About the Awards

The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics is an annual celebration to honor exceptional businesses and nonprofits in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. The Torch Awards program recognizes local organizations' outstanding ethical practices and commitment to character, culture, customers, and community.

Each year, winners are recognized at an awards luncheon in the fall.

Visit our Torch Awards page to learn how to get involved, see past winners, and help us celebrate the outstanding recipients.

Eligibility

The following criteria must be met and maintained throughout the Torch Award process:

• The competition is only open to eligible businesses and nonprofits located in the following states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. Eligible counties in Iowa include: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie and Shelby. Eligible counties in Missouri include: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, De Kalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Morgan, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Putnam, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan and Worth. All counties in Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota are eligible.                                     
• Entry is open to businesses and nonprofit organizations that apply during the eligibility period from Friday, December 1, 2023, to Friday, April 5, 2024. 
• Businesses and nonprofits are not eligible if they have received a Torch Award in the past five years in a specific service area (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023). For example, if your business or nonprofit won a Torch Award in 2022 for Omaha & SW Iowa region, you are eligible to apply in 2024 in a different service area if you have a location in a separate region. 
• Applicants must have at least a “B” rating in the BBB database. The BBB reviews both accredited and non-accredited businesses. BBB ratings range from A+ to F. No less than a “B” rating is required for acceptance into the Torch Awards.
  
• Businesses or nonprofits must be located and have a physical presence within the service area of BBB Midwest Plains: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska or South Dakota.
• Business must be in operation for at least three years as of September 30, 2024.

**It is not necessary for a business to be an Accredited Business with the BBB to receive a Torch Award. These awards are designed to promote and reward any appropriate business for upholding and demonstrating ethical business practices. However, you must have a BBB profile in our database to qualify. If your business does not have a BBB profile in our database, please start that process by filling out this form.

Visit our Torch Awards page to find the application and get started!

Award Criteria

BBB has created a new application that has four criteria. They focus on four C’s – Character, Culture, Customers, and Community. The application outlines the character of the organization’s leadership, how an authentic culture is being fostered, how the company prioritizes its relationship with customers, and the impact the organization is making in their community.

Judging Process

BBB Midwest Plains' service area has been divided into five regions, and organizations will only compete against other organizations in their own region. To enter the Torch or Spark Awards, your business must be located in one of these five regions. These include:

• Kansas City & Western Missouri
  
• Kansas Plains
• Lincoln & Greater Nebraska
• Omaha & SW Iowa 
  
• South Dakota

An independent, voluntary panel of judges will take on the responsibility of reviewing, evaluating, and selecting winners of the Torch Awards. The judges are comprised of business and community leaders, many of whom have previously won Torch Awards.

Torch Awards winners will be notified via email in May 2024 to the contact indicated in the online application form and subsequently announced on various BBB platforms, including the competition website. 

An in-person event will be held in September or October 2024 to honor the winning organizations. 

Benefits for Award Winners

BBB will provide Torch Awards and Spark Awards winners with these materials:

• Torch or Spark Awards recipient media kit
• Torch or Spark Awards recipient trophy
• Torch or Spark Awards recipient certificate
• Social media photo feature
• Press release template
• In addition, the competition offers the recipient the use of the Torch or Spark Awards winner logo for their own marketing materials. Mandatory advertising guidelines for the Torch Awards can be found here. Mandatory advertising guidelines for the Spark Awards can be found here. By submitting the application, the entrant agrees to abide by those guidelines.
  

Testimonials

"The entire team at FHT was grateful for this memorable experience and we are proud of our commitment to being transparent and honest to our customers."

-Farha HomeTrends, BBB Torch Awards for Ethics winner (2022)

“The recognition that comes from being selected as an award winner is an honor unlike any other award. It communicates to the community and to our member-owners that Centris Federal Credit Union’s top priority is ensuring we live up to the trust they have instilled in us to help protect their financial wellbeing.”

-Centris Federal Credit Union, BBB Torch Awards for Ethics winner (2005, 2015)

“Being a four-time winner of the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics is an important acknowledgment for our customers and our employees that we are a company that stands by our principles and our word. This helps to build trust and authenticity that is vital to a thriving workplace and place in the community.”

-Thrasher Foundation Repair, BBB Torch Awards for Ethics winner (2000, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2023)

“Having won Torch Awards multiple times in our relatively short history has really solidified our reputation in a very competitive and sometimes less than ethic industry.”

-Monarch Siding, Windows & Roofing — BBB Torch Awards for Ethics winner (2002, 2010, 2017, 2023)

“Receiving this award has validated the hard work we’ve been doing while at the same time driving us to do more.”

-Heartland Family Service — BBB Torch Awards for Ethics winner (2011, 2019)