On a blue pixelated gradient background, white trophy silhouettes flank the centered SAM logo at the top. Below that, bold white centered text reads “Sustainable Organization of the Year,” and at the bottom small white letters spell out “Society for Advancement of Management Social Impact Awards.”

All organizations share one thing in common: we are all on the same orb floating through space. This award recognize the challenges that for-profit businesses and organizations have in making decisions that are shown to expand and promote sustainability within the world while inspiring others to initiate similar endeavors.

Successful organizations nominated for this Award will demonstrate an exceptional approach to sustainability, where organizations pursue equity, prioritize mutual benefits, and address intertwined social, economic, and environmental challenges.

This award acknowledges champions of sustainability and those who believe that sustainability is not just something organizations talk about in the board room, but is a culture of mindful and deliberate actions that connect with the community.

Nominees for this award must have a minimum of four years in operation.

Open to organizations operating in the public or private sectors, this Award will go to the outstanding organization who:

  • Has demonstrated a commitment to meeting human needs equitably, living within our planet’s ecological limits, and building a prosperous economy without compromising the ability for future generations to do the same.
  • Exemplifies at least one of the three pillars of sustainability: Environment, Economic, or Societal Sustainability.
  • Demonstrates examples of the organization’s operational innovations and applications for success and sustainability,
  • Shares how the organization has identified a challenge or problem within the community and adapted or incorporated an innovation into the organization that emphasizes sustainability.

Nomination Summary

In a summary of no more than 750 words, please identify the organization and the market of operation. Please include the organizations key achievements or success factors that are relevant to the industry or marketplace.

Nomination Details

In no more than 1500 words, please tell our awards committee why the nominee should be named the Sustainable Organization of the Year. Nominations are primarily evaluated by the criteria listed below. In an effort to maximize the chances of a successful nomination, please make sure to tailor your response to connect to as many of the identified criteria as possible. Our committee understands that no two ventures are the same and a successful nomination will not necessarily contain all of the criteria identified.

Provide examples of how the organization provides meaningful, demonstrable, and measurable impact on their community and stakeholders. • Share how the organization embraces at least one pillar of sustainability; Environmental, Economic, or Societal Sustainability. • Describe an organizational initiative and its outcome that had a positive sustainability impact. • Share how the organization has connected a new concept, technology or practice that was implemented with sustainability in mind. • How does the nominee’s values align with their stakeholders and community and what are their measures of success with regards to sustainability. • Define the nominee’s approach to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. • Describe how sustainability has been a challenge on the operations of the organization or the employees of the organization, or both and how were those challenges overcome. • Describe how the organization reviews their policies and procedures to evolve and maintain a sustainability driven set of values in their operations. • Provide a specific example of how the organization is a role model for others to adopt a sustainability driven model. • Briefly highlight the organization’s plan for growth and incorporation of additional sustainability initiatives. • Share how the organization plans to replicate results of sustainability initiatives for prolonged impact. • Identify how the organization looks for partners and collaborators to bring sustainability to the forefront of the stakeholders of the organization and the community overall. • Share a story of how the organization has partnered or made an impact within the community as it relates to sustainability efforts.