The following are selected awards earned by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and/or its President and CEO over the past 20 years, including the name and year of the award, reason for the award (if not obvious), and sponsoring/selecting organization:

• “100 Most Influential Hispanics,” awarded on numerous occasions beginning in the mid-1980s through 2006 by Hispanic Business magazine, including multiple recognitions in surveys of Latino opinion leaders as “hands down the most effective Hispanic advocacy organization in Washington, DC”


• Public Health Education Health Promotion (PHEHP) Materials Contest (2008), awarded by the American Public Health Association for the mental health tool kit


• Recognition of Excellence Award (2008), awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor for the Carreras en Salud program


• “High Impact Nonprofit”(2007), designating NCLR as one of the country’s 12 highest-impact nonprofit organizations, as selected by nonprofit scholars and experts; included NCLR in the book Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2007)


• “Power and Influence Top 50” (2006 and 2007), recognizing the nation’s top 50 nonprofit organization leaders, awarded by Nonprofit Times


• Reading is Fundamental Award (2006), presented by First Lady Laura Bush for contributions toward promotion of literacy in the U.S.


• First Lady of Distinction (2006), a human rights award presented by the YMCA of Greater Washington, DC


• John Gardner Award (2005), awarded by the Independent Sector for exemplary leadership in the nonprofit sector


• Keeper of the American Dream (2004), awarded by the National Immigration Forum for contributions to immigrants seeking the American Dream


• Friend of Zion Award (2004), awarded for contributions to Israeli–American relations, presented by the Mayor of Jerusalem


• Ally of Justice (2004), awarded by the Alliance for Justice for contributions to civil rights


• Fearless 50 (2003), awarded by AARP for contributions to America’s seniors


• Voice of Conscience (2003), awarded by the Aetna Foundation


• Jesse Jones Vision Award (2003), awarded by the National Association of Minority Auto Dealers for promoting diversity efforts in the automobile industry


• C. Everett Koop Award (2000), awarded by the American Diabetes Association for excellence in public health


• Safe Kids “Buckle Up” Award (2000), awarded by General Motors and the National SAFE KIDS Campaign for encouraging increased use of child safety seats by Latinos


• Patriot Award (1999), awarded by the U.S. Selective Service System for contributions to military readiness


• Aesculapius Award for Excellence (1998), awarded by the Health Improvement Institute for NCLR’s role in the National Latino Diabetes Initiative


• National Fair Housing Alliance Award (1998), presented on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act


• Charles Evans Hughes Gold Medal Award (1998), presented by the National Conference for Community and Justice for courageous leadership in civic and humanitarian affairs


• Martin Luther King Medallion (1996), awarded by the trustees of The George Washington University for contributions to civil rights


• Creativity in Public Relations Award (CIPRA) (1994), awarded by Inside PR magazine, recognizing NCLR’s campaign to improve media images of Hispanics


• Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award (1993), awarded by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights for unique contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights


• Leadership Award (1990), awarded by the American GI Forum of the United States for contributions to Hispanic veterans