AlmaLinux OS Foundation wins silver Stevie Award for nonprofit of the year

The AlmaLinux OS Foundation was named a silver Stevie Award winner in the 2026 International Business Awards’ Non-Profit Organization of the Year category. The win spotlights the nonprofit’s growing role in open source enterprise Linux as the awards program prepares to honor winners in Paris on Oct. 28.

Why it matters: - The award recognizes the AlmaLinux OS Foundation’s role in stewarding a free, community-governed enterprise Linux distribution used by organizations that depend on open source. - The win adds outside validation for a nonprofit model built around enterprise-grade software, global infrastructure and community contributors. - The recognition may strengthen AlmaLinux’s credibility with partners, sponsors and enterprise users across the open-source ecosystem.

What happened: - The AlmaLinux OS Foundation won a silver Stevie Award in the 2026 International Business Awards for Non-Profit Organization of the Year. - The foundation announced the honor on Aug. 31, 2026, from Fort Myers, Florida. - Winners will be celebrated at a gala banquet at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse in Paris on Oct. 28.

The details: - The 2026 International Business Awards drew nominations from organizations in 82 nations and territories. - More than 200 professionals judged the entries over a three-month process. - The judges cited the foundation’s global mirrors, partnerships, sponsorships and growing influence and credibility in the open-source community as key factors. - benny Vasquez, chair of the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, said the recognition reflects the strength of the community and its ability to deliver enterprise-grade technology at global scale. - Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, said the winners represent the best in business achievement and have shown innovation, leadership, resilience and results in a competitive field. - The Stevie Awards called out the Oct. 28 celebration in Paris for this year’s winners. - More information about the awards is available in the Stevie Awards announcement.

Between the lines: - The award signals that AlmaLinux’s community-led structure is being recognized alongside more traditional business and nonprofit organizations. - The emphasis on infrastructure, partnerships and sponsorships suggests the foundation is being judged not just on software, but on its ability to sustain a large-scale open-source ecosystem. - The result also fits a broader trend of open-source projects seeking legitimacy through formal industry awards and enterprise adoption.

What's next: - AlmaLinux and other Stevie winners will be honored at the gala in Paris on Oct. 28. - The foundation is likely to continue leaning on the award in outreach to users, contributors, mirrors and sponsors. - AlmaLinux will keep promoting its community-governed model as a production-grade enterprise Linux option.

The bottom line: - AlmaLinux’s silver Stevie Award is more than a trophy. It is a public signal that a nonprofit open-source project can compete on the same stage as major business organizations.