom and in-kind partnerships
Benefits vary by sponsorship level and may include event tickets, digital promotion, on-site recognition, brand placement, activation opportunities, and direct engagement with attendees.
Support That Reaches Beyond the Event
FAVE sponsorship revenue helps the Austin Young Chamber provide year-round opportunities for young professionals to build skills, relationships, leadership experience, and stronger connections to Central Texas.
Sponsor support contributes to programs and experiences such as:
- Middle Manager Accelerator
- LEAD Series
- Professional and leadership development
- Networking and relationship-building opportunities
- Community engagement initiatives
Your partnership helps the Austin Young Chamber recognize outstanding work today while continuing to develop the people who will lead our region tomorrow.
Explore Sponsorship Opportunities
Review the available levels, benefits, and event opportunities in the 2026 FAVE Awards Sponsorship Deck.
Interested in discussing a custom partnership or in-kind opportunity? Contact Mel Martin, Interim CEO, at mel@austinyoungchamber.org