RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE

The 2026 Campaign Recognition Awards honor businesses that went above and beyond to support United Way of the Midlands during the fiscal year 2026 campaign.

annual meeting award winners

Last year, more than 550 organizations partnered with United Way of the Midlands during the FY 2026 campaign, empowering us to create lasting impact. We believe the following awards capture the unique and varied nature of our partnerships: Volunteer Organization of the Year, New Business Partner of the Year, Corporate Partner of the Year – Leadership Donors, Corporate Impact Partner of the Year and Corporate Partners of the Year.

Because we know small organizations can still make a big impact, the Corporate Partner of the Year awards are presented to companies within four different employee-size categories.

Volunteer organization of the year

This award recognizes companies who consistently strive to improve our community through volunteerism. The winning companies were selected based on the percentage of their employees’ overall engagement in volunteer activities and the number of employees who participated in volunteer events.

KPMG has consistently championed volunteerism while engaging more than 100 employees who wanted to give back and make a positive impact. Last year, they invested more than $10,000 in volunteer initiatives, including their longstanding sponsorship of United Way’s MLK Day of Service, They also rallied their employees for two Community Impact Days and a Good on the Go project – mobilizing more than 122 volunteers to support United Way and our nonprofit partners.

Their culture of service is reflected in Dave Anderson’s continued membership on the UWM Board and Campaign Cabinet, along with Andy Schweitzer’s membership on the UWM Finance Committee.

New business partner of the year

This award recognizes a business that recently chose to invest in our community through United Way of the Midlands. Businesses that did not donate to United Way in the prior campaign year were eligible for this award.

In their first workplace campaign with United Way, Signature Performance earned a place among the Top 100 by raising more than $69,000 – including finding one new Tocqueville Society member and five Bridgebuilder members. They also engaged employees through a generous corporate match and by hosting a Good on the Go event to assemble snack pack kits for Kids Can.

This first-year campaign reflects a culture of generosity, service and community engagement that will continue to make a lasting impact.

Corporate partner of the year - leadership donors

This award recognizes organizations that make efforts to secure leadership gifts from employees, and who have developed strategies to encourage these higher-level gifts. The award criteria are based on year-over-year growth and those who were able to secure the most new donors at the leadership level.

Valmont demonstrated exceptional growth in leadership giving last year by increasing their number of Bridgebuilder members from 25 to 47. Together, these new members contributed more than $110,000 to their United Way campaign – reflecting a strong culture of philanthropy and meaningful investment in our community.

Valmont’s commitment to engaging and inspiring leadership-level giving exemplifies the true spirit of partnership that drives United Way’s mission forward.

corporate parter of the year award

Because we know any size organization can make a big impact, these awards will be presented to companies in three different size categories. The selection criteria included year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.

under 100 employees

BP Energy demonstrated exceptional growth and commitment during last year’s campaign. They achieved a 100% employee participation rate for their campaign and increased their total giving by 10% to nearly $52,000 among their 25 employees. And through their dollar-for-dollar corporate match, the company reinforces a culture in which every employee’s gift is amplified to maximize the company’s collective impact in our community.

As a new United Way partner, McCarthy’s has already made an extraordinary impact. By contributing nearly $66,000 of in-kind support to United Way’s Weatherization Program, they exemplified the power of partnership. Through their skilled labor, equipment and expertise, the company helped provide critical heating and home repair services that stabilized vulnerable neighbors and ensured families could remain safe in their homes. Their commitment showcases how one company’s unique strengths can truly help create meaningful impact.

100 - 299 employees

Deloitte once again set the standard for corporate philanthropy, earning this recognition for the second consecutive year. With a nearly 20% year-over-year growth, Deloitte surpassed the $300,000 giving milestone while expanding its culture of leadership philanthropy by welcoming five new Tocqueville Society members.

The firm also launched a Tocqueville Step-Up Program to encourage increased giving and leadership participation, and their culture of generosity extends beyond their campaign through Dan Kinsella’s service on United Way’s Campaign Cabinet.

300 - 799 employees

Tenaska delivered one of the most exceptional workplace campaigns of the Campaign, demonstrating excellence in giving, volunteerism and leadership philanthropy. Their total campaign giving increased by more than $33,000, and nearly 50 employees participated in two Good on the Go volunteer projects. And for the second consecutive year, Tenaska had the largest Tocqueville Society membership of any participating organization, and they also added six new Bridgebuilder members – equating to nearly $30,000 in increased leadership giving.

These outstanding results reflect a deeply embedded culture of generosity and making a difference led by their President and CEO Christopher Leitner, who also serves as Chair for United Way of the Midlands’ Board of Directors.

Northern Natural Gas’ overall giving increased by more than 19% last year – generating nearly $37,000 in additional support for United Way. And the company’s annual golf tournament once again proved to be a cornerstone of its philanthropic commitment, raising more than $82,000 for their campaign.

In addition, they expanded their leadership giving by adding two new Bridgebuilder members and increasing overall leadership giving for their campaign by nearly $20,000.

800+ employees

Through their campaign efforts, HDR made meaningful investments in philanthropy, volunteerism and leadership development. Last year, HDR’s employee giving grew by nearly 20%, generating more than $44,000 in additional support – complemented by a generous $30,000 corporate gift and sponsorship of UWM’s MLK Day of Service.

HDR expanded its culture of giving by welcoming 38 new donors, including four new Tocqueville Society members. They also continue to encourage the culture of service and leadership through Matt DeBoer’s membership on the United Way Board of Directors and Ashley Glesinger’s service on the Emerging Leaders Steering Committee.