The OpenWater Blog

Learning Series: Defining Who Should Apply

Defining who should you apply to your program is one of the first steps in the call for entries. After all, the whole point of the call for entries period is to attract as many high-quality candidates as possible for your awards.

But, who should apply?

Without this information, you won’t know how to market your program, which programs to reach out to, or any additional information you need to get started. Below, we define multiple factors that may affect your call for entries, including:

• Entities
• How they’re nominated
• The scope of the nomination; and
• Other rules

Entities

There is no one entity that can win an award; there are three:

• Person – A single individual being recognized for his or her achievements.

• Company or Organization – This is a larger entity, often a business or organization.

• Group/Team – Group/team awards recognize groups within a larger company or organization.

How They’re Nominated

You can allow entrants to apply themselves or request nominations:

• Self Nomination – The entrant, a member of the company or organization, or the member of the smaller group/team completes the entry.

• Nominator – The entrant here is the nominator but the winner is the nominee. Nominator awards may also help “filter” out entries you may not want in your program.

The Scope of the Nomination

There are two scopes you may select for your program:

• General Public – This means anyone can apply to your program, provided that they meet the eligibility requirements.

• Specific Organizations – Specific organizations may be region-specific or filtered so that only specific companies or people can enter.

Other Rules

If you feel that there are other rules entrants should consider to understand if they qualify, it’s important you make them clear. Some examples of other rules you may want to use include:

• Recent Achievements – This means you may impose time constraints on when the accomplishment occurred. A one-year limit is standard.

• Professional or Education-Specific – You may want to limit your program to recognize those who serve in particular fields.

• Limit the Number of Entries – Some programs limit entrants to one submission rather than entering multiple accomplishments in the program. This allows for a varied pool of winners and a more competitive program.

Determine Your Criteria for the Application Process

With many moving parts, it’s important that you’re specific about who can apply to your program. More importantly, it’s crucial that you take your time to ensure entrants align with your organizational goals and image.

So, who can apply for your awards program?

For even more assistance on who can apply for your program, download our free worksheet to build out or review your rules!

Ashley Surinak

Ashley Surinak is the resident OpenWater expert on all things content. From the blog to guides and beyond, you'll find her at every turn in your OpenWater journey.

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