Nomination Guidelines

Nominations close Friday, April 10.

Please closely review the guidelines below before submitting a nomination.

Click here to download a nomination checklist. Click here to view the scoring criteria.

To be eligible for a Leadership Award, a nominated state or local government defined contribution or deferred compensation program, project, or initiative must meet the following criteria:

The plan must be an active NAGDCA member.
The program, project, campaign, or activity must have been implemented between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
It must go beyond federally mandated changes.
Governmental staff must have been involved in its development and/or implementation.

Please note, dual submissions across award programs are not permitted. A project may be submitted either for a Leadership Award or the NAGDCA–Art Caple President’s Award, but not both. If you plan to submit a project for the President’s Award, please do not submit it for a Leadership Award. If you are unsure which award is the best fit, please contact NAGDCA staff in advance with a brief description of your project. Staff can help guide you to the most appropriate award category or program.

Nominations must include the following:

A completed online nomination form (below).
One PDF document, no more than five pages, containing:
- A one-page summary containing:
  1. Plan profile – type(s) of plans offered, asset size, number of participants, industry partner(s), etc.
  2. Background information – details about the need/problem that the project was designed to meet/solve for
  3. Goals – brief overview of the intended outcomes
  4. Commentary – brief quote (one to two sentences) from plan sponsor(s) or other staff explaining the significance of the effort
- A written justification containing:
  1. Detailed description of the project – timeline, significance of the improvement to the operation of the plan, examples (e.g., images, screenshots, etc.)
  2. Results – key outcomes and measurable benefits (i.e., KPIs)
  3. Feasibility of use by other governments of a similar size

Please note: The PDF document should not exceed five pages. If the format outlined above isn’t met your submission will be returned to you and possibly not scored.

Questions? Please contact Carly Abernathy at cabernathy@amrms.com.

2026 Leadership Award Nomination Form

Category *

Please select the award category for which you are submitting a nomination.

Organization Name *

The organization must be a NAGDCA Government Member to be eligible for nomination.

Plan Asset Size *

Plan asset size/plan resources will be taken into consideration during the scoring process.

Title of Project *

Project Implementation Date *

Project Description *

Please enter a brief description of the project. If the project is awarded, this description will be used on the website and in the awards publication.

Plan Logo Upload

Please upload a high resolution version of the Plan's logo. If the Plan is awarded, the logo will be used on the website and in the awards publication.

Contact Person *

Title *

Organization *

Email *

Phone *

Staff *

Please list the names and titles of the staff that played a significant role in developing the project.

Industry Partner(s)

Please list the names, titles, and companies of the industry partner(s) who played a significant role in this project.

PDF Upload

Please upload one PDF document containing: one-page summary, written justification, and supporting examples. The document should not exceed five pages.

I have reviewed this nomination and endorse it for consideration. *

Yes

If awarded, would you or other staff be willing to assist with a case study writeup, participate in a webinar, or present during the annual conference?

Yes

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2026 Award Nomination Form