Global Changemakers Reveal Why .ORG Domains Matter: 2025 .ORG Impact Awards

Seven extraordinary organizations were just named winners at the 2025 .ORG Impact Awards. These winners prove why .ORG remains the most trusted domain for mission-driven work. From a 20-year-old Ugandan innovator turning spoiled milk into malaria protection to a Congolese women's fund channeling resources to grassroots movements, these winners show how .ORG domains build credibility.

These organizations show that choosing the right domain isn't just technical, it's strategic. In the past seven years since the .ORG Impact Awards first started, Public Interest Registry has donated $865,000 to organizations across the world.

When visitors see the .ORG domain, they know that your website is created with the purpose of making positive changes. This signal is a great boost for any organization. It creates trust and helps you with the way you want your visitors to perceive your mission.

The 2025 .ORG Impact Awards ceremony took place on October 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Grammy-winning artist Common hosted the event. Their success offers a blueprint for any organization wondering why you should consider .ORG for your organization and how to leverage it for maximum impact.

Dynadot at .ORG Impact Awards 2025

Dynadot attended the 2025 .ORG Impact Awards. Our VP of Marketing, Jacqueline Daly, has been a judge for a second year in a row for these prestigious awards. She, along with other leaders in the Internet, nonprofit, and marketing sectors, evaluated how organizations leverage their .ORG domains to maximize impact.

Why the world's most impactful organizations choose .ORG domains

Research shows that 68% of donors worldwide trust .ORG domains for charitable giving. This perception opens doors to funding, partnerships, and community engagement.

🌳 75% of nonprofits globally use .ORG as their primary domain. This creates an instant association between the extension and mission-driven work.

The domain carries 40 years of history since its establishment in 1985. Public Interest Registry (PIR) has managed it since 2003. This credibility matters in practical ways. Nonprofit domain names with the .ORG extension helps organizations access grants.

They help establish partnerships with government agencies. They build trust with the communities they serve. For social enterprises balancing commercial approaches with social missions, .ORG provides a crucial distinction from purely profit-driven competitors.

Meet the 2025 .ORG Impact Awards winners

The 7th Annual .ORG Impact Awards recognized excellence across seven categories. These included:

• Community Building
• Quality Education
• Environmental Stewardship
• Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
• Health and Healing
• Hunger and Poverty
• Rising Star (for founders under 30)

Each winner received $10,000. The overall .ORG of the Year received a total of $50,000. Public Interest Registry awarded $180,000 to seven winners selected from nearly 3,000 applicants across 120 countries.

A distinguished panel of judges, including our VP of Marketing, Jacqueline, evaluated entries. They looked at innovation, measurable impact, and effective use of .ORG domains to build credibility and trust.

These aren't just organizations with good websites. They're changemakers who leveraged their .ORG domains strategically. They established legitimacy with donors, partners and are having a real impact in the communities they serve. Their stories reveal exactly how trusted domain extensions translate into real-world impact.

Seven case studies in .ORG domain excellence

Winner: .ORG of the Year + Community Building

Organization: Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises - FFCRDC.org

Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises stands as the first Congolese NGO mobilizing funding for grassroots women's organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded in 2007, with the idea of creating a local fund that connects international donors and local initiatives led by women.

This organization empowers Congolese women and girls by partnering with women’s groups across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Together, they advocate for peace, justice, and gender equality through community-driven initiatives. Their programs focus on ending gender-based violence, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and reproductive health, and promoting environmental justice.

Winner: Quality Education

Organization: IncluEdu - IncluEdu.org

Across Latin America, IncluEdu is redefining what inclusive education means. Using the power of AI, the organization teaches sign language and helps promote deaf inclusion, ensuring every student can fully participate in learning.

Through innovative tools and real-time feedback, teachers are equipped to create classrooms where communication flows freely. This is building a foundation for more inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities.

Winner: Rising Star

Organization: Jovia Kisaakye / Ecobed Biotech - EcobedBiotech.org

Ecobed Biotech is a youth-led innovation from East Africa transforming food waste into sustainable solutions that tackle pressing challenges in agriculture, public health, and the environment.

Founded by changemaker Jovia Kisaakye, the company uses cutting-edge biotechnology to convert spoiled milk into a mosquito-repellent skincare lotion that protects against insect bites. Ecobed also harnesses the power of black soldier fly larvae and red wiggler worms to turn organic waste into high-impact products such as clean fuel, organic fertilizers, and animal feed.

Winner: Environmental Stewardship

Organization: Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) - NatureWildlife.org

The Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) is dedicated to conserving wildlife, ecosystems, and natural resources while promoting sustainable livelihoods across India. By restoring mangrove ecosystems and empowering local communities (especially women climate leaders), NEWS advances biodiversity and strengthens climate resilience.

Winner: Health and Healing

Organization: Access to Specialist Knowledge - AccessToSpecialistKnowledge.org

Access to Specialist Knowledge is an innovative initiative that connects healthcare workers in underserved regions with U.S. board-certified specialists who provide pro bono consultations.

Through this exchange of medical expertise, local practitioners gain access to advanced knowledge and support, improving diagnostic accuracy, treatment outcomes, and patient care. By strengthening local health systems and expanding access to specialized expertise, the program helps close the global healthcare equity gap.

Winner: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Organization: Humanos 3D - Humanos3d.org

Humanos3D designs and makes prosthetic hands and arms for people who have lost limbs. They use 3D printing technology to create these devices and donate them completely free to people with disabilities.

They've helped around 300 people who lost their upper limbs by giving them prosthetics that help them do everyday tasks more easily and independently, without needing help from others.

The organization is committed to social inclusion and works in Colombia to make sure people with disabilities have access to assistive devices that can change their lives, even if they can't afford to buy them.

Winner: Hunger and Poverty

Organization: Andando - Andando.org

Andando works with communities in Senegal to improve health, education, and quality of life. They believe that local people know what their communities need most, so they always involve community members, leaders, and local government in planning and decisions.

Andando hires staff from the areas where they work and makes sure everyone can participate in their programs, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion. They design all their projects to eventually run on their own, without needing Andando's help in the future. This way, communities can continue to grow and thrive independently.

What makes these .ORG domains exemplary

These seven winners reveal key advantages of .ORG domains for mission-driven organizations:

• Trust in financial transactions: It signals trust to anyone willing to give donations.
• Distinction from commercial entities: .ORG communicates "mission over profit".
• Community engagement: Local communities prove more willing to participate with recognized .ORG organizations. The extension signals "we're here to serve, not extract." This builds essential trust for community-based programs.

The 2025 .ORG Impact Awards demonstrate something crucial. When organizations need to build trust with donors, partners, and communities, they choose .ORG domains. These seven winners show that .ORG isn't just a domain extension. It's a credibility signal that opens doors to funding, partnerships, and global impact.

How to register your .ORG domain and join this community

Ready to register your .ORG domain and join millions of mission-driven organizations? Start your domain search and grab your .ORG domain in our registration sale for only $6.99 (until 1/4/2026 23:59 UTC).

FAQs

What are the .ORG Impact Awards?

The .ORG Impact Awards are annual awards presented by Public Interest Registry. They recognize organizations that effectively use their .ORG domains to create positive change. The 2025 awards distributed $180,000 across seven categories. Winners were selected from nearly 3,000 applications worldwide.

Why are .ORG domains important for nonprofits?

.ORG domains are important because they can signal a nonprofit mission and build donor trust. The extension establishes credibility for fundraising, grant applications, and community partnerships. It distinguishes mission-driven organizations from commercial entities.

How much does it cost to register a .ORG domain?

.ORG domain is currently on sale for only $6.99 until 1/4/2026 23:59 UTC.

Can anyone register a .ORG domain?

Yes, .ORG domains are open to anyone: individuals, businesses, or nonprofits. However, the extension is most commonly used by nonprofit organizations, NGOs, and mission-driven entities. This is because of its strong association with charitable work and the trust it builds with donors.

What's the difference between .ORG and .COM for nonprofits?

.COM suggests commercial intent. .ORG signals a nonprofit mission. For nonprofits, .ORG helps distinguish charitable work from for-profit businesses. It improves possibilities for donations. It establishes credibility for grant applications and partnerships with government agencies and other NGOs.

How do I apply for future .ORG Impact Awards?

Applications for .ORG Impact Awards typically open in the spring for evaluation over the summer. Winners are announced in the fall. It is free for any organizations with an active .ORG domain to apply. They must demonstrate measurable impact in one of the award categories. Visit the Public Interest Registry website for application details and deadlines.