We don't accept outside nominations for Champions in Action - organizations must complete the application themselves. But if you know of community organizations that are doing work that deserves recognition, encourage those groups to apply.

Each year, we award Champions in Action designations four times:

The 2008 Champions in Action program will focus on the following social concerns:

Q1 - January Affordable Housing Application deadline: October 19, 2007 Award announced: January 2008

Q2 - April Workforce Development Application deadline: January 18, 2008 Award announced: April 2008

Q3 - July Youth Programming Application deadline: April 18, 2008 Award announced: July 2008

Q4 - October Community Arts Application Deadline: July 18, 2008 Award announced: October 2008

To be recognized as a Champion in Action, an organization must be a Massachusetts-based, nonprofit organization that services Massachusetts and addresses the designated social concern for the quarter.

The group must provide verification of tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

And it must have a total operating budget of $5 million or less. Priority consideration will be given to organizations with total annual operating budgets of less than $1 million.