Advisor FAQs

When does the nomination site open?
The nomination site for the 2020 Invest in Others Awards is now open. Advisors may be nominated at this time.

When are nominations due?
Due to the circumstances we are currently facing, we have extended the nominations deadline to Friday April 17, 2020.

When are the finalists selected and announced?
We will notify 2020 finalists in July, and also post the announcement on our website. We will announce the winners at the Invest in Others Awards Gala on September 24, 2020.

When is the Invest in Others Awards Gala?
The Invest in Others Awards Gala will be held Thursday, September 24, 2020 at the Westin Boston Waterfront in Boston.

How do I nominate an advisor for the Invest in Others Awards?
You can submit nominations online through the nominations portal found at investinothers.org/nominate.

Anyone can nominate an advisor by sharing their contact information, the advisor’s contact information, and some basic information about the nonprofit. You can nominate more than one advisor. Advisors may also self-nominate.

You will be asked to create an account in order to submit a nomination. This is an easy process and not only allows us to track submissions more effectively, but also enables you to be able to save your work and finish later.

The nominations deadline has been extended to Friday, April 17, 2020.

What happens after I submit a nomination?
We will review the nomination to ensure the advisor and the nonprofit meet our eligibility criteria. More details on eligibility can be found below. Once this is verified, the advisor and nonprofit will be invited to complete a more detailed application on a rolling basis.

What’s the difference between a nomination and an application?
The nomination is a simpler way to collect contact information and pre-screen nominees. The application is more in-depth and asks questions relating to the advisor’s service with the nonprofit and requires supporting documentation including a letter of recommendation and photos.

Only completed applications that are accompanied by all supporting materials will be considered. Advisors may only apply for ONE nonprofit in ONE category per year.

The application deadline is Friday, April 22, 2020.

Will multiple nominations increase the advisor’s chance of being selected?
No, multiple nominations will NOT increase an advisor’s chance of being selected as a finalist.

If an advisor is nominated by multiple individuals for the same nonprofit organization, the advisor will only be invited to complete one application.

If an advisor is nominated for his or her work with different nonprofit organizations, the advisor will be asked to select only one nonprofit to complete an application for.

Can we submit additional materials, such as a video, for the application?
In order to remain consistent and fair in our judging process, we do not enable submission of additional supporting materials beyond those specified in the instructions.

How many awards are given?
Awards are presented to advisors in the following five categories: Catalyst, Community Service, Global Impact, Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.

Two finalists and one winner are chosen in each category. For their designated charities, finalists will receive $10,000, winners will receive $40,000, and the Lifetime Achievement Award winner will receive $50,000.

What is the description of each award?
Applicants will be asked to select an award category that best describes their charitable work.

Catalyst Award: (Think Initiative) Presented to an advisor who has been an active stimulus for positive change and displayed entrepreneurial vision and leadership to a nonprofit organization for at least 3 years. This may have been demonstrated by rejuvenating an organization from failing to thriving or helping to launch a new nonprofit organization.

Community Service Award: (Think Leadership) Presented to an advisor who has made an outstanding impact on a community through leadership contributions to a nonprofit organization for at least 3 years. He or she has not only contributed to the long-term sustainability of the nonprofit, but also has an established record of motivating and inspiring others. This includes serving with distinction as a fundraiser, board member, or other executive position.

Global Impact Award: (Think International) Presented to an advisor who has made a lasting impact on a community in another country by actively serving as a volunteer for at least 3 years with a charity whose primary mission is to help those who live outside the United States.

Volunteer of the Year Award: (Think Hands-On) Presented to an advisor who has worked hands-on as a volunteer for a nonprofit for at least 3 years,giving of their time, talent, and energy to make a lasting impact on the organization, those it serves, and the community at large.

Lifetime Achievement Award: (Think Longevity) Presented to an advisor who has made a profound contribution to a nonprofit organization through an established history of distinguished service, where he or she exhibited leadership, provided inspiration, and gained recognition and respect from peers and the community over a period of at least 20 years, helping the organization evolve and creating a lasting impact on the future of the organization.

What is the amount of the award?
Advisor award finalists and winners will receive a generous donation to their designated charities. Finalists will receive $10,000, winners will receive $40,000, and the Lifetime Achievement Award winner will receive $50,000.

Can I choose a different charity to receive the financial award from the one the advisor is being nominated for?
The charitable organization featured in the nomination will be the organization receiving the donation (if selected). Only qualified nonprofit organizations and educational institutions with tax-exempt status granted under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) are eligible to receive award donations.

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. They must be registered with FINRA or the SEC for at least 3 years, and the registration must be active. Nominees must be active financial advisors, defined by spending at least 75% of their time providing financial consultation with clients. Volunteer involvement with the nonprofit organization must be current and ongoing for at least three years.

For questions regarding eligibility, please email info@investinothers.org and we will respond in a timely fashion.

Are international advisors eligible for the Invest in Others Awards?
This awards program is for U.S. advisors only.

How frequently can an advisor be nominated and/or win?

Past Winners

Advisors who have previously won an IiO Award category are only eligible to be nominated for the same charity for the Lifetime Achievement Award category. It must be at least seven years from the original award date and they must meet the award criteria.  

Advisors who have previously won the Lifetime Achievement Category for the same charity may not reapply.

Past winners may apply for a different award category through a different charity at any time.

Past Finalists

Past finalists (not winners) are eligible to apply again for the same charity after seven years.

Past finalists may apply for a different award category through a different charity at any time.

Past Honorable Mentions

Advisors who were recognized as Honorable Mentions may reapply for the same charity at any time.

What nonprofits are eligible?
Only qualified U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and educational institutions with tax-exempt status granted under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) are eligible to receive award donations. Exceptions to this include charitable organizations/foundations that serve as the charitable arm of for-profit corporations (for example, the Starbucks Foundation affiliated with Starbucks Corp.). Rotary clubs are eligible if they have a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. (Note: The club itself is not eligible, the club’s foundation is. Therefore you must provide the Tax ID for the foundation, not the club.).

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 designated a nonprofit 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 recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. You can obtain this information from the charity or from the IRS. We reserve the right to request a copy of the organizattion’s 501(c)(3) determination letter to verify eligibility.

For questions regarding eligibility, please email info@investinothers.org and we will respond in a timely fashion.

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 info@investinothers.org.

How are winners selected?
An unbiased third party reviews all completed applications. The top 10 nominations per category are forwarded as “blind” nominations to a judging committee of industry professionals. The judging committee selects three finalists (including one winner) in each category. Nominees’ entry information will not be given to anyone outside of Invest in Others and 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 accomplishments and impact on the nonprofit and community it serves.

Criteria include:

• Dedication: Did the advisor volunteer significant personal time and actively work with nonprofit staff and/or members of the community and/or those served by the nonprofit? Consider hours volunteered per month and the number of years the advisor has been involved with the organization.
• Contribution: Did the advisor “give” or “get” funds to support the nonprofit? Consider personal donations and funds raised through the advisor’s efforts.
• Leadership: Did the advisor start the program, initiative or organization? Are they currently in an influential leadership position? In the positions they’ve held, did they contribute to the long-term sustainability of the nonprofit?
• Inspiration: How compelling is the nominee’s story? Did they motivate others to volunteer?
• Impact: Did the nominee make a significant impact on the nonprofit and community?

When will the article featuring the finalists appear in InvestmentNews?
InvestmentNews features a special report profiling finalists and winners in its print edition following the Invest in Others Awards Gala. The issue date is scheduled for September 28, 2020. Following the Gala, an article will be published online announcing the winners. Dates are subject to change.

Will I be filmed for a video?
All finalists will be filmed between July and September 2020 for videos that will be played at the Gala. These videos not only bring their story and charitable work to life, but they are also provided to finalist following the event for their own use.

Are finalists involved in public announcements?
Finalists must agree to be interviewed, photographed, filmed and featured in print, broadcast, electronic and social media.

What happened to the Corporate Philanthropy Award?
Due to the growing interest in our corporate philanthropy awards, we created a new program called the Charitable Champions List which debuted in 2019.

Should you have additional questions, please email us at info@investinothers.org. Please note that you are likely to get a faster response through email.