Each year, the National Civic League honors ten outstanding communities with the All-America City Award, celebrating excellence in local innovation, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. This prestigious award highlights the remarkable potential within communities to address critical issues and drive meaningful change when residents, businesses, and nonprofit and government leaders work in concert.

Benefits of winning include:

• Economic Stimulus: All-America City finalists and winners find it easier to attract and retain businesses that generate jobs and a stronger tax base. Finalists and winners also have seen an increase in tourism and grants.
• Pride and Collaboration: The award has reinvigorated communities with a new sense of pride, accomplishment and teamwork. People often say they learned more about the great work taking place in their community because of the application process than they ever imagined.
• National Recognition: Winning the All-America City Award raises the profile of local efforts and puts communities on a national stage. Winners join an elite network of communities that can proudly call themselves an All-America City. And once a community wins, it’s always an All-America City.

Eligibility

Eligible communities for the award include tribes, towns, cities, counties, and regions. Any entity within a community can lead the application process. In the past, municipalities, school districts, community foundations, community-based organizations, and other groups have successfully spearheaded applications.

How to Apply

There are three steps to the application process:

1. Letter of Intent (optional)
2. Written Application
3. In-Person Presentation

The written application can be downloaded here. Past webinars, interviews, and speeches can be accessed here.

Contact

Contact aac@ncl.org for more information.

Timeline & Deadlines

The optional Letters of Intent are due January 5, 2026.

Applications are due February 26, 2026.

Presentations for selected finalists will take place June 26-28 in Denver, Colorado.

Winners will be announced June 28, 2026.