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BBB Cleveland Spark Award Eligibility and Criteria

The BBB Spark Award recognizes entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio who demonstrate a high level of character, generate a culture that is authentic about its mission and embed social impact into their business model to support their community.

We believe social entrepreneurs, startup founders and new business owners demonstrating this foundation for trust are the future of a trusted marketplace.

For-profit & non-profit organizations in BBB Serving Greater Cleveland's service area can easily apply for the Spark Award by answering 3 questions about their business and submitting a short video.

Selection Criteria

A company must meet the following qualifications to be eligible:

  • It has been in business less than five years.
  • It is located in BBB Serving Greater Cleveland's service area: (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties).
  • It has earned a “B” rating or higher from BBB.
  • If the leader is aged 35 or under.
  • It has NOT been the recipient of the Spark Award in the past three years.

Video submission

Business are required to provide a video submission with their application. This video should come from your team. Video themes should include how your business embodies character, culture & community and be no longer than 2 minutes. Videos do not have to be complex. Past entries have been made on cell phones. Provide us a link to your YouTube, Dropbox, Vimeo video link, or other optimal video hosting source with your application.

Check out our past video entries for examples. 

Selection Process

Entries are evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges comprised of business and community leaders. Remember, since the judges do not know your organization, your videos and written application should provide a robust and accurate description of the organization’s culture. 

If selected as a Spark Award recipient, BBB, LaunchHouse, and Cleveland Jewish News reserve the right to use any video submitted (in part or whole) for the marketing efforts of the award and their respective organizations. Which include but are not limited to LaunchHouse’s Bootstrap Bash event as well as future BBB and BBB Educational Foundation events. By submitting your entry, you agree to these terms.