The Anthem Awards

What The Anthem Awards does

The Anthem Awards is an annual social impact recognition program launched in 2021 and operated as an initiative under The Webby Awards (Recognition Media). The program evaluates and awards organizations, brands, agencies, and individuals whose work demonstrates meaningful social impact across seven cause areas: Health, Technology, Sustainability/Environment/Climate, Belonging & Inclusion, Education/Art & Culture, Humanitarian Action & Services, and Human & Civil Rights. Entries are judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS), the same body that judges The Webby Awards, and Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers are awarded based on relative impact and resource context.

The business is built around a self-serve online entry submission platform (entries.anthemawards.com) with tiered early-entry and standard pricing. The supporting product portfolio includes The Negative Space podcast, an annual State of Social Impact Report, a Winner Resource Center, and virtual event series such as Trust Falls. Ten foundational partners — Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, GLAAD, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, Mozilla Foundation, XQ Institute, and Feeding America, plus AARP as sponsor — provide strategic legitimacy and cross-promotional reach, while media partners (Sustainable Brands, NationSwell, The Bloom, The Nonprofit Alliance) extend editorial distribution.

Revenue is generated from three streams: (1) one-time per-entry submission fees with early-bird and standard tiers, (2) foundational partner and sponsor contributions, and (3) media partnerships. Since launch, the program has received more than 10,000 entries from 40+ countries and generated 1.8 billion+ media impressions in 2025 alone, with coverage in The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, and Variety. The program is now in its 6th annual cycle (2026), with expanded categories, new judges, and continued growth in submission volume and media reach.

Name

The Anthem Awards

Legal name

The Anthem Awards

Website

https://anthemawards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Anthem Awards is an annual social impact recognition program operated under The Webby Awards, evaluating entries across seven cause areas via IADAS judges. It serves nonprofits, brands, agencies, and individuals, monetizing through entry fees, foundational partner sponsorships, and media partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Impact Awards and Recognition

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAOAN

Virtual Awards Ceremonies & Competitions (Judging, Voting)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Virtual & Hybrid Events

SECONDARYMPAGAHAF

Awards Ceremonies & Recognition Events

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Corporate & Private Events (Galas, Product Launches)

Keywords

• Social impact awards
• Purpose-driven recognition
• Annual awards program
• Social good awards
• Impact work recognition

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Entry Fees: Organizations pay entry fees to submit their work for consideration in the Anthem Awards. The program offers early entry pricing with preferred rates before a final deadline, and standard pricing thereafter.
2. Sponsorships: Foundational partners (Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, GLAAD, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, XQ Institute, Mozilla Foundation, Feeding America) and sponsors (AARP) provide financial and strategic support for the awards program.
3. Media Partnerships: Media partners including Sustainable Brands, The Bloom, Nation Swell, and The Nonprofit Alliance provide content partnerships and promotional support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Anthem Awards is an annual awards program that recognizes impactful brands, nonprofits, and individuals that are setting the standard for good worldwide. Entries are submitted through an online platform and judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) across seven cause areas: Health, Technology, Sustainability/Environment/Climate, Belonging & Inclusion, Education/Art & Culture, Humanitarian Action & Services, and Human & Civil Rights. Winners receive Gold, Silver, or Bronze recognition, PR support, logos/badges, and access to a winner resource center, with the program generating over 1.8 billion media impressions annually.

Product overview

The Anthem Awards is a multi-product portfolio built around an annual awards program that recognizes social impact work. The core offering is the Anthem Awards competition, which evaluates entries across seven cause areas (Health, Technology, Sustainability/Environment/Climate, Belonging & Inclusion, Education/Art & Culture, Humanitarian Action & Services, and Human & Civil Rights) through eight category types. Supporting products include The Negative Space Podcast for thought leadership content, the Winner Resource Center for awardee support, annual State of Social Impact Reports for industry research, the entry submission platform for competition participation, and Trust Falls virtual events for community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Anthem Awards An annual awards program operating on a yearly cycle (currently in its 6th cycle) that recognizes impactful brands, nonprofits, and individuals across seven core causes: Health, Technology, Sustainability/Environment/Climate, Belonging & Inclusion, Education/Art & Culture, Humanitarian Action & Services, and Human & Civil Rights. Entries are submitted through an online platform and judged by IADAS, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners receiving PR support, logos, badges, and access to a winner resource center.
• The Negative Space Podcast A podcast series hosted by Anthem General Manager Patricia McLoughlin that explores motivations, grit, and innovations fueling top leaders' advocacy in the impact industry through interviews with changemakers and industry leaders.
• Winner Resource Center A digital resource center for Anthem Awards winners providing campaign kits, logos and badges, sample press releases, and speech guides to help winners celebrate and promote their achievements.
• State of Social Impact Report An annual trend report providing a pulse check on the pressures, opportunities, and shifts defining the social impact sector, featuring perspectives from leaders across nonprofits, brands, and agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three out of four winners reported that their win added credibility to their work
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Webby AwardscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Webby Awards is the parent organization behind The Anthem Awards. Since 1996, the Webby Awards has been the Internet's highest honor. The Webby Awards team launched the Anthem Awards in 2021 to set the benchmark for impact work and recognize the best of social impact and digital media convergence.
• International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIADAS is the global judging body for both The Webby Awards and The Anthem Awards, comprising creative leaders, technologists, and innovators across every sector. Their expertise spans LGBTQ advocacy, racial equity, climate justice, mental health, gun control, and more.
• Ad CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner of The Anthem Awards. Ad Council is a renowned nonprofit organization creating public service communications. Their Love Has No Labels movement exemplifies the type of work the Anthem Awards honors.
• Born This Way FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. Lady Gaga's foundation focused on youth mental health and kindness, creating programs that support the wellness of young people.
• GLAADcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. GLAAD is an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization working to accelerate acceptance through media and storytelling.
• NAACPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. The NAACP is the largest and most recognized civil rights organization, working to secure the rights of people of color.
• NRDC (National Resource Defense Council)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. NRDC is an environmental advocacy organization working to protect natural resources and public health.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. WWF is a conservation organization working to protect nature and wildlife globally.
• Mozilla FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. Mozilla Foundation is the nonprofit behind the Firefox browser, advocating for open source technology and internet health.
• XQ InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. XQ Institute reimagines American high schools to prepare students for college and life success.
• Feeding AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundational partner. Feeding America is the nation's largest hunger-relief organization with a network of food banks.
• AARPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor and partner of The Anthem Awards. AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older. They sponsor The Empowerment Award.
• Sustainable BrandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner. Sustainable Brands is a global community of brand innovators working to build a better future.
• NationSwellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner. NationSwell tells stories of Americans working to solve the country's biggest challenges.
• The BloomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner. The Bloom is a media platform focused on impact and purpose-driven content.
• The Nonprofit AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner. The Nonprofit Alliance supports and amplifies the work of nonprofit organizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PRWeek Awards: Annual awards program for the PR and communications industry recognizing purpose-driven campaigns, corporate responsibility, and social impact work. Directly comparable in target audience (PR agencies, in-house comms teams) and category overlap with Anthem's human/civil rights and humanitarian tracks.
• The Effie Awards: Globally recognized marketing effectiveness awards program with tiered entry fees, sponsorships, and winners showcase. Comparable in monetization model (entry fees + sponsorships) and brand/agency audience, with partial category overlap in purpose-driven and social impact work.
• The Drum Awards: Marketing industry awards program with categories spanning advertising, media, and social impact. Comparable in serving the agency and brand marketing ecosystem with tiered entry fees and winner recognition, including dedicated purpose and sustainability categories.
• The Shorty Awards: Annual awards program honoring excellence in social media, digital content, and brand storytelling. Directly comparable to The Anthem Awards in structure (annual submission cycle, entry fees, sponsorships, winners gallery) and overlapping audience of brands and agencies.

Others

• Fast Company Innovation Festival: Annual event and recognition programming honoring innovation and impact across business and social sectors. Thematically adjacent to The Anthem Awards in celebrating changemakers and purpose-driven organizations, though structured as a festival and editorial recognition rather than a submission-based awards program.
• Eventbrite: Self-service ticketing and event management platform used by awards programs and community organizers. Adjacent comparison as an infrastructure provider for the type of ticketed events and submission-based programming the Anthem Awards operates, though not a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity: Premier global awards and festival for the creative communications industry. Comparable in recognizing branded campaigns and impact work (including the Cannes Lions Sustainable Development Goals Lions), with overlapping agency and brand audience, but operates at significantly larger scale and price point.
• The Clio Awards: Long-running awards program recognizing creative work in advertising, entertainment, and health. Comparable as an established awards brand serving agencies and brands with tiered entry fees, sponsor partnerships, and a global winners showcase, but with a broader creative focus than impact specifically.
• The Webby Awards: The parent organization of The Anthem Awards and the operator of the broader Internet excellence awards program. Highly comparable given shared infrastructure, IADAS judges, and parent company Recognition Media, but the Webby Awards focuses on internet excellence rather than social impact.
• D&AD Awards: International awards program recognizing creative excellence in design and advertising. Comparable in judging rigor, tiered winners structure, and global brand/agency audience, but with a broader creative focus rather than social impact specificity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/anthemawards
• Facebookfacebook.com/anthemawards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anthem-awards
• Instagraminstagram.com/anthemawards/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Anthem Awards