Nomination FAQs
DATES AND DEADLINES
When does the nomination site open?
The nomination site will open on the Invest in Others website on February 15, 2013.
When are applications due?
Entries must be submitted online no later than April 26, 2013. No late entries will be accepted.
When are the finalists being selected and announced?
Finalists will be notified and announced on the Invest in Others website in early August. Honorees will be announced at the Invest in Others Community Leadership Awards on September 19, 2013.
When are the Community Leadership Awards presented?
The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation has partnered with InvestmentNews to host finalists and recognize honorees at the annual Invest in Others Community Leadership Awards dinner, scheduled for September 19, 2013 in New York City. This event celebrates and honors financial advisors from across the nation who have been recognized for exemplifying great leadership qualities in the industry, actively volunteering to improve their local communities and making a difference in the lives of others.
AWARDS
What is the Community Leadership Awards?
The Invest in Others Community Leadership Awards was established by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation to honor excellence in philanthropy demonstrated by financial advisors in their local communities.
What is the mission of the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation?
Established in 2006, the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity founded with the mission of encouraging and supporting the philanthropic and volunteer activities of financial advisors in their local community. Our mission is achieved through a community-based approach to philanthropy that seeks to strengthen neighborhoods from within by empowering those who are committed to serving others in their professional and personal lives.
How many awards are given?
Awards are presented in the following five categories: Community Service Award, Global Community Impact Award, Mentoring Excellence Award, Volunteer Team Award, and Volunteer of the Year Award. Three finalists and one honoree are chosen in each category. Finalists will receive a $5,000 donation to their designated charity and honorees will receive a $20,000 donation to their designated charity.
What is the description of each award?
- Community Service Award: Presented to an advisor who has made managerial contributions to a local, non- profit organization - as a fundraiser, organizer, board member, or other executive position - over a period of at least five years, has made an outstanding contribution to the community, and has served "with distinction."
- Global Community Impact Award: Presented to an advisor who has been actively serving for at least two years as a volunteer with a charity whose primary mission is to help those who live outside the United States, and whose efforts have made a lasting impact on a community outside the U.S.
- Mentoring Excellence Award: Presented to an advisor who has been actively mentoring a young adult, or involved with a mentoring program, for at least two years and has demonstrated qualities as a role model and "champion for youth" in his/her local community.
- Volunteer Team Award: Presented to a team of advisors and/or office staff for their current, collective involvement of at least three years as volunteers for a charity in their local community.
- Volunteer of the Year Award: Presented to an advisor who has been actively serving as a volunteer at one or more local non-profit organizations for at least two years and has made a contribution considered to have a 'lasting impact' in his/her community.
Who is eligible for nomination?
Nominees must be currently working as financial planners (e.g., CFP®), registered representatives (e.g., Series 7), or registered investment advisors. Nominees must be active financial advisor defined by spending at least 75% of the time providing financial consultation with clients. Volunteer involvement with the non-profit organization must be current and ongoing. A current involvement is one in which the activity has taken place within the last 18 months.
Are international advisors eligible for the Community Leadership Awards recognition?
This awards program is for U.S. advisors only.
Is the Community Leadership Awards only for individual advisors, or can companies be nominated?
The Community Leadership Awards support the philanthropic and volunteer activities of financial advisors in their local community. These awards are to honor and recognize individual financial advisors. However, the Volunteer Team award is able to recognize a group of advisors who volunteer on behalf of a single charitable organization.
How frequently can an advisor and/or charity be nominated and/or win?
Advisors who have previously received a Community Leadership financial award (finalists and honorees) can be nominated after seven years from the award date. There is no limit to the number of times an advisor may be nominated if they have not previously been selected as an award finalist or honoree.
CHARITY ELIGIBILITY
What charities are eligible?
Only qualified U.S.-based non-profit organizations and educational institutions with tax-exempt status granted under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) are eligible to receive award donations.
Do international organizations qualify as an eligible charity for the awards?
Yes, as long as they are based in the United States (for Patriot Act compliance) and are designed a non-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
What if the charity doesn’t have a Federal Tax ID for the online nomination form?
The Tax ID# is required to confirm the charity is a non-profit organization recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This piece of information is required to register the charity in the nomination process.
How frequently can a charity be nominated?
Non-profit organizations who have received a Community Leadership charitable contribution can be an eligible non-profit organization after seven years from the award date.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Who can nominate an advisor?
Anyone can nominate an advisor or advisor team. Advisors or advisor teams can also self-nominate.
How do I nominate multiple advisors?
If you are nominating more than one advisor and if they have volunteered at different organizations, you will need to register each time as a ‘first time user’ and use the non-profit organization’s tax ID that is affiliated with the advisor. If you are nominating a volunteer team (all who have volunteered for one charity), you will register the lead advisor using the non-profit organization’s tax ID where the financial advisor you are nominating has volunteered.
How do I nominate someone for the Community Leadership Awards?
To nominate an advisor for the Invest in Others Community Leadership Awards, visit the Invest In Others Charitable Foundation website at www.investinothers.org. Click the “Nominate an Advisor" button located on the homepage. Please apply early as completed applications require two letters of reference (one must be from the non-profit organization), and any optional supporting materials (photos, articles, etc). Only completed submissions that are accompanied by all supporting materials will be considered. Only one category per submission is allowed.
SELECTION PROCESS
Who handles the awards procedures?
The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation handles all phases of the awards process. Questions regarding the awards process may be addressed to events@investinothers.org.
How are winners selected?
The Center for Leadership Innovation (TCLI), a not-for-profit philanthropic and leadership organization, serves as an unbiased initial screener of entry form eligibility and content. The entries are evaluated based on an advisor or advisor team’s level of involvement in an organization, their personal contributions, and the lasting impact of their efforts in their local community. A total of 50 semi-finalists (10 semi-finalists in each of 5 categories) are selected by TCLI, who forwards these semi-finalists as “blind” nominations for review by a judging committee of industry professionals. The judging committee selects 3 finalists (including 1 honoree) in each of 5 categories. Nominees’ entry information will not be given to anyone outside of TCLI; the judging committee will receive only the information necessary to evaluate the candidate.
By what criteria are the nominations judged?
Finalists will be selected based on their mission to have a focused impact on the local level, and the achievements they have accomplished in the local community. Criteria include:
- Leadership: Ability to motivate and inspire others to accomplish a specific goal or objective. Ability to inspire others to volunteer personal time.
- Distinction: Recognized by efforts that create an indelible influence on other volunteers and in the local community.
- Dedication: Recognized by others as being dedicated to achieving desired results by pursuit, courage and enthusiasm.
- Contribution: Recognized by having made a significant contribution of personal time and efforts.
How do I nominate someone for the Community Leadership Awards?
To nominate an advisor for the Invest in Others Community Leadership Awards, visit the Invest In Others Charitable Foundation website at www.investinothers.org. Click the “Nominate an Advisor" button located on the homepage. Please apply early as completed applications require two letters of reference (one must be from the non-profit organization), and any optional supporting materials (photos, articles, etc). Only completed submissions that are accompanied by all supporting materials will be considered. Only one category per submission is allowed.
What should I do if the charity’s Tax ID is not showing in the system?
If the tax ID you provided is not in our database, please submit a PDF copy of the organization’s IRS Letter of Determination dated within the past nine months to events@investinothers.org.
What is the criteria for a qualifying nomination?
You should select the charitable organization based on the fact that finalists are selected based on their mission to have a focused impact on the local level, and the achievements they have accomplished in the local community with that charitable organization. Criteria include:
- Leadership: Ability to motivate and inspire others to accomplish a specific goal or objective. Ability to inspire others to volunteer personal time.
- Distinction: Recognized by efforts that create an indelible influence on other volunteers and in the local community.
- Dedication: Recognized by others as being dedicated to achieving desired results by pursuit, courage and enthusiasm.
- Contribution: Recognized by having made a significant contribution of personal time and efforts beyond expectations.
The "compelling story" is an opportunity to talk about results, impact, and the type of service the financial advisor is providing in his or her local community.
What should the letters from the charity and the nominee each convey?
There are two letters that should be submitted with the nomination. A letter FROM THE CHARITY provides an overview of the volunteer work performed by the nominee, and the impact the charity experienced because of their efforts. The charity letter is an opportunity to express the impact the financial advisor is making personally. The second letter should be from the NOMINEE and describe the nominee's motivation for serving and the benefits experienced in the local community. The nominee letter is an opportunity for the nominee to express why he/she is involved with the mission of the charity and what he/she is accomplishing.
The online form asks for the broker-dealer/custodian, what is this?
The financial advisor will be able to provide that information to you to include in the online form.
What additional items should be submitted with the nomination form?
Please note that the submission does require several uploads including charity logo, letter from nominee/charity, and photos. Only requested items will be reviewed for consideration.
Can we submit additional materials such as a video detailing the charity along with the online nomination form?
In order to remain consistent and fair in our judging process, we do not enable submission of additional supporting materials than those specified in the instructions.
AWARD FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
What is the amount of the award?
Finalists will receive a $5,000 donation to their designated charity. Honorees will receive a $20,000 donation to their designated charity.
Can I choose a different charity to receive the financial award from the one the advisor is being nominated for?
The charitable organization you select and feature in the nomination will be the organization receiving the donation (if selected) and evaluated in your application. Only qualified non-profit organizations and educational institutions with tax-exempt status granted under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) are eligible to receive award donations.
PUBLICITY
When will the article featuring the finalists appear in Investment News?
In advance of the Community Leadership Awards, InvestmentNews features a story about the 2013 finalists which is currently scheduled to run in the September 9, 2013 issue. Following the event, a special report will appear in the magazine featuring the award honorees and highlights from the event. The post-event report is currently scheduled to appear in the October 14, 2013 issue. (Issue dates are subject to change.)
Are finalists involved in public announcements?
Finalists must agree to be interviewed, photographed, filmed and featured in print, broadcast, electronic and social media. InvestmentNews will be providing extensive and comprehensive coverage of advisors honored at the Community Leadership Awards. Honorees may be contacted for potential media coverage approximately six (6) months after the awards ceremony to see how the charitable contribution from the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation made an impact in your local community.
