About the Award

Established by the Baldrige Foundation Board of Directors in 2016, the Baldrige Foundation Awards for Leadership Excellence recognize exceptional leaders whose actions, achievements, and influence have advanced organizational excellence within their respective sectors while supporting the mission and values of the Baldrige Foundation.

Presented across multiple sectors, including Business (Manufacturing, Service, and Small Business), Nonprofit, Government, Healthcare, Education, Cybersecurity and Energy, these awards honor leaders who demonstrate a sustained commitment to performance excellence, continuous improvement, innovation, and results within specific sectors. Recipients serve as role model leaders for their organizations, industries, and communities through their leadership and dedication to achieving meaningful impact.

In addition to their professional accomplishments, recipients may also have made significant contributions to advancing the Baldrige Excellence Framework, supporting the work of the Baldrige community, or furthering the Baldrige Foundation's mission to inspire and support organizations in their pursuit of excellence, resilience, and long-term success.

The individual(s) selected should have made significant achievements worthy of this recognition. Consideration will be given to those individuals who have contributed outstanding service on a sustained basis, or a single achievement of a magnitude worthy of this recognition. Personal dedication and self-sacrifice will also be regarded as factors deserving consideration.

These awards recognize sector-specific leadership impact. They do not recognize general leadership.

Sector Categories

• Business
• Nonprofit
• Government
• Healthcare
• Education
• Cybersecurity
• Energy

Who May Be Nominated

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

Strong Nominees Demonstrate

• Leadership aligned with sector realities 
• Measurable contributions to organizational or sector performance 
• Consistency and sustainability in leadership practices 
• Influence within their field or industry 
• Clear connection between leadership actions and outcomes 

Role of Examples

Nomination essay examples should show:

• Specific leadership actions 
• Sector-relevant challenges 
• Resulting outcomes 

Award Limits

• Up to two recipients may be recognized in each sector each year
• Awards are not guaranteed and may be withheld
• An individual may not receive the award more than once in a single category

Ready to Nominate a Leader

• 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. Biography or Curriculum Vitae
   Nomination must include the nominee's biography or curriculum vitae.

• Nomination Essay (1,200 word limit) 
  The essay must address the nominee's leadership within their sector, including key challenges or opportunities they have addressed and the impact of their contributions. Provide one example that demonstrates the nominee's leadership, including:
  • The situation, challenge, or opportunity
  • Actions taken by the nominee
  • Results achieved, including measurable outcomes where available
   

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