Prism Awards 2025

Recognizing an individual blending business & mission to lead transformative change. 

We consider a Social Entrepreneur someone who achieves systemic and sustainable social change through innovation, a unique approach to a product or service, an innovative partnership or a redesign of known technologies or strategies, or a combination of these. 

A Social Entrepreneur focuses first and foremost on the social and/or ecological value creation while optimizing the financial value creation. For this award, we are seeking someone who can innovate with direct impact to a population, cause or industry by finding a new product, a new service, or a new approach to a social problem.

 A social entrepreneur might be the lead of an organization from the top but can also be someone who excels within the ranks of the organization as a driver for change and impact. This person continuously refines and adapts their approach in response to feedback and has demonstrated Social Impact that is measurable and apparent. 

New social impact business that is less than 3 years old.

For Social Impact Startup of the Year, we are looking for a Social Impact business that has recently incorporated social impact strategies that can clearly demonstrate their future vision and how they are going to achieve it. This vision shows opportunities for growth and a creative approach to problem-solving. 

This award recognizes a young Social Impact business that has a clear model for their impact as well as strong measurement of the model’s effectiveness. We are looking for a business that utilizes ongoing problem-solving techniques that engage and enhance the community. 

In addition to having a clear vision, we are also looking for clear implementation strategies and the potential for future success. 

Honoring an established social impact business that is more than 3 years old with demonstrated and measurable social or environmental change. 

A Social Impact business is an established entity that has been operating for three years or more, with a clearly defined social, environmental and/or community impact, that also shows sustainability in terms of profit and growth. The Social Impact Business of the Year has a clear and articulate Social Impact Model which is regularly shared and understood in the community with articulated plans for the future.

The Social Impact Business of the Year shows the ability to measure their impact as well as demonstrate a high degree of customer satisfaction. This business’s culture and leadership are presented as drivers of the business’s success, and employees at multiple levels contribute actively to that culture.

Innovation and creativity are clearly a part of everyday discussions and decisions and is encouraged at multiple levels of the organizations. The Social Impact Business of the Year is recognized repeatedly for their work and is considered a subject matter expert on a Social Impact business topic according to at least one other source. 

 "The PRISM Awards celebrate the innovation and achievements that move Colorado Springs forward. As CEO of the Southern Colorado Impact Group, I’m honored to witness the extraordinary talent and purpose-driven solutions these awards highlight each year.

More than individual recognition, the PRISM Awards reflect our community’s collective progress and potential. By uplifting local talent and recognizing innovation, we strengthen our community and inspire others to pursue meaningful impact. As we look ahead, we remain committed to fostering creativity, progress, and purpose in Colorado Springs."

- Jonathan Liebert (Executive Director of the Southern Colorado Impact Group) 

 "PRISM is my absolute favorite night of the year. The room buzzes not only with the excitement of an awards event, but also with good people who are savvy at business while being equally committed to making their community better. Social entrepreneurs are a rare breed—the ones who do it well. There is a fine balance between confidence and ego, heart and pity, business and greed—the latter of any of these toppling a true social impact model and its potential to change the world. I love that this night brings together the best of all of us, whether we have been in this space for a day or a decade. There is just nothing like it anywhere."

-Stacey Burns, (Founder and Principal of SDB Social Impact)