Keep America Beautiful Earns National Nonprofit Award

The litter cleanup and recycling organization was named 2026 Nonprofit of the Year by Engage for Good.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:59am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a recycling bin icon repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing flat, vibrant neon color palettes and heavy black outlines to transform an everyday object into a modern pop art conceptual illustration.The vibrant visual celebration of Keep America Beautiful's national award underscores the organization's mission to unite communities around sustainable practices.Palm Springs Today

Keep America Beautiful (KAB), a national nonprofit focused on litter cleanup and recycling, has been named the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year by Engage for Good, an organization that recognizes effective corporate-nonprofit partnerships. KAB was honored for its decades-long commitment to building cleaner, greener, and more vibrant communities through community action and public education.

Why it matters

KAB's award highlights the organization's pioneering model for uniting businesses, governments, and local communities as shared stewards of public spaces. The recognition underscores the growing importance of corporate-nonprofit collaborations in driving sustainable change and community engagement around environmental issues like litter and recycling.

The details

In 2024, KAB's efforts resulted in the collection of more than 26.8 million pounds of recyclable materials. The organization has built partnerships with major companies like Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Niagara Cares, Altria, and Reynolds American to expand the accessibility of its programs. Engage for Good praised KAB's ability to turn these corporate and community partnerships into tangible, visible change.

  • KAB has been working to reduce litter and improve recycling rates for over 70 years since its founding in 1953.
  • KAB will receive the Nonprofit of the Year Halo award at the Engage for Good Conference in Palm Springs, California on April 21-24, 2026.

The players

Keep America Beautiful

A national nonprofit organization focused on litter cleanup, recycling, and building vibrant communities through public-private partnerships.

Engage for Good

An organization that recognizes effective corporate-nonprofit partnerships and presents the annual Halo Awards.

Jennifer Lawson

President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful.

Muneer Panjwani

CEO of Engage for Good.

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What they’re saying

“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from Engage for Good. We have always believed the biggest challenges are solved when people come together in partnership. When communities, systems, and partners move together, progress follows.”

— Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO, Keep America Beautiful

“For more than 70 years, Keep America Beautiful has done something rare: built a model that turns corporate and community partnerships into tangible, visible change. Their work proves that when people feel genuinely connected to a place, they act to protect it. That's exactly the kind of impact this award was created to celebrate.”

— Muneer Panjwani, CEO, Engage for Good

What’s next

Keep America Beautiful will be presented with the Nonprofit of the Year Halo award at the Engage for Good Conference in Palm Springs, California on April 21-24, 2026.

The takeaway

This award highlights the power of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable change and community engagement around environmental issues. By bringing together businesses, governments, and local residents, Keep America Beautiful has demonstrated a model for how collaborative action can transform neighborhoods and public spaces.