National Civic League’s 2025 All-America City Awards

APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 27, 2025

2025 Theme: Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement

As communities grapple with the challenges of climate change, the 2025 All-America City Award will recognize the pivotal role that community engagement plays in advancing environmental sustainability. Climate change presents imminent and complex dangers to local communities. Urgent and equitable action is is needed to help forestall rising temperatures and cultivate resilient, equitable communities that continue to thrive in the face of these environmental, economic, and social impacts. Fortunately, communities all over the world are already working to help safeguard our planet for future generations.

The 2025 award will recognize these communities, specifically those that demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability through meaningful community engagement initiatives. By engaging residents, businesses, and government stakeholders in the pursuit of environmental goals, they create lasting impacts that reduce and mitigate the effects of climate change while bolstering residents’ well-being.

Communities from around the country will submit extensive applications outlining their efforts related to the year’s theme and describing their civic capital. An external review committee will select twenty finalists based on the criteria of shared vision, civic engagement, inclusiveness and equity, collaboration, innovation, and impact. Finalists will then assemble teams of residents, nonprofits, businesses, government leaders, and young people to come to Denver for the annual All-America City Award Event where they will share ideas, learn from experts, build connections, and ultimately presented the story of their work to a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders. After an afternoon of deliberation, the jury will select the 10 winners, which will be announced during the closing ceremony.

Communities wishing to apply for the 2025 All-America City Award should visit the APPLY PAGE to learn more.