Categories are in three divisions, Community Service; Corporate Social Responsibility and a combined Community Service and Social Responsibility. There are categories within each division for specific projects and for companies, organizations and individuals. Some of the categories are designated Leadership categories and are more encompassing and require multiple programs and efforts. Judges recognize that there is overlap between categories and that terminology and definitions are often open to interpretation. Judges reserve the right to move a nomination into a different category if they feel it is more appropriate.
Nomination fees for Leadership Categories are $250. All other categories are $125.
EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
Community Service is generally defined as volunteering time or donating money or resources to a specific cause.
1. Leadership in Community Service
Multiple programs and efforts within the community to support nonprofits. Fee $250
COMPANY COMMUNITY SERVICE
1.1 Company Sponsored Volunteer Project
Collective effort such as a food drive, student mentoring program, heart walk, participation in the arts, United Way enrollment etc. $125
1.2 Specific Volunteer Project
Individual or individuals from a company volunteer for a specific effort that is not a company-wide effort. $125
1.3 Community Partnership
Financial sponsorship and active employee participation in a community event or cause such as planning a walk for charity, holding a wellness clinic, or marketing an arts event. $125
1.4 Philanthropy
Donation of money where someone else does the work, such as building a wing for a hospital, sponsoring activities and uniforms for special needs athletes, contributing to charity. $125
1.5 Individual Participation
An individual who is exceptional in his or her charitable role with their company and may also spend personal time on the cause. $125
ORGANIZATION COMMUNITY SERVICE
2. Leadership in Organization's Community Service
A civic or professional organization provides money and effort in providing multiple programs to the community. Fee $250
2.1 Organization's Specific Program
An organization is involved in a specific program such as raising money for academic scholarships. $125
2.2 Individual Participation in Organization's Program
A person who is outstanding in the organization's efforts. $125
SKILLS-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICE
3. Leadership in Skills-Based Community Service
A firm or individual provides pro bono services and financial sponsorship and involvement in community service programs. Fee $250
3.1 Pro Bono
A law firm, medical practice, accounting, public relations, advertising or other professional organization that collectively provide skills-based service at no charge to individuals or organizations within the community. $125
3.2 Community Program Involvement
A skills-based firm provides a free service to the indigent or a charitable organization. Examples would be an accounting firm partnering with an organization to provide free tax service or a law firm involved with a specific initiative such as immigration or a medical practitioner donating services to the local shelter. $125
3.3 Individual Pro Bono
A solo practitioner or someone within a firm or practice that has an outstanding record of community service. $125
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY SERVICE
4. Leadership in Individual Community Service
Overall volunteer participation. Unrelated to a person's employment, this individual donates time, resources and effort to help community efforts. It may be actively serving on a board, doing something through a church and coaching a youth league team. Fee $250
4.1 Specific Program Participation
Unrelated to a person's employment, this individual donates time, resources, etc. to a specific program or cause. $125
COMMUNITY SERVICE/OTHER
5. Community Service/New Category
If you feel that none of the community service categories fits your nomination, come up with your own category and write it on the nomination form. $125
6. Making A Difference
Specific story about an incident or person that shows exceptional communitas on the part of a person, organization or company. It could be concerning healthcare, seniors, youth, mentally or physically challenged individuals etc. $125
EXCELLENCE IN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility is generally defined as the inclusion of public interest in corporate decision making. It includes, but is not limited to environmental, ethical and quality of life initiatives.
ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
7. Leadership in Ethical and Environmental Responsibility
A company that puts the spirit of communitas into the daily operations of a company through its social, economic and environmental activities. Examples would be the adoption of environmentally friendly practices, implementation of sound health and safety guidelines and inclusive hiring practices. Fee $250
7.1 Ethics in Business
Ethical companies conduct commerce based on conscience and care. These companies are concerned with safety, diversity and fairness. They engage in socially sensitive purchasing and do business with eco-friendly suppliers. $125
7.2 Green Initiatives
Explanation of a company's environmental practices, green programs inside or outside of organization. Examples could be recycling, using local and recycled materials, switching to alternative fuels, improving air and water quality, waste minimization and energy efficiencies. $125
7.3 Sustainability
Commitment to environmental responsibility by protecting the supply of natural resources. Examples are renewable forestry practices, limiting fishing to preserve fish stocks, city planning to preserve green space, use of renewable resources, water reclamation and reducing carbon footprint. $125
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/OTHER
8. Corporate Social Responsibility/New Category
If you feel that none of the community service categories fits your nomination, come up with your own category and write it on the nomination form. $125
9. Making A Difference
Specific story about an incident or person that shows exceptional communitas on the part of a person, organization or company. It could be concerning healthcare, seniors, youth, mentally or physically challenged individuals etc. $125
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility is generally defined as the inclusion of public interest in corporate decision making. It includes, but is not limited to environmental, ethical and quality of life initiatives.
10. Leadership in Community Service and Corporate Social Responsibility
This is the broadest and most comprehensive category. Nominees must show an all-around effort to give back to the community, including company organized volunteer programs, philanthropy and sustainable businesses practices. Fee $250.
Privacy Notice
Since many of the nominations are internal or proprietary in nature, or are done for a client, only the judges see the submissions. Immediately after judging, each nomination is destroyed, so please do not send original materials. No information is sold, traded, displayed, made available to a third party or used for any other purpose.