An annual awards program recognizing organizations with a commitment to ethical business practices, selecting three companies of different sizes each year to receive a Torch Award for Ethics.

The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics is open to for-profit, 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations of all sizes.

• BBB Accreditation is not required;

• For-profit and 501(c)(6) applicants must have a “B” rating with BBB;

• Organizations must have been in business for three years;

• All financial obligations must be met;

• Applicants are not eligible if they have received the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics in the past two years;

• Government agencies are not eligible to submit an application.

No. Awards are not contingent on accreditation, donations, or any purchase or sponsorship. No purchase is necessary to enter or to win.

A company is not eligible if any of the following conditions apply:

• It has been in business for less than three years

• It has earned less than a "B" rating from BBB

• There are indications that the company has not met its financial obligations

• It has been the recipient of a Torch Award within the past two years

• It is a government agency. Government contractors can confirm their eligibility by contacting their local BBB.

Applications that are submitted for the Torch Awards are evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges comprised of business and community leaders. Applications are judged on criteria based on the four C’s: the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics measures the Character of the organization’s leadership; if and how an authentic Culture is being fostered; the company’s transparent relationship with its Customers; and the impact the organization is making in the local Community. Businesses that enter may be separated into the following size categories:

• Businesses with 1-10 employees

• Businesses with 11-49 employees

• Businesses with 50+ employees

The finalists are notified by email and announced online 2 weeks prior to the event, winners are announced at the in-person awards event in.

There is no limit on how many businesses in each category can receive the Torch Award for Ethics each year. By using a benchmark scoring system, recipients are chosen based on whether the company meets certain criteria based on the four C’s. There is no rigid ranking system that only allows for a certain number of businesses to receive the award per category.

By using this benchmark scoring system, BBB is able to recognize ethical businesses across all industries. BBB recognizes that each business industry faces its own unique challenges when it comes to ethics.

If you have specific questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Winners receive a trophy, a recipient media kit, a press-release template, a social media feature, and use of the official Torch Awards Winner or Finalist seal, subject to BBB's advertising guidelines.