Achievement Awards Eligibility and Nomination Guidelines

To position your nominee for success, please review the following eligibility and nomination guidelines before submitting an award nomination.

Eligibility

  • Achievement Awards submissions are for accomplishments demonstrated for at least one year prior to the time of nomination.
  • The nominating nonprofit agency must be affiliated with SourceAmerica.
  • The nominating nonprofit agency must be in compliance with SourceAmerica guidelines and standards.
  • If a nonprofit agency won an Achievement Award in 2020 in a specific category, the agency may not submit a nomination for the the same award in that category for 2021.
  • SourceAmerica Board and NCSE Executive Committee representatives and organizations are eligible to receive Achievement Awards but are ineligible for any financial prize.
  • For 2021, SourceAmerica staff and leadership may also submit nominations in two categories: Business Partnership Award and new Innovation Award.

How to Create a Successful Nomination

See what you need to begin:

  • First, review award criteria to ensure your nomination is in the appropriate category.
  • Nonprofit agencies may nominate in as many award categories as desired; however, only one nomination may be submitted per award category.
  • Each submission must contain an essay (one-page, single spaced) explaining the reason(s) for nominating an exemplary employee, business partner, or nonprofit agency.
  • Up to three supporting documents may also be included with each submission, such as news articles, letters of recommendation, videos, etc.
  • Start and complete your nomination ahead of the January 29, 2021 submission deadline. There will be no extensions.

Tips for writing a stellar essay:

  • Take a look at this sample essay before you begin to write.
  • Carefully review nomination form questions and essay requirements for your award category.
  • Draft an outline to guide the writing of your essay.
  • Identify and collect the supporting documents you wish to submit along with your essay.
  • Make your essay stand out by including specific examples of your nominee’s accomplishments, results, and impact.
  • State if the nomination is for work on an AbilityOne contract.
  • Use "People First" language:
    • People first language defines the person before the disability.
    • For example, use the term "people with disabilities", not the "disabled" or "handicapped".
  • Correct spelling and grammar are appreciated by our judges.

Submit your nomination:

  • Review your essay and supporting documents before you enter them into the online nomination form.
  • Changes cannot be made once a nomination has been submitted, even if it's submitted before the deadline.
  • After you've entered all required information, click the Submit button and you'll receive a confirmation of your submission.
  • Should you not receive a confirmation, please contact NBass@SourceAmerica.org.