Award-Winning Work
The annual awards program highlights the incredible work NAGDCA members are doing every day to secure the retirement future of their public sector employees. NAGDCA annually recognizes the brightest ideas and most innovative solutions from across the industry with its Leadership Recognition, Members’ Choice, and Art Caple President’s Awards. Learn more about the awards program below.
Leadership Recognition Awards
Projects and campaigns from NAGDCA government members are eligible for nomination for the annual Leadership Awards, and all nominations are forwarded to the NAGDCA Awards Committee, a panel of volunteers, who scrutinize the submissions and recognize those who are at the top of the field. Five leadership categories are awarded: Holistic Financial Wellness, National Retirement Security Month, Participant Education & Communication, Plan Design & Administration, and Technology & Cybersecurity. The awards are presented by the Executive Board President at the Annual Conference.
NAGDCA – Art Caple President’s Award
The NAGDCA – Art Caple President’s Award recognizes excellence in public sector defined contribution plans. This prestigious award celebrates visionary leadership and dedication to enhancing the financial well-being of plan participants. Each year, the NAGDCA Awards Committee reviews the nominations and selects winners. The winners receives complimentary registration and travel expenses for one person to the NAGDCA Annual Conference where they will be recognized and presented with the award.
NAGDCA – Art Caple President’s Award
The NAGDCA – Art Caple President’s Award was founded in 2019 to commemorate the lifework of past NAGDCA president, Art Caple. Mr. Caple was a visionary and voice for those who serve others through employer-sponsored retirement plans and championed retirement programs that continue today to build financial security for state and local government employees throughout their retirement. Each year, the NAGDCA Awards Committee carefully reviews and scores all nominations, and selects the top three finalists before choosing the winners. Presented annually to two plans—one large (assets of $500 million or more) and one standard (under $500 million)—the award ensures plans of all sizes are recognized for their outstanding impact.
Eligibility: NAGDCA Government Members
Scoring/Selection Process: Each year, the NAGDCA Awards Committee reviews and scores all nominations, discusses results, and identifies the top three entries in each category before selecting the winners.
Recognition: NAGDCA covers the cost of registration and lodging for one person from the plan to attend the annual conference and to accept the award from the Executive Board President during the awards ceremony. The winner is also recognized on NAGDCA’s social media and website.
Join NAGDCA in congratulating the 2025 winners – County of Fresno and State Universities Retirement System of Illinois (SURS).
Leadership Awards
National Retirement Security Month Campaign Award
National Retirement Security Month (NRSM) is NAGDCA’s cornerstone campaign to allow public sector defined contribution administrators to focus their employees’ attention on the benefits of a secure retirement. NAGDCA’s members use the month to deepen their participants’ understanding of programs available in their plan. The NAGDCA Annual Awards for NRSM recognize our members who developed the most effective campaigns in the country.
Participant Education & Communication Award
Establishing a creative communications campaign is one of the most effective ways for retirement plan sponsors to engage their employees and inform them about the importance of retirement savings. Each year the NAGDCA Awards Committee chooses the most original and captivating work to be recognized as the industry example from hundreds of plans.
Plan Design & Administration Award
Designing a retirement plan is an art that represents the most direct way a plan sponsor can affect their employees’ retirement outcomes. Which options to offer, in what amount, whether to use “white label” funds, how to structure target date funds, all of these are just a few of the nearly limitless decisions facing plan sponsors when they design their plan. From among the outstanding designs available in state and local government plans, NAGDCA annually awards the best in the field to recognize those who are leading the way in this important aspect of public sector defined contribution administration.
Technology & Cybersecurity Award
Effective use of technology and social media has rapidly emerged as an essential part of engaging employees in their retirement planning. NAGDCA’s annual award in this category recognizes those who are not only embracing the changes presented by new technology but using it to their advantage to create a more dynamic, interactive member experience.
