Small teams of nonprofit professionals move millions of people to raise over a billion dollars for charity each year, yet receive little recognition. The brand-new Peers of the Year Awards are changing that by putting the spotlight on these unsung heroes.

The inaugural Peers of the Year Awards go to seven outstanding peer-to-peer fundraising professionals selected from scores of nominees submitted by North America’s leading nonprofit organizations. The awards are sponsored by Funraisin.

The seven 2026 honorees are:

• Maggie Gibbons, Director, Peer to Peer Fundraising, Make-A-Wish America

• Jonathan Harris, Director, TEAM TO END AIDS, AIDS Foundation of Chicago

• Christy Harrison, Managing Director of Chapter Engagement, The Ability Experience

• Cassandra Koprivetz, Vice President, National Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Strategy and Field Engagement, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

• Becky Mitts, Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Development, Ovarian Cancer Canada

• Shelby Stallings, Assistant Director, Children’s National Hospital Foundation

• Lacey Todd, Director, Do What You Love to End ALZ, Alzheimer’s Association

“The Peers of the Year Award recognizes exceptional peer-to-peer fundraising professionals who demonstrate leadership, creativity, and dedication that elevate their programs and inspire their peers,” said Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum CEO Marcie Maxwell. “These changemakers drive innovation, empower supporters, and set new standards of excellence across the peer-to-peer fundraising community.”

Collectively, peer-to-peer fundraising programs raised more than $1.7 billion dollars in 2025 for thousands of nonprofits in North America, according to the annual U.S. and Canadian Top 30 & Benchmarking Studies.

“Behind every campaign and every metric is someone who really cares,” said Courtney Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Funraisin. “Reading through these nominations, it was clear this work goes far beyond a job title—it’s deeply personal. These nonprofit leaders invest a huge part of themselves in their communities and in the people their organizations exist to serve. Great fundraising is fueled by that kind of commitment. Imagine the impact we’d lose without people willing to care this much. We’re incredibly fortunate to have leaders like this in our sector, and it’s a privilege to recognize the difference they make every day.”

The Peers of the Year awards stand alongside Organization of the Year and Fundraising Volunteer of the Year as part of our P2P Impact Awards program. These awards celebrate the people, programs, and organizations shaping the future of peer-to-peer fundraising. They recognize exceptional leadership, innovation, and community spirit, spotlighting those who inspire others to act, give, and make a lasting difference through the power of connection.