Category 1
1 to 10 employees
Before you start
You must have won your local BBB Torch Award
All entrants for the International Torch Awards for Ethics℠ (ITAE) must first be winners of their local BBB Torch Award for Ethics program. If you have not won a local award, please contact your BBB to inquire about their award program. BBBs in the United States and Canada conduct local competitions, forwarding winning entries for consideration in the International Torch Awards for Ethics competition. If a local BBB does not conduct a business award program, businesses in that BBB’s service area are deemed ineligible to enter the ITAE program. Contact your BBB for more information.
Business size category
Local Torch Award winners entering the ITAE will be competing against other business in its size category. When entering the ITAE, businesses will be placed in one of the following size categories:
Category 2
11 to 99 employees
Category 3
100 to 499 employees
Category 4
500 or more employees
Judging process
Entries for the ITAE are evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges. Judges for the award program may request additional information from the business regarding any of the four judging criteria. If the nominee has been the object of a major lawsuit, including class action suits, or government actions in the past three years, information must be disclosed as part of the entry. Judges’ decisions are final.
Award judging criteria
Award selection for the International Torch Awards for Ethics is based on the following four judging criteria. Businesses should keep in mind that to enter the ITAE they must first be a winner of their local BBB Torch Award for Ethics℠ program.
We understand that no leader, nor their company, is perfect; each company is unique and has different experiences and policies. We encourage you to find examples of your organization’s practices that best exemplify each of the four listed criteria. If you are not able to address a particular item under a criterion, please explain why you are not able to address it.
Illustrate how your organization works toward a culture of trust through clarity of purpose, empowering employees, and opportunities for growth.
When addressing this criterion, please describe:
How you unite your team around your organization’s vision and mission statement.
How you empower employees to help shape the expectations and culture of your organization.
What practices your company uses that demonstrates leadership’s commitment to individual employees.
Give examples of internal practices your organization uses to build better customer relationships.
When addressing this criterion, please describe:
How you empower your employees to proactively address issues experienced by customers.
How you go above and beyond to maintain transparency with your customers.
An instance where your commitment to honesty was a positive differentiator in a challenging customer interaction.
Display organizational programs, contribution and activities that return value to and support your community.
When addressing this criterion, please describe:
Programs or events that your organization has in place to actively engage with the community.
How employees are encouraged to and recognized for spending time in community service activities that your organization and employees value.
Contribution of funds or in-kind services to community programs consistent with the organization’s values.
Submission requirements
Applicants must:
Completed an ITAE entry form.
Provide materials corresponding to the four judging criteria.
Provide the link to your local BBB Torch Award for Ethics online entry application.
Legal actions
If your business has been involved in major lawsuits, class actions or government action in the past three years, please provide a summary of the nature of the legal or government action. Recent independent auditor reports may be submitted in place of a summary. For large-size or publicly traded businesses, copies of the two most recent annual reports will suffice.
Apply for the 2026 International Torch Awards for Ethics
Entries for the 2026 International Torch Awards for Ethics closed July 17, 2026. Check back for the 2027 entry form.