Three Leaders Awarded 2026 Wilmers Integrity Prize
The annual award recognizes individuals for their exceptional advocacy and integrity through $100,000 grants.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Awards
Live Poll
Should private foundations prioritize funding local leaders who are transforming community services?
The 2026 Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize has been awarded to three leaders who have demonstrated exceptional advocacy. Each recipient will receive $100,000 in unrestricted funding to further their respective organizational missions.
Why it matters
The prize honors those who show extraordinary integrity in their actions and community work. The funding provides these leaders with the financial freedom to expand their efforts in education, music, and health support.
Each winner receives $100,000 in funding. Persistence Preparatory Academy, founded by winner Joelle Formato, reports a 95 percent retention rate among its 490 students, 84 percent of whom are economically disadvantaged.
The players
Joelle Formato
She is the founder of the Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School in Buffalo, New York.
Alan Shapiro
He is the co-founder of Terra Firma, an organization providing medical and legal support.
Derrick Tabb
He is the co-founder of The Roots of Music, which provides free music education in New Orleans.
The details
The winners were selected following a national search and a two-day symposium held in New York City for 10 finalists. Honorees include Joelle Formato of Persistence Preparatory Academy, Alan Shapiro of Terra Firma, and Derrick Tabb of The Roots of Music.
Timeline
2007: The Roots of Music was co-founded.
2013: Terra Firma was co-founded.
2018: Persistence Preparatory Academy was founded.
2019: The Wilmers Integrity Prize was established.
2026: Winners received the Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize.
Culture Shift
The awards reflect a broader shift toward philanthropy that prioritizes unrestricted funding for grassroots leaders over project-specific grants. This approach allows community organizations to adapt their services dynamically to the evolving needs of their participants.
The funding allows these organizations to stabilize and potentially expand their vital services, such as free music lessons and medical support, directly in their home communities. Readers can expect improved resource availability from these non-profits as the winners utilize the grant money to scale their operations.
The takeaway
Supporting grassroots leaders with unrestricted capital is becoming an essential model for fostering organizational resilience in the social sector. This prize demonstrates the significant impact that long-term, non-prescriptive funding can have on community-led initiatives.
What happens next
Terra Firma plans to expand its operational footprint by opening new centers in Chicago and San Diego by the end of 2026, with an additional goal of launching two new programs annually through 2030.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest honorees and the selection criteria on the United States page.
More information
Find full details on the selection process and current winners on the Wilmers Integrity Prize information website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Berkshire Eagle.
Live Poll
Should private foundations prioritize funding local leaders who are transforming community services?
