Check back soon for more details on the 2013 CSR Awards program. 

Corporate social responsibility is an essential building block of organizations’ annual business plans. It enhances reputation and builds positive bridges to communities, customers and the public at large—and in so doing affects the bottom line.  The sweeping nature of social networking has only magnified the influence corporate social responsibility programs can have on brand reputation.

Categories

Winners will be awarded in the following categories:

Annual Report - This category recognizes outstanding annual reports for shareholders and other key constituents. (A synopsis is not needed for this category.)

Blog - Recognizing an outstanding, influential business-related weblog or online journal written by a representative of the organization with the goal of espousing the brand or a certain message and written with flair and personality.

Cause Branding Campaign - This category recognizes a particular campaign in which the corporation’s brand is aligned with a cause, resulting in a nonprofit-corporate partnership that benefits the cause and raises awareness among consumers and other stakeholders. Entrants must show tangible results of campaign and year-over-year strategies to improve the cause branding campaign if this is an ongoing program.

Community Affairs - This category encompasses a wide variety of corporate citizenship efforts, from prominent support for local causes to outstanding partnerships with national and international cause-related organizations. Include a synopsis of the initiative with the entry form along with information on any pertinent partnerships.

Corporate-Community Partnership - This category comprises those campaigns whose primary focus is forming/promoting a partnership for a social or community cause, but which may also include promotion of your product and/or services and/or company and the advancement of your reputation as a corporate citizen. 

CSR on a Shoestring - Recognizes success of CSR efforts while working with limited funds/budget, whether it's for a single campaign or for ongoing programs. "Shoestring" is subjective, so the emphasis should be on how more was done with less. 

Diversity Communications - The winning communications initiative in this category will reflect an organization’s commitment to racial, ethnic, religious and gender diversity.

Employee Relations - This category recognizes internal communications efforts and honors those organizations that are communicating CR commitments to employees and engaging them in helping to create positive change on important social and environmental issues.

Click Here to view more categories

 

Deadlines/Entry Fee

Deadline: November 9, 2012
Late Deadline: November 16, 2012
All entries must be completed online by  November 16, 2012.

 

For entries completed online between November 9 and November 16, 2012, please add a $199 late fee per entry. Finalist will be notified in January 2013.

 

Entry Fees:
The price of each primary entry is $300.  If you are submitting a secondary entry of the same campaign into one or more categories the price will be $199.  Late entry surcharge of $199 per entry.  Payment in full must accompany the entry.  Entry fees are not refundable.

Receipts: Toyin Salau at tsalau@accessintel.com.

Questions:
Contact Saun Sayamongkhun at 301-354-1694; saun@accessintel.com.

 

 

Eligibility Requirements 

To be eligible, the campaign or PR initiative must have taken place (either in part or in full) between November 1, 2011, and November 9, 2012. Some of the work must have occurred during this time, but it’s not necessary for it to be completed during the eligibility period, and it can be ongoing. Any communications team worldwide — corporate, agency, association, governmental agency or nonprofit — of any size is eligible to enter.

FAQs: 

  • How are the entries judged?
    Entries are judged by a blue chip panel of corporate, agency and academic executives as well as by the staff of PR News. We evaluate your entry based on creativity, innovation, sound planning, implementation and outcomes. The most important criterion is proven success in aligning your strategic objectives with your end goals.
  • When will I be notified about the status of my entry?
    You will be contacted by PR News staff regarding your entry only if you are named a finalist in the award program. Finalists will be notified in late January 2013 and announced in PR News and www.prnewsonline.com.
  • Can I enter my campaign in more than one category?
    Yes. Please include separate written entries for each category. Also, there is no limit to number of campaigns you can enter.
  • How do I increase my chances of winning an award?
    Emphasize the goals of your campaign as well as your campaign’s achievements in your introduction. Provide as many concrete and specific examples of success as possible, and explain clearly and succinctly your research, planning, implementation and measurement of the campaign or ongoing initiative.
  • Must we include our campaign budget?
    It’s not a requirement, but it helps the judges to better compare your campaign against other entries. Include at least a reasonable budget range. The judges always take into account the campaign budget relative to the goals and outcome. All information is confidential and will not be published.
  • What is your Federal  tax ID number?
    52–2270063
  • W-9 Form

 

Sponsorship Opportunities

For sponsorship of the PR News CSR Awards, please contact Diane Schwartz at 212-621-4964 or dschwartz@accessintel.com.

Previous Winners

2011 Winners
2010 Winners
2009 Winners | 2009 CSR Issue
2007 winners | 2008 CSR Issue 
2006 winners 
2005 winners

 

 

 

 

Entry Deadline:
November 9, 2012

 

Late Entry Deadline:
November 16, 2012

AwardsLuncheon:
Spring 2013

Who Should Enter?

 

PR News’ CSR Awards are open to all individuals and teams worldwide at for-profit and nonprofit organizations including: corporations, PR firms, marketing firms, public affairs agencies, IR agencies, publicity firms, associations, government teams, NGOs and practitioners.

How to Enter

 

At the beginning of your 2-page synopsis, the following information must be listed:

 

  • Category entered
  • Title of entry (as it would appear on your award)
  • Key contact for entry
  • Organization submitting entry
  • Budget (where applicable) (All budget information is strictly confidential and will not be published w/o expressed permission.)

Within your 2-page synopsis, please describe your campaign or PR initiative including the following:

  • Objectives
  • Research
  • Strategy
  • Execution
  • Evaluation of Success/Results/ROI

People Category When submitting an entry in this category, please outline (in 2 pages maximum) your CSR efforts, including but not limited to CSR best practices and CSR communications. Include specific initiatives that took place in the past 12 months that may still be ongoing.  Agency Category

Entrants should submit supporting materials including client testimonials, a summary of successfully executed CSR programs going back at least two years (clearly detailing campaign objectives and measures of success) and unique CSR best practices the agency applies to all its corporate responsibility initiatives.

Corporation Overall Leader Categories

When submitting an entry in this category, please outline (in 2 pages maximum) the CSR efforts of your organization, including but not limited to CSR best practices and CSR communications. Include specific initiatives that took place in the past 12 months that may still be ongoing. 

 

Supporting Materials

Supporting materials should show evidence of the success of your work. It can be any of the following: direct web addresses/URLs, sales figures, brand media coverage, clippings, photos, research documents and testimonials.