Please read our FAQs carefully before emailing us. We receive many emails during the course of our programs and, while we return emails as quickly as possible, you are best served by following the information below.
Key Dates
- Nominations Open: February 28, 2022
- Nominations Deadline: Extended to April 11, 2022 at 8:00pm ET
- Applications Deadline: April 22, 2022
- Finalists Announced: July 11, 2022
- Winners Announced: September 29, 2022 at the IiO Awards Gala at the Westin Boston Seaport District in Boston.
Nomination Process
How do I nominate a financial advisor for the Invest in Others Awards?
Click here to submit a nomination. If you’ve never created a username or password for Invest in Others, create a new profile by clicking on “New User?” button under the email text box. If you have a username and password, please login to access the nomination form. Answers to frequently asked technical support questions can be found below.
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.
Can a financial advisor be nominated for multiple charities?
No. If we receive nominations for one advisor and multiple nonprofits, the advisor will be asked to select only one nonprofit to complete an application for.
Who can nominate an advisor?
Anyone can nominate an advisor by sharing their contact information, the advisor’s contact information, and some basic information about the nonprofit. Advisors may also self-nominate.
Can I nominate more than one financial advisor?
There is no limit to the number of advisors someone can nominate. Simply follow the nominate link, log in, and submit additional nominations.
What information do I need for the nomination?
You will be required to provide your contact information, the contact information for the advisor you’re nominating (including their personal FINRA/SEC CRD and broker-dealer/custodian), and the contact information for the nonprofit (including a contact name, email, and the organization’s tax ID). For more details about nomination requirements, click here
How can I find the charity’s tax ID?
This information is publicly available through Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the IRS. You can also obtain the Tax ID number directly from the charity. The Tax ID is required to confirm the charity is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We reserve the right to request a copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) determination letter to verify eligibility.
What happens after I submit a nomination?
We will review the nomination to ensure the advisor and the nonprofit meet our eligibility criteria. 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.
Application Process
What information do I need for the application?
For a preview of application questions, please download this pdf. Note that under no circumstances will we accept a Word document or PDF version of the application; applications and supporting materials must be submitted through the online portal in order to be considered.
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 the submission of additional supporting materials beyond those specified in the instructions.
Technical Support
How do I reset my password?
To reset your password, try following these steps:
- Click on the following link: https://www.GrantRequest.com/SID_5978?SA=AM
- Click on forgot password button
- Enter your email
- You will receive an email with a temporary password
- Copy that temporary password, and then click on the link within the email, enter your email and paste the temp password
- Click log in
- It will ask you to re-enter the Current Password – re paste the temporary one in that first field
- In the next two fields, you will enter a new one that you want to use. You will be asked to enter twice
- From there, you should be able to log in
If you do not get a temporary password emailed to you, please check your spam folder.
If the problem persists after resetting your password, please email info@investinothers.org.
How do I transfer the application to a different user?
The nominations system only allows one user account to access the application at a time. If you would like another user to complete part of the application, you can transfer it to them following these instructions.
I started a submission and saved it, but the link keeps taking me to a new nomination.
The link to log in to access an in-progress submission is different from the initial nominate link. Please be sure you are signing in via this link: https://www.GrantRequest.com/SID_5978?SA=AM
If you still cannot find your submission, please email info@investinothers.org
Advisor Eligibility
Who is eligible for nomination?
- Nominees must be currently working as:
- registered representatives (for example, Series 7)
- registered investment advisors or
- financial planners with a professional designation (please refer to FINRA’s list of designations for examples).
- Nominees must be active financial advisors, defined by spending at least 75% of their time providing financial consultation with clients (households or organizations).
- Nominees must have worked in this capacity for at least three years.
- Volunteer involvement with the nonprofit organization must be current and ongoing for at least three years.
Can I nominate an advisor if they are the founder or majority funder of the nonprofit?
Yes! An advisor is eligible if they are the founder and majority funder for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Can I nominate a team or pair for the Invest in Others Awards?
The IiO Awards are individual awards so you must nominate each advisor separately. If it’s too difficult to distinguish between the advisors, we recommend nominating one of the advisors instead of both advisors.
How frequently can an advisor be nominated and/or win?
Past Winners
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- 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. For the 2022 awards cycle, winners from 2015 and earlier are eligible.
- 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
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- Past finalists (not winners) are eligible to apply again for the same charity after seven years. For the 2022 awards cycle, finalists from 2015 and earlier are eligible.
- Past finalists may apply for a different award category through a different charity at any time.
Past Honorable Mentions
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- Advisors who were recognized as Honorable Mentions may reapply for the same charity at any time.
Are international advisors eligible for the Invest in Others Awards?
No, this awards program is for U.S. advisors only.
Nonprofit Eligibility
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 and other 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 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.
Are faith-based nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes, as long as the charity is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Are the awards open to charities across all areas of impact?
Yes, as long as the charity is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The application includes many questions regarding the people served by the nonprofit; for those organizations working with animals or the environment, please focus on the people in the community that benefit from your work.
Award Categories
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.
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.
Emerging Impact Award: (Think Rising Star) Presented to an advisor 45 years of age or younger who is making a mark in their community through their outstanding commitment of time, talent, and resources to a nonprofit over a period of at least 3 years, demonstrating exceptional promise in what they have already contributed and paving the way for the future.
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.
Judging 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 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 (the nominee’s name, firm name, and broker-dealer/custodian are removed) 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?
Award Financial Contributions
What is the amount of the award?
Advisor award finalists and winners will receive a generous donation to their designated charities:
- Finalists in all categories will receive $25,000
- Winners in the Catalyst, Community Service, Emerging Impact, and Volunteer of the Year categories will receive $50,000
- The Lifetime Achievement Award winner will receive $75,000
- Honorable Mentions in all categories will receive $1,500
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.
Publicity
Are finalists involved in public announcements?
Finalists must agree to be interviewed, photographed, filmed and featured in print, broadcast, electronic and social media.
Will I be filmed for a video?
All finalists will be filmed between July and September 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 each finalist following the event for their own use.
Will I be interviewed by the media?
We will provide marketing kits and press release templates to all honorable mentions, finalists, and winners, and encourage them to utilize these tools to share this recognition with their communities, including local media outlets.
Additional Questions
Additional Questions
Should you have additional questions, please email us at info@investinothers.org. Please note that we are a small team and strive to respond to all inquiries as quickly as possible. We encourage you to be specific in your email so we can best assist you. Due to the volume of requests we receive, we can only assist by phone if absolutely necessary.
