Transformative gift award
Selection criteria & award significance
The Transformative Gift Award honors a donor or advisor whose donor-advised fund (DAF) gift has created a profound and measurable impact.
This award recognizes visionary giving that has directly fueled meaningful change, whether by advancing a critical cause, catalyzing new initiatives, or significantly enhancing a nonprofit’s ability to serve its mission.
Past winner
Mitzi Perdue
Philanthropist and Human Rights Activist
Mitzi Perdue, a philanthropist and impact-driven donor, turned a priceless family heirloom into a powerful act of generosity. After visiting Ukraine as a guest of the Kyiv region police following the Russian invasion, she recognized urgent needs and sought a way to help. Inspired by her late husband, Frank Perdue’s deep philanthropic values, she donated her historic emerald engagement ring—originally tied to the famed treasure ship Atocha—to support the Ukrainian people. Through a donor-advised fund, she transformed the asset into impactful aid in a tax-effective way, exemplifying how strategic philanthropy can maximize giving.