For years, the Society Awards Programme has recognised the outstanding achievement, support, and dedication of societies and volunteers.
As we launch the 2020 Society Awards Programme, we are excited to introduce a new category: Outstanding Research Awards. These awards will recognize societies that best leverage Research Foundation and Future of Finance content.
Additionally, in response to feedback, we have updated the application process. The new process will comprise of two rounds. The first will be a short, streamlined application where the society provides an overview of the submission. These responses will be evaluated and the top submissions will move on to the second round and be asked to complete a more robust application.
Our goal is to encourage greater participation in the programme and ensure that the best ideas from the global society network are highlighted and leveraged.
Round 1 applications due – 30 April 2020
Round 2 applications due – 26 June 2020
Society Excellence Awards
The Society Excellence Awards recognize local societies who have made an outstanding impact and contribution to delivering member value and furthering the mission of CFA Institute in their local communities.
Most Outstanding Societies by Size
This award category recognises societies with the most exceptional across-the-board performance.
Impact and Innovation Awards
This award category recognizes high impact and highly innovative initiatives that have potential for development.
Outstanding Research Awards
This award recognizes societies that have best leveraged existing research content related to the Research Foundation, the Future of Finance, and/or the Financial Analysts Journal.
Volunteer of the Year Awards
The Volunteer of the Year Awards recognize society leaders who have demonstrated exemplary results with their society, the CFA Institute community, and beyond. There will be five award recipients:
- One winner per region (Americas, Asia Pacific, and EMEA)
- One Outstanding Young Leader (for a society leader aged under 35 years old)
- One Lifetime Achievement (for a society leader with sustained, varied, and impactful long-term service)
Application Process
In response to society feedback, this year CFA Institute is rolling out a two-step application process.
- Step 1: Societies submit an overview application highlighting their overall achievements, the initiative, or nominee by 30 April 2020.
Finalists are notified 15 May 2020 in each award category.
- Step 2: Award finalists complete a more thorough, traditional application by 26 June 2020.
Most Outstanding Societies by Size
This category recognises societies based on membership size with exceptional across-the-board performance. Societies are evaluated in their performance in the following areas:
- Strategic direction (a solid mission, vision, strategic objectives, and a healthy project pipeline);
- Governance and leadership (society structure, volunteer management and governing policies);
- Develop future professionals (candidate and student support);
- Deliver member value (high-quality continuing education programmes, platforms and events);
- Build market integrity (thought-leadership, and outreach);
- Advance professionalism and professional recognition (brand awareness, regulatory waivers, etc.); and
- Professionalize society operations (administrative, employment, financial, and technological operations).
One society will win from each of the following membership size categories:
- Under 150 members
- 150-349 members
- 350-999 members
- Over 1,000 members
A specific society may only win this award once every three years.
Evaluation Process
In order to be eligible to win, societies must have:
- an active strategic plan;
- a submitted FY22 business plan;
- a signed Member Society Licensing Agreement (MSLA);
- promoted the CFA Institute brand through local society brand activation;
- steady (or increasing) membership; and
- 100% of board members must have completed the online Society Leader Orientation.
Submissions will be evaluated by panels of judges comprising CFA Institute staff and Presidents Council Representatives. In addition to this application, key metrics and statistics from CFA Society Databooks will be provided to each judge for background information on the society’s membership, demographics, candidate pool, and other key metrics.
Applications will be submitted online. First round applications will be a 500-word submission highlighting all categories as outlined in the rubric below and include an overview of success metrics, as appropriate.
Initiatives commencing from 1 March 2021 and ending by 28 February 2022 are eligible for consideration.
Evaluations will be based on the following rubric:
Prizes
Winning societies will each receive:
- US $5,000;
- a trophy;
- general digital marketing materials;
- recognition from CFA Institute to winning society members recognizing the achievement
Click here for the stories of the 2021 Most Outstanding Societies by Size winners.
Impact and Innovation Award Overview
This category is focused on recognising societies executing high impact and highly innovative initiatives that have strong potential for widespread society interest and further development. Emphasis is placed on initiatives with the potential for widespread society interest and further roll-out. While weight is given to initiatives focused on delivering member value and building market integrity, initiatives can be more widely focused. Specific success metrics are extremely important.
There will be three award winners – one from each region.
Evaluation Process
Societies may submit only one application in this category.
In order to be eligible to win, societies must have:
- a submitted FY22 business plan;
- a signed Member Society Licensing Agreement (MSLA); and
- 100% of board members must have completed the online Society Leader Orientation.
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprising CFA Institute staff and President Council Representatives.
Applications will be submitted online. First round applications will be a 500-word submission highlighting the specific initiative and include an overview of success metrics, as appropriate.
Initiatives commencing from 1 March 2021 and ending by 28 February 2022 are eligible for consideration.
Evaluations will be based on the following:
Prizes:
Winning societies will each receive:
- US $2,500;
- a trophy;
- general digital marketing materials;
- and the opportunity to share their initiative with the global society network
Click here for the stories of the 2021 Impact and Innovation Awards winners.
Outstanding Research Award Overview
This award recognises societies that have best leveraged existing research content related to the Research Foundation, the Future of Finance, and/or the Financial Analysts Journal. The goal is to provide a stronger, more effective working relationship between local societies and the research initiatives of CFA Institute. Winners can be individual societies or collaborations of multiple societies and will have demonstrated meaningful commitment to thought leadership in investment management through events, promotion, and/or idea generation.
Evaluation Process
Societies may submit only one application in this category.
In order to be eligible to win, societies must have:
- responded to the 2019 society satisfaction survey;
- a signed Member Society Licensing Agreement (MSLA); and
- 85% of board members must have completed the online Society Leader Orientation.
Submissions will be evaluated by panels of judges comprising CFA Institute staff, Presidents Council Representatives, and past award winners.
Applications will be submitted online. First round applications will be a 500-word submission highlighting the specific initiative and include an overview of success metrics, as appropriate.
Initiatives commencing from 1 March 2019 and ending by 29 February 2020 are eligible for consideration.
Evaluations will be based on the following:
Prizes
The winning society will receive:
- a trophy; and
- general digital marketing materials
Volunteers of the Year Award Overview
The Volunteer of the Year Awards recognise society leaders who have demonstrated exemplary results with their society, the CFA Institute community, and beyond.
There will be five award recipients:
- 1 winner per region (Americas, Asia Pacific, and EMEA)
- 1 Outstanding Young Leader (for a society leader aged under 35 years old)
- 1 Lifetime Achievement (for a society leader with sustained, varied, and impactful long-term service)
Applicants for these awards must be peer-nominated, self-nomination is not permitted.
Evaluation Process
Nominators may submit only one application per volunteer category.
Nominees must be members* in good-standing of both CFA Institute and a local society and have completed the online Society Leader Orientation.
Nominees for each award category will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprising CFA Institute staff, President Council Representatives, and former Volunteer of the Year award winners.
Evaluations will be based on the following:
*In the mainland of China, CFA Institute accepts CFA Charterholders only
Prizes
- A trophy
- A letter of appreciation to his/her employer signed by the President and CEO of CFA Institute
*In the mainland of China, CFA Institute accepts CFA Charterholders only
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