草莓社区

The Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility at 草莓社区 has announced the recipients of the 7th annual Innovator Awards, honoring companies advancing social and environmental innovation through business models that align profit with purpose.  

This year’s Innovator Award Winners are Northern Trust (Parkinson Award for Purpose and Profit), Altana (Social Impact Award), and Elevate (Environmental Stewardship Award). 

The Innovator Awards are a national award series sponsored by the Baumhart Center. Since 2020, the awards have recognized 21 leading organizations including Patagonia, Builders Vision, New Moms, Rheaply, and Levi Strauss & Co. Companies were nominated by established executives, leaders, and scholars, and evaluated by a six-member judging panel on four criteria: quality of innovation, depth of impact, scalability of innovation, and commitment to leadership. 

“We are proud to recognize these three honorees for turning bold ideas into real-world results,” said Karen Weigert, Director of the Baumhart Center. “Their work shows how forward-looking leadership, meaningful partnerships, and unwavering focus can expand opportunity, strengthen the economy, and advance solutions that support both people and the planet.”

drives lasting impact through strategic investments, philanthropy, and employee engagement. In 2024 alone, employees contributed more than 100,000 volunteer hours globally, and the enterprise maintained a $5.3 billion portfolio in social impact investments, illustrating how traditional financial tools can be leveraged for community benefit. 

“The scale of social impact investments across their portfolio is impressive,” said judge Michelle Rivas Notestine, Baumhart Scholars MBA Alum (‘23). “Northern Trust demonstrates that financial return and social impact don’t merely coexist, but reinforce one another to create a powerful model for value and impact on a balance sheet.”

"We are honored to be recognized with the Parkinson Award for Purpose & Profit, which reflects the strong alignment between our values and Bob Parkinson’s belief in the positive power of business,” said Kimberly Evans, EVP, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact at Northern Trust. “This award highlights the day鈥憈o鈥慸ay dedication of our global employees who focus on business results which allow us to build trusted partnerships with community organizations to create shared progress that is measurable and sustainable.”

is building an AI-powered network that enables governments and businesses to strengthen supply chain resilience while promoting transparency and ethical sourcing, including efforts to reduce forced labor. Through continuous monitoring, risk scoring, and a strong commitment from leadership, Altana helps organizations act proactively, remediate issues, and integrate social responsibility into global trade operations. 

By embedding social impact directly into core business infrastructure, Altana represents a scalable model for advancing accountability and resilience across supply chains. 

“Altana demonstrates that addressing global systems requires both technological innovation and social responsibility,” said judge Rob Parkinson III. “Their ability to translate AI-driven insights into real-world impact across supply chains is both impressive and necessary.”

Evan Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Altana, said the recognition validates their broader mission to address challenges in globalization. “Our vision is a world where global trade is trusted, secure, and sustainable. We are creating that reality through our AI-powered network, empowering governments and businesses to build a more resilient global economy while keeping trade flowing.”

seeks to create a just and equitable world in which all communities have access to clean, affordable energy and essential resources in their homes. Their efforts have supported more than 1.6 million people, reinvested nearly $155 million into communities, and helped reduce 576,649 metric tons of carbon emissions.

"Their work isn’t just about reducing carbon,” said judge Kathleen St. Louis Caliento. "It’s about helping families live in safer, more efficient homes and keeping energy costs affordable. Elevate has proven sustainability and social impact can go hand in hand, and that combination really stands out to me."

"This recognition affirms our commitment to making clean energy more affordable and accessible, particularly for the communities that have historically lacked the resources to benefit from new technologies," said Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate. "We are proud to support innovative solutions that work for people where they are, and we remain inspired by the emerging leaders who are advancing practical, community-centered clean energy solutions. This award strengthens our resolve as we continue this important work."

Shaping the Future of Leadership 

The 2026 Innovator Award recipients reflect the Baumhart Center’s commitment to advancing business practices that create meaningful social and environmental value alongside financial performance. Their work exemplifies how innovation, when guided by purpose and leadership, can address complex challenges while strengthening organizations and communities alike.  

The winners will be formally recognized at the Baumhart Center’s annual Leading for Good conference, which convenes established and emerging leaders who are accelerating social and environmental impact. This year’s conference will take place on March 19 at 草莓社区’s Schreiber Center.  

Learn more 

• Leading for Good 2026 
• Innovator Awards 
• Meet the Past Awardees  
• Baumhart Center 
• Baumhart Scholars MBA