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Awards Program Policies

Commitment to Impartiality and Unbiased Evaluation

At the DAF Giving Summit, we are dedicated to celebrating the outstanding achievements within the donor-advised fund (DAF) industry. Our DAF Giving Summit Awards aim to highlight the most impactful stories of collaboration and innovation across the industry. To ensure a fair and unbiased selection process, the DAF Giving Summit has established a set of rigorous standards and procedures for evaluating nominations.

Scoring Criteria

Nominations will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Each award will articulate what it is striving to celebrate. Each nomination should be evaluated against the goals of that specific award for which the nomination is being submitted for. As a whole the DAF Giving Summit Awards should strive to celebrate all stakeholders across the donor-advised fund industry.

Specifically, the Committee should be evaluating nominations for:

  • Ethical Standards
  • Impact
  • Innovation & Creativity
  • Replicability & Scalability
  • Effective Collaboration
  • Alignment with the mission of the DAF Giving Summit

At the DAF Giving Summit, our mission is to drive growth and efficiency across the donor-advised fund industry by bringing together all stakeholders, sharing best practices and insights, and inspiring innovation and collaboration to better meet the needs of our donors and the charities they support.

Commitment to Fairness

To ensure fairness and impartiality in the evaluation process, the following measures are in place:

  1. Independent Committee: The DAF Giving Summit has established an Awards Committee, composed of independent members who are not actively involved in the day to day operations of any specific DAF program, ensuring a diversity of viewpoints and impartiality.
  2. Recusal Policy: Committee members are required to recuse themselves from evaluating any nomination where a conflict of interest or appearance of bias exists. This policy is strictly enforced to maintain the integrity of the process.
  3. Transparent Process: The evaluation process is documented and transparent. Any external attempts to influence the decision-making process will be reported and addressed.
Conclusion

We are committed to ensuring that the DAF Giving Summit Awards process is conducted with the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and integrity. Our goal is to celebrate and recognize the most deserving initiatives that exemplify the best of the DAF sector, inspiring others to undertake impactful initiatives in the future.

We look forward to receiving your nominations and to celebrating the incredible work being done across the DAF industry.

For any questions or further information, please contact us at [email protected]

Recusal Policy for Industry Awards Committee Members

To maintain the integrity, impartiality, and fairness of the DAF Giving Summit Awards, the following recusal policy is established for DAF Giving Summit Awards Committee members. This policy outlines circumstances under which a committee member must recuse themselves from discussions, evaluations, or decisions related to specific award nominations and submissions.

1. Conflicts of Interest

Committee members must recuse themselves from any discussions or decisions if they have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest arises in situations where a committee member has a direct interest in the organization, program, advisor, or charity being considered for an award, including:

  • Is an employee, board member, consultant, or advisor to the organization, program, advisor, or charity being considered.
  • Has a close personal relationship with an individual or individuals associated with the nomination/submission, which could affect impartial judgment.
  • Has provided or received significant support, collaboration, or partnership with the organization, program, advisor, or charity being considered.
2. Appearance of Bias

Committee members must also recuse themselves if there is an appearance of bias that could undermine the credibility of the awards process. This includes situations where:

  • The committee member has publicly endorsed, promoted, or criticized the organization, program, advisor, or charity being considered.
  • The committee member’s actions or statements could reasonably be perceived as showing favoritism or prejudice towards any nomination/submission.
3. Procedures for Recusal

When a potential conflict of interest or appearance of bias is identified:

  1. Self-Disclosure: The committee member must disclose the potential conflict to the entire committee as soon as it is identified.
  2. Evaluation: The committee will evaluate the nature of the conflict or bias and determine if recusal is necessary.
  3. Recusal Decision: If recusal is deemed necessary, the committee member must abstain from all discussions, evaluations, and decisions related to the specific nomination/submission.
  4. Documentation: The recusal and the reasons for it must be documented in the committee’s records.
4. Handling Disagreements

In cases where there is disagreement about whether a committee member should recuse themselves, the following process will be followed:

  1. Discussion: The committee will discuss the potential conflict or bias in the absence of the member in question.
  2. Vote: A majority vote of the remaining committee members will determine whether recusal is required.
  3. Final Decision:  The decision reached by the vote is final and binding.
5. Ensuring Impartiality

To further ensure impartiality:

  • Committee members should not engage in discussions about specific submissions outside of official meetings.
  • Any attempts to influence the decision-making process by parties external to the committee should be reported and documented.

By adhering to this recusal policy, we aim to uphold the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and integrity in the selection process for the Industry Awards.

Acknowledgment

Each committee member must acknowledge and agree to abide by this recusal policy upon joining the committee.