About the Award

The Award for Project Excellence recognizes organizations that have established and sustained a disciplined, repeatable approach to planning, managing, and delivering projects that achieve intended outcomes and advance strategic priorities. Recipients demonstrate that project success is not the result of isolated efforts, but rather the product of effective systems, governance, methodologies, and organizational capabilities that consistently produce results.

Organizations recognized through this award effectively align projects with strategic objectives, allocate resources appropriately, manage risks, engage stakeholders, and monitor performance throughout the project lifecycle. Their project management practices support successful execution while enabling learning, continuous improvement, and the replication of success across multiple initiatives.

This award recognizes organizations that have built project management as a strategic organizational capability, resulting in projects that deliver measurable value, improve performance, and contribute to long-term organizational success.

This award recognizes the system that consistently delivers successful projects. It does not recognize a single successful project. 

Who May Be Nominated

Any individual or organization may either self-nominate or be nominated for this award.

Strong Nominees Demonstrate

• A clearly defined project management system or methodology 
• Alignment between project selection and organizational strategy 
• Consistent application of project processes across multiple efforts 
• Measurable outcomes related to time, cost, quality, or impact 
• Continuous improvement of project management practices 

Role of Examples

Nomination essays must include at least one project example that demonstrates:

• How the system guided execution 
• Key steps in the process 
• Results achieved

Award Limits

• Up to one recipient may be recognized each year
• Award is not guaranteed and may be withheld

Ready to Nominate an Organization

• Learn more about How to Apply and Key Dates. 
• Prepare the required submission information listed below. 
• When ready to nominate a leader, select the "APPLY NOW" button, located at the top.

Submission Requirements

1. Online Award Nomination Form
   Fill out the nomination form in the online application.  
    
2. Business Overview
   Nomination must include a business overview of the organization. 
    
3. Nomination Essay (1,200 word limit) 
   The essay must describe the organization’s approach to project management, including how projects are selected and prioritized, what project management system or methodology is used, and how consistency is maintained across projects. Include one specific project example and explain the project objective, how your system guided execution, and what measurable or observable results were achieved.
    

Questions and Online Application Help
awards@baldrigefoundation.org | 202.559.9195 | M-F, 9 AM–5 PM (ET)