BBB Spark Awards Frequently Asked Questions

Why Apply?

If I am a recipient, what does that mean for my company?

A variety of benefits come along with being a BBB Spark Award recipient, including:

• Recognition in a news release shared with area media partners
  
• Recognition listed on the BBB Serving Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas Plains & SW Iowa website and all associated social media channels
• Utilization of the 2023 BBB Spark Award recipient logo on your digital and print marketing collateral
• The physical BBB Spark Award trophy to be proudly displayed at your company, symbolizing your commitment to ethics in the workplace!

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?

The BBB Spark Awards are open to business owners located within Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. Companies do not need to be BBB Accredited to be eligible. The owner of the company must be 45 years or younger before the application deadline. If the applicant is an entrepreneur who has founded more than one business, they must pick one for the application. There is no limitation on company size.

Does my business have to have been in business for a certain amount of time?

Your business must be at least two years in operation. Please contact us to discuss the details of your business if you have any questions about this: jplanos@bbbinc.org or 800-649-6814 ext. 8526.

We don't have a physical office, can we still apply?

BBB understands that when your business is first starting out you don't always have a physical office, and in today's world you almost don't even need an office. We do require that the majority of your operations are handled within our service area. (This doesn't limit the geographical locations of your customers/clients).

Do companies need to be incorporated to apply?

No, sole proprietorships are eligible to apply, but may require extra documentation if there is not enough supporting evidence of the business' existence.

Are there any exclusions?

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

• The company has earned less than a "B" rating from BBB
• There are indications that the company has not met its financial obligations
• The company is a government agency. Government contractors can confirm their eligibility by contacting their local BBB.

Judging

What is the judging process like?

The Spark Awards will be judged as a separate category among our Torch Awards and will be evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges comprised of business and community leaders. Applications are judged on the Three C's of Trust criteria: Character, Culture, and Community.

We fully understand that no leader nor their company is perfect. Each company is unique and has different experiences and policies. We encourage you to be creative and find examples of your leaders'/organization's practices that best exemplify how Character, Culture and Community are part of the DNA of your organization.