Created in 1998, the Award is named for the great Philadelphian and American artist. The first recipient of the Marian Anderson Award in 1998 was Harry Belafonte, followed by Gregory Peck in 1999, Dame Elizabeth Taylor in 2000, Quincy Jones in 2001, and Danny Glover in 2002, and Oprah Winfrey in 2003.

The Marian Anderson Award also administers the Marian Anderson Prize for Emerging Classical Artists. The Prize is produced in partnership with Astral Artistic Services of Philadelphia and candidates for this prize are be drawn from young classical singers who study, reside or were born in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware. A third initiative, The Marian Anderson Award Young Artist Study-Grant Program, supports financially challenged high school-aged artists from throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Since 1998, in addition to the annual prize honoring artist humanitarians, the Marian Anderson Award has succeeded in providing close to $400,000 in public programs, commissions, sponsorships and grants that benefit young artists, Philadelphia and the region.