Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award

The Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award honors mid-career professionals who bring ANCOR’s mission to life. These leaders stand out for their service, dedication and drive to create change—whether in their own organizations or on the national stage.

Now Accepting Applications!

The ANCOR Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award, recipients of which will be honored at ANCOR Connect ’26 in Boston.

Learn More & Apply by November 7

About the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award

In 2024, we created the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award to carry forth a core part of the ANCOR Foundation’s mission of strengthening providers and communities so people with disabilities can live full, included lives. The Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award honors professionals who are already shaping the future of our field. These mid-career leaders bring both experience and energy. They stand out for their service, their dedication and their drive to make lasting change—whether in their own organizations, in their communities or on the national stage.

Nomination Requirements

Eligibility

To qualify, nominees must:

Be an ANCOR member.
Have 5+ years of management experience in the I/DD field.
Be a subject-matter expert in their area.
Serve in a manager- or director-level supervising role supervising people, programs, projects and/or departments.
Have at least one year of service to ANCOR by serving on boards or committees, acting as a mentor, volunteering as a reviewer or engaging similar activities.

Nominees are known for being:

Barrier-breakers who remove obstacles.
Community influencers.
Lifelong learners.
Person-centered leaders.
Team players.

Who Can Nominate?

We welcome nominations from:

The nominee themselves.
A manager- or director-level peer.
An executive-level leader.
The chair of an ANCOR committee, board or work group.
Members of the ANCOR Foundation Board of Directors, the ANCOR Board of Directors, ANCOR’s State Association Executive Forum, or ANCOR’s Board of Representatives.

Management Level Definitions

For the purposes of determining eligibility, we understand management-level roles as follows:

Managers are professionals responsible for keeping daily tasks and operations running smoothly.
Directors are professionals responsible for guiding larger goals while staying connected with day-to-day work.
Executive-level leaders include vice presidents, who are professionals responsible for overseeing operations and helping shape key decisions, and chief executives, who have final authority and are responsible for strategy.

👉 Not sure where you fit? Reach out—we’ll gladly help you figure it out.