Celebrating strength, systems and sustainability in Black-led organisations
Introducing the Do it Now Now Awards 2026
For many Black-led organisations, impact is something they fight to sustain rather than something they are resourced to grow. Yet across the UK, Black-led charities, social enterprises and mission-driven businesses are doing critical work. They are building community infrastructure, addressing systemic inequality, supporting wellbeing, creating jobs, mentoring young people, shifting culture, and solving problems institutions have failed to fix.
Many are navigating fragile funding pipelines. Many are carrying the weight of community expectation without proportional support. Many are building systems from scratch, without the safety net larger institutions take for granted.
Still, they persist. They innovate. They lead.
The Do it Now Now Awards exist to recognise that leadership. We are celebrating more than visible impact. We are celebrating the strength behind it.
What the awards recognise
The Do it Now Now Awards spotlight excellence in governance, sustainability, operational strength, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.
As Bayo Adelaja, Chief Executive at Do it Now Now, says:
“Black-led charities, social enterprises, and mission-driven businesses play a critical role in strengthening communities, advancing equity, and addressing systemic challenges. However, many operate with limited visibility and recognition despite their significant contribution to the UK’s social and economic landscape. The Do it Now Now Awards seek to change that by celebrating models of excellence and sharing best practice across the sector.”
Beyond the applause
We are looking for organisations and leaders who design for sustainability, not just survival.
That can look like organisations that:
Stay anchored to mission, even when funding pressures pull them elsewhere
Build diverse income streams and plan for long-term resilience
Put fair recruitment, staff wellbeing and strong culture at the centre of growth
Turn strategy into daily practice through clear systems and accountability
Redesign what is not working, and innovate with community at the heart
And leaders who:
Lead with discipline, integrity and care
Build operational systems that protect their team and their energy
Collaborate intentionally and uplift others across the ecosystem
Innovate from insight and lived experience, not ego
Refuse to compromise values for short-term wins
Why now
Sustainability is no longer optional.
Too many Black-led organisations are expected to deliver transformational outcomes without transformational resourcing. Too many founders are praised for resilience when what they actually need is structural support.
Recognition alone will not fix systemic inequality. But recognition can change narratives. It can shift who is seen as credible, influence who gets invited into rooms, and strengthen funding conversations.
The Do it Now Now Awards aim to spotlight organisations and individuals proving that excellence is not accidental. It is designed.
Who can apply
The awards are open to UK-based, Black-led organisations that are registered charities, social enterprises, community interest companies, or businesses with a clear social mission.
Individual awards are open to UK-based leaders and entrepreneurs who identify as Black.
We are not looking for perfection, the biggest budget, or polished jargon. We are looking for evidence of thoughtful leadership, operational strength, and measurable progress.
Award categories
Organisation awards
The Stewardship & Integrity Award
The Financial Future Award
The Culture & Community Care Award
The Strategic Visionary Award
The Systems Innovator Award
Individual awards
The Resilient Leader Award
The Operational Excellence Award
The Ecosystem Builder Award
The Trailblazing Innovator Award
The Purpose-Driven Leader Award
How the process works
Applications will go through a two-stage assessment process. The first stage checks eligibility and completeness. The second stage involves judging based on quality, evidence, and measurable impact using a structured evaluation framework.
Apply now
Applications for the Do it Now Now Awards 2026 are now open and close on 31 March 2026.
Apply here: https://www.doitnownow.com/awards
