This category recognizes 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 FY21 business plan;
• a signed Member Society Licensing Agreement (MSLA);
• promoted the CFA brand through local society brand;
• 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 2020 and ending by 29 February 2021 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; and
• recognition from CFA Institute to winning society members recognizing the achievement.

Click here for the stories of the 2020 Most Outstanding Societies by Size  winners.

This category is focused on recognizing 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 FY21 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 2020 and ending by 29 February 2021 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 2020 Impact and Innovation Awards  winners.

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. 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:

• an active strategic plan;
• a submitted FY21 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 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 2020 and ending by 29 February 2021 are eligible for consideration.

Evaluations will be based on the following:

Prizes

The winning society will receive:

• US $500.00;
• a trophy; and
• general digital marketing materials.

Click here for the stories of the 2020 Outstanding Research Awards  winners.

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:

• 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

Click here for stories of the 2020 Volunteer of the Year Awards  winners.