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About BBB Serving MN & ND Torch Awards for Ethics

The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics recognizes marketplace role models who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to ethics and integrity in all they do.

Every year, BBB opens an online application for businesses of all sizes in Minnesota and North Dakota to apply for the coveted award. Finalists are selected and recognized at our highly-anticipated Torch Awards for Ethics celebration, which is a one-of-a-kind event in the region honoring ethics. Winners are announced live at the event, where we also spotlight our Students of Integrity Scholarship recipients.

The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics embodies BBB’s mission of advancing business trust and honors organizations whose leaders demonstrate ethics in action – through their Character, Culture, Customers, and Community.

BBB Serving Minnesota and North Dakota has awarded Torch Awards to over 80 organizations for their ethical practices in the marketplace. 

Click here to view all past Torch Awards for Ethics recipients

2026 applications will be available from October 6, 2025 - November 17, 2025 - Apply here!

 
Eligibility and criteria

The Torch Awards for Ethics application is open to for-profit businesses of all sizes located within Minnesota or North Dakota

  • BBB Accreditation is not required – learn more about Accreditation
  • Applicants must have at least a “B” rating with BBB – learn more about our free BBB listings and ratings;
  • Organizations must have been in business for three years;
  • All financial obligations must be met;
  • To ensure we celebrate and recognize a diverse range of outstanding businesses, BBB has updated our awards guidelines that outline previous award winners are ineligible to win again. We encourage new applicants to apply and share their stories for a chance to be honored.
  • Government agencies or Torch Awards Event Sponsors are not eligible to apply;
The application and judging process

Entries are evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges comprised of business and community leaders. Your submission, including examples, stories and documents, should provide a robust and accurate depiction of your organization’s focus on character, culture, customers and community. Supporting documents and attachments can range from handbooks, internal documentation, testimonials, news articles or photos.

Learn more about the application questions.