Three glass teardrop-shaped awards with blue heart designs inside, displayed on a white table with a blue background.

AWARDS

Recognizing Schools that are Making a Difference

Building Hope’s awards honor charter schools and leaders who are making outstanding contributions to learners, families, and communities. Each year, the program recognizes excellence in areas such as innovation, leadership, student empowerment, and community engagement.

Supporting Schools & Leaders

The Building Hope IMPACT Program seeks out charter schools who are excelling in Student Empowerment, Community Engagement, and Educational Innovation to shine a light on their successes, provide grants to amplify their work, and provide a lifetime membership in a powerful and supportive nationwide thought-and-action program for charter leaders.‍

Through the IMPACT program, Building Hope provides grants, leadership development, and a unique opportunity for education leaders and changemakers to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate on solutions to shape the future of K-12 education.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement is key for a charter school to thrive. Engaging families in the work and serving family needs supports each student’s success. Bringing in resources from outside the school family and sharing the gifts and resources of the school with the neighborhood for the benefit of the whole community are other hallmarks of our three winners.
Group of young adults studying together at a table with notebooks and a laptop in a bright room.

Student Empowerment

Student Empowerment is at the core of every great school, but our three winners are laser-focused on giving their students the tools they need to succeed in school and in life. When a student is supported and their voice heard, it is the key that unlocks their potential. Students who are empowered lead the way to the future.

Educational Innovation

Educational Innovation is critical to be able to support students with education that prepares them for an ever-changing world. The ability to adapt effectively and create programs that serve the unique needs of students, the hopes and dreams of a community, and the future of education defines our three winners in this category.

S. Joseph Bruno Leadership Award

This Charter Leadership Award honors charter schools who lead the way in the charter school movement. These schools excel in Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and/or Community Engagement and have made their mark on the charter school landscape. Single locations and small networks are honored for their IMPACT on students, their families, and the local and charter communities.

Meet Our Past Winners

Explore winners from the past years.

2025 Winners

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2024 Winners

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2023 Winners

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2022 Winners

Meet Winners