SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION TODAY!
Online Application: Now Open
Application Deadline: September 30, 2026
About the Awards
The Baldrige Foundation Awards Program recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to performance excellence have created meaningful and lasting impact. Through a distinguished portfolio of awards, the program honors exceptional leaders, emerging professionals, and organizations that demonstrate excellence in leadership, innovation, resilience, community impact, project execution, and the advancement of performance excellence principles. Rooted in the values of the Baldrige Framework, the awards celebrate those who not only achieve outstanding results but also build sustainable systems, share knowledge, and inspire others to pursue excellence across business, healthcare, education, energy, government, manufacturing, nonprofit, cybersecurity, community, and other globally relevant areas.
The Baldrige Foundation Awards Program is separate from the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award® administered through the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program® and its nonprofit partner the Alliance for Performance Excellence. Foundation awards recognize leadership, service, innovation, projects, and contributions that align with or advance the mission and impact of Baldrige.
Award Categories
From the list of awards, select the appropriate category to view more details and apply.
Meet the 2026 Recipients
2026 Recipients at the 37th Quest for Excellence® Foundation Award Presentations, listed from left to right: Dr. Calvin Nobles, Ron Smith, MPA, LSSGB, Tamer Mohamed Nabil, Rick E. Smith, FACHE, Dr. Maria R. Mondala-Duncan, David Harrawood, Kay Kendall, Chari S. Mullen, Dell Anderson, M.Ed., LMHC, Margot Hoffman, Ph.D., Jeremiah J. Hodshire, Dawn Bailey, Kurt A. Barwis, FACHE, Governor Bill Anoatubby, Michael Fors, Ph.D., and C. Daniel Mullins, Ph.D. Absent from photo: Dr. Chase Cunningham, Dione Geiger, Dr. Manu K. Vora, Dr. Sureshchandar G S, and Jill de Jesus.
Questions and Online Application Help
awards@baldrigefoundation.org | 202.559.9195 | M-F, 9 AM–5 PM (ET)
We are Building a Legacy of Excellence
Help us provide inspiration to the thousands of organizations in manufacturing, health care, education, communities, and government that are using the Baldrige Framework to create jobs and strengthen the economy, increase the quality and access to health care, and improve K-12 and higher education as we navigate these challenging times.
Baldrige Foundation Institute for Performance Excellence
Improving the practice of leadership and management in pursuit of performance excellence.
