Applications Open
January 1, 2027
Online applications and nominations begin.
2027 program timeline
Key dates and deadlines
Mark these milestones for the 2027 cycle. The Torch Award for Ethics honors businesses that demonstrate outstanding integrity, ethical leadership, and a commitment to building trust in the marketplace.
Application Deadline
February 28, 2027
Deadline - submit nominations by this date
Winners Announced
April 2027
Recipients honored at a statewide reception.
Awards Celebration
June 2027
In-person event honoring the winning organizations.
About the awards
Recognizing integrity put into action
The Torch Award for Ethics recognizes businesses that lead with integrity, demonstrate ethical decision-making, and build trust with their customers, employees, and communities. Presented by the Better Business Bureau, the award honors organizations that go beyond compliance to make ethics a core part of their culture and operations.
Recipients are evaluated on the principles of Character, Culture, Customers, and Community, showcasing their commitment to ethical leadership and marketplace trust. As one of the most respected ethics awards for businesses, the Torch Award celebrates organizations that set the standard for doing business the right way and inspire confidence in the communities they serve.
Is this for you?
Eligibility and how it works
Accreditation is not required, and there is no cost to apply. Eligible organizations meet these criteria:
Located in BBB Greater Iowa service area
In operation for at least three years as of April 30, 2027.
Holds at least a "B" rating with BBB (accredited or not).
Has not received a Torch Award in the past five years in the same service area.
How the process works
1
Apply or nominate online
Complete the online application between January 1 and February 28, 2027. You can save your progress and return later.
2
Independent judging
A volunteer panel scores each submission on character, culture, customers, and community against a published benchmark.
3
Winners notified
Recipients are notified by email in April 2027 and announced across BBB platforms.
4
Celebrated in person
Winning organizations are honored at an in-person awards event in June 2027.
Past recipients
In the words of our winners
Recent Torch Award recipients across BBB Midwest Plains, in their own words. Every quote is shown in full — no carousel, no auto-advance.
It really hit me when we were notified that we received this - we really are doing it the right way. We really are doing what we should be doing for our customers.
It means a lot to be recognised by an organization like the BBB. I love it because it really gives us a tool to measure our success. Winning this year's Torch Award means we did something right. It means we are doing something right in the community.
Winning a Torch Award for us is a confirmation that the work we put into building a culture of hard work, of integrity, of trust, of doing the right thing, about caring for our community and the people that we work with actually paid off.
Integrity shows up in our day-to-day operations by honest and clear communication with our customers.
Why the recognition carries weight
A fair, independent process
Judged independently
An independent, voluntary panel of business and community leaders — many of them past Torch Award winners — reviews and selects every recipient.
Scored on merit
Submissions are measured against a published benchmark for character, culture, customers and community — not ranked against one another.
Backed by BBB's mission
Made possible by the BBB Education Foundation and built on more than a century of work toward a trustworthy marketplace.
Ways to take part
Choose how you want to take part
Whether you're ready to apply, want to nominate an organization, or just have questions — there's a clear next step.
Start Here
Apply for the Torch Awards
Complete the online application by February 28, 2027. Free to enter; save and return anytime
Nominate an organization
Shine a light on a business or nonprofit that demonstrates integrity-driven best practices.
Attend the celebration
Join the in-person awards event in June 2027 to honor this year's recipients.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics is an annual celebration honoring exceptional businesses and nonprofits. It recognizes outstanding ethical practices and a commitment to character, culture, customers and community.
Organizations must be located in BBB Greater Iowa, have been in operation for at least three years as of April 30, 2027, and hold at least a “B” rating with BBB. Organizations that won a Torch Award in the same service area within the past five years are not eligible.
No. Awards are not contingent on accreditation, donations, or any purchase or sponsorship. No purchase is necessary to enter or to win.
Yes. BBB Accreditation is not required to apply. All eligible businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to participate.
An independent, voluntary panel of business and community leaders — many of them previous Torch Award winners — reviews, evaluates and selects the recipients.
Recipients are notified by email and announced in April 2027, then celebrated at an in-person awards event in June 2027.
Winners receive a trophy and certificate, a recipient media kit, a press-release template, a social media feature, and use of the official Torch Awards Winner logo, subject to BBB's advertising guidelines.
BBB of Greater Iowa
Students of Integrity Scholarships
Recognized alongside our Torch Award recipients, the BBB Students of Integrity scholarship recipients represent the next generation of ethical leaders, demonstrating integrity in both word and action.
About the scholarships
Honoring high school seniors who put ethics into action and inspire others through their leadership and character.
Apply today
Each year, we celebrate remarkable students who embody ethics in action. Will you be next? Apply for a BBB Students of Integrity Scholarship today.
Donate to the Foundation
Support the BBB Education Foundation that makes these awards possible.
Scholarship details
Frequently asked questions
The BBB Students of Integrity Scholarship is sponsored by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Foundation. Each year, we award $2,500 scholarships to high school seniors who reside in the geographic area served by our BBB — the Greater Des Moines region, the Quad Cities region, and the Siouxland region. The award recognizes students who personify values, leadership, and integrity, and who aim to become young adults who contribute to our local workforce.
High school seniors residing in Iowa are eligible to apply. We serve people from Sioux City to the Quad Cities and everywhere in between. Questions about your specific high school? Contact us at [email protected].
Basic contact information
A 1,000-word essay
A summary of your involvement in and out of school
Your future plans, including an upload of your transcript
2 letters of recommendation
In 1,000 words or less, describe one specific situation you've personally faced that required ethical decision-making. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn? Think beyond legality — this is about your own personal definition of integrity, so feel free to think outside the box.
Category | Weight | What we're looking for |
|---|---|---|
Essay | 50% | Your personal story of facing an ethical decision, the challenges involved, and what you learned |
School Involvement | 30% | Your school-related activities — academics, sports, clubs, offices held, and other school-sanctioned organizations, with your role and length of involvement in each |
Future Plans & Transcript | 10% | How the scholarship supports your postsecondary goals, plus your most recent transcript |
Letters of Recommendation | 10% | 2 letters — only one may be from school personnel |
Email Laura Chávez at [email protected].
Winners will be announced at the annual Torch Award ceremony, held in June.