2025 President’s Award Nominations

NOMINATIONS DUE TUESDAY, JUNE 24

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Art Caple President’s Award—NAGDCA’s highest honor recognizing excellence in public sector defined contribution plans. Established in memory of past president Art Caple, the award celebrates visionary leadership and innovative strategies that enhance participants’ financial well-being.

New for 2025: To ensure equitable recognition across plan sizes, the award will be presented in two categories:

  • Standard Plan: Total assets under $500 million
  • Large Plan: Total assets of $500 million or more

Nominees will be evaluated within their respective categories to ensure fair comparisons based on available resources and plan size.

Nominated plans must demonstrate a strategic project or program—such as retirement readiness campaigns, financial literacy efforts, or investment education initiatives—that has made a measurable impact on participant outcomes. Governmental staff must have played a role in the development or execution of the initiative.

Each winning plan will receive:

  • Recognition during the 2025 NAGDCA Annual Conference
  • One complimentary registration for the 2026 Annual Conference
NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS:
  • Plan Eligibility:
    • The award is open to all public sector defined contribution plans administered by government entities.
    • The nominee must be a member of NAGDCA.
    • Plans will be categorized as follows:
      • Standard Plan – Plans with total assets under management (AUM) of less than $500 million
      • Large Plan – Plans with assets of $500 million or more
  • Project or Program Scope:
    • Nominees must demonstrate involvement in strategic project or program aimed at enhancing participant outcomes, such as retirement readiness, financial literacy, or investment education.
    • Governmental staff must have played a role in developing and/or implementing the program.
  • Significant Impact:
    • Nominees should illustrate the measurable impact of their initiative on participant financial security and well-being. This may include increased plan participation rates, improved investment performance, enhanced retirement readiness metrics, or other tangible outcomes.
  • Innovation and Creativity:
    • Nominated projects should showcase innovative approaches and creative strategies in addressing the evolving needs and challenges of plan participants.
  • Participant-Centric Approach:
    • Nominees must embody a participant-first mentality, prioritizing the interests and financial goals of plan participants in all aspects of plan administration and service delivery.
  • Documentation and Supporting Materials:
    • Submissions should be one PDF document including:
      • A plan profile outlining the types of plans offered, plan asset category (per the $500M threshold), asset size, number of participants, industry partner(s), etc.
      • Comprehensive documentation outlining the project’s objectives, implementation strategies, and results achieved.
      • Supporting materials, such as participant testimonials, performance metrics, or educational resources.
Please complete the form below and upload your PDF document by the deadline on June 24 to be considered for the award.

2025 President's Award Nomination Form

Plans will be categorized as a Standard Plan – plans with total assets under management (AUM) of less than $500 million or a Large Plan – plans with assets of $500 million or more. Nominees will be evaluated within their respective categories to ensure fair comparisons based on available resources and plan size.
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.
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.
Please list the names and titles of the staff that played a significant role in developing the project.
Please list the names, titles, and companies of the industry partner(s) who played a significant role in this project.
Please upload one PDF document containing: a plan profile, documentation outlining the project, and supporting materials.
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