The National Society of Fund Raising Executives has named BankBoston its 1999 Outstanding Corporation of the Year.

The recognition was made at the NSFRE's 36th International Conference on Philanthropy in Miami Monday evening.

NSFRE says it gave BankBoston the award because the corporation has made corporate giving an important part of its business strategy. The Boston-based company has given grants totaling $54.7 million during the past decade. Giving last year totaled $14.5 million, with the money going to programs in economic development, education, youth, culture, youth, and health and human service organizations.

To celebrate the award, BankBoston is launching a one-time grant program for New England nonprofits that have employees who are members of NSFRE.

The program, called the BankBoston/NSFRE Corporate Challenge, will add $2,500 to each qualified nonprofit that is able to raise at least $5,000 of new corporate support between April 26 and May 24, up to $100,000, the company says.

BankBoston created the Boston Plan for Excellence in the Public Schools in 1984 with a $1.5 million contribution. The Boston Plan has helped lead to long-term improvements to Boston's public schools and is now the largest public education foundation in the country, with an endowment exceeding $32 million, the company says.

Ten years ago BankBoston was the first corporation to support City Year, a program meant to be like an "urban Peace Corps," the company says. City Year has engaged nearly 4,000 young people in full-time community service in 11 cities across the country, BankBoston says.

BankBoston also has been a strong supporter of cultural institutions throughout New England.