7th Annual Pro Bono Awards 2017 Guidelines and Eligibility

This section provides detailed information regarding the Pro Bono Financial Planning Awards participation guidelines and eligibility requirements. If you have any additional questions, please click here to send us an inquiry.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
· Nominees must be active, or retired, financial planners (e.g., CFP), registered representatives (e.g. Series 7) or registered investment advisers.
· Volunteer involvement with the nonprofit organization must be current and ongoing as of the last 12 months.
· Activities must have included one-on-one pro bono financial advice and guidance for underserved populations (e.g., low income, college students, social service agency clients, military personnel/veterans and families, individuals in a crisis situation such as domestic violence survivors, people affected by a natural disaster, serious medical diagnosis, bankruptcy, etc.).

NOMINATION PROCESS
· Finalists will be selected based on the following criteria:
· Reach: How many volunteer hours were provided and/or individuals served? When did the activity begin, how long did it take, and how often does it occur? What level of commitment did the nominee demonstrate to the work?
· Results: How has the impact changed the lives of the recipients of the pro bono services? Has the nominee been recognized by others as being dedicated to achieving desired results through providing pro bono advice? In general, what would the people who have been helped say about the nominee?
· Finalists will be determined by mid-June. Honorees will be announced in the August issue of Financial Planning in print and online.
· The judges will select one grand prize winner and two runners-up.
· A $5,000 grant will be given to the nonprofit organization in which the grand prize winner is engaged to provide continued support for pro bono financial planning and coaching. Only qualified nonprofit organizations and educational institutions with tax-exempt status granted under the Internal Revenue Code Section 510(c)(3) are eligible to receive award donations.
· The grand prize winner and the two runners-up will be featured in the August issue of Financial Planning magazine.
· Nominees’ entry information will not be given to anyone outside of Financial Planning magazine or the Foundation for Financial Planning.
· Finalists must agree to be interviewed, photographed, filmed and featured in Financial Planning magazine and on www.Financial-Planning.com and www.FoundationForFinancialPlanning.org

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
· The Nomination Form must be filled out completely and include two reference letters. Incomplete forms will not be considered.
· Entries may be submitted in the online form.
· Please be as specific as possible. Only those entries that meet the criteria provided will be considered. Financial Planning magazine will review only completed nomination forms that are accompanied by all supporting materials.
· Entries must be received no later than May 30, 2017
· Due to the large volume of entries received, only the honorees will be contacted.
· INCOMPLETE NOMINATION PACKETS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

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