Membership-based associations often look to awards programs as a way to recognize excellence, foster engagement, and build lasting relationships with members. From industry-specific honors like “30 Under 30” to Hall of Fame inductions or Member of the Year accolades, these programs create significant opportunities for associations to highlight achievements, inspire participation, and retain members over the long term.

However, while impactful awards programs can provide tremendous value, running them efficiently and fairly comes with challenges. Manual processes, disconnected tools, and time-intensive operations often derail even the best intentions, leading to inefficiencies, biases, and poor user experiences.

In this blog, we’ll explore the three essential ingredients (or “experiences”) for impactful awards programs: the applicant experience, the association’s operational experience, and the review and selection experience. Each plays a critical role in the success of an awards initiative and together create a seamless, effective workflow that elevates the program’s value to the association and its members.

Awards programs can transform how members view and engage with your association. Here are just a few ways they can make a lasting impact:

• Member Recognition: Showcasing members’ achievements strengthens their loyalty to your association.
• Engagement and Retention: Award programs, particularly those targeting younger members, like “30 Under 30,” attract new members and retain them for the long term.
• Community Building: Celebrating success fosters a sense of belonging and connection within your membership.
• Association Credibility: Honoring excellence enhances your reputation as a leading organization within your industry.

Despite these benefits, associations face numerous challenges in executing awards programs effectively without the right tools.

Without a dedicated awards management platform, associations typically face:

• Fragmented Processes: Managing submissions, references, and reviews often involves juggling spreadsheets, emails, and multiple tools like Google Forms or survey platforms.
• Inconsistencies: Manual workflows lead to errors, overlooked applicants, and non-compliance risks.
• Volunteer Overload: Reviewing submissions without structured workflows burdens volunteers and can result in biased or incomplete evaluations.
• Poor Applicant Experience: Outdated systems like fillable PDFs or emailed forms create barriers for participants and reduce engagement.

To overcome these challenges, associations need to focus on three essential ingredients for impactful awards programs.

A seamless applicant experience is vital to encourage participation and engagement. Modern applicants expect a streamlined, user-friendly process that eliminates unnecessary hurdles.

Key Elements of a Great Applicant Experience:

1. Dual Nominator-Nominee Workflow: Split the nomination process into two stages:
   • Nominators provide basic details (e.g., who they are, who they are nominating, and why).
   • Nominees are notified, allowing them to accept the nomination and complete the application with their own details.
2. Reference Collection: Instead of lengthy reference letters, use structured forms with specific prompts, ensuring consistency across all applicants.
3. Modern Award Nomination Portal: Replace outdated methods like PDFs or emails with a centralized, secure hub where applicants can create profiles, upload materials, and track their progress.

A thoughtful applicant experience not only reduces barriers to entry but also increases submission volume, data accuracy, and fairness.

Behind every successful awards program is a well-orchestrated backend system that supports operational efficiency and ensures data security.

Key Elements of Operational Excellence:

1. Dedicated Command Center: Centralize all program data, from submissions to communications, in one secure platform. This eliminates the need for juggling multiple tools.
2. Monitoring and Communication:
   • Track submission progress in real time.
   • Send automated reminders to applicants and reviewers.
3. Scalable Workflows:
   • Manage multiple awards and categories with ease.
   • Automatically vet applicants for eligibility, saving time for both staff and applicants.
4. Data Collection and Reporting:
   • Continuously gather and store applicant data for future reporting.
   • Ensure compliance with secure storage and SOC 2 Type II standards.

The right tools transform the operational experience, freeing staff to focus on advancing the association’s mission rather than managing administrative tasks.

A fair and efficient review process ensures credibility and builds trust among members. Volunteers and evaluators play a critical role, so their experience must be smooth and well-structured.

Key Elements of a Great Review and Selection Experience:

1. Customizable Review Workflows:
   • Create committees or groups to review specific awards or categories.
   • Use automated tools to randomly pair submissions with evaluators, ensuring fairness and avoiding reviewer fatigue.
2. Data Redaction: Protect applicants’ privacy by redacting personally identifiable information (PII) to eliminate bias.
3. Structured Scorecards:
   • Use standardized rubrics to guide evaluators and ensure consistent scoring.
   • Align metrics with the mission and vision of your association.
4. Leaderboard Automation: Automatically compile and rank scores, saving time and reducing human error during deliberations.

Streamlining the review experience increases volunteer satisfaction and guarantees a fair, unbiased evaluation for all participants.