The community is encouraged to nominate in all award categories. Award category panels are hand-selected and meet to select recipients in each category. CVNL facilitates these panels, but does not have a vote. 

Everyone is invited to attend the awards ceremony where the recipients are announced and all nominees are recognized for their contributions. It is an afternoon filled with inspiration, gratitude, and some (happy) tears!

• The awards have specific criteria that the award panels read multiple times to distinguish the nominations from each other. Make sure to answer all of the questions, as the panel will notice if you don’t. Our judging panel are professionals from our community and often they have been past recipients themselves.

• Each award has different questions. If the award criteria asks for specifics, such as strategies, initiatives, measurable outcomes, outputs or challenges, address these with concrete, specific answers.

• If asked to provide examples from past 12 months, pick out the most substantial or impactful ones. Include qualitative data that speaks to the greater impact on the community.

• When appropriate, personal stories and examples help illustrate the response to a question.

• The judges consider only what is on paper – assume your reader knows nothing.

• It is fine if your work goes outside of Marin County, but remember this is an award for service in the particular county – so be sure to focus on that.

• When it says ‘briefly’ we mean brief – don’t use all of your space to state the organizations mission and services. 

• While it is fine (even encouraged!) to nominate in more than one category, please do so only if you have strong candidates. Getting more than one nomination in the same category does not increase your chances. Each nomination is treated as its own, and in fact they will be judged against each other. It is better to have one strong nomination per award.

• Notify the nominee in advance of the nomination as they can often provide important information to strengthen the nomination. You will also want to make sure they save the date: January 11, 2024, to attend the awards event.

• Most important – make sure to complete all sections, staying within the guidelines on font and number of pages. Put the event date: January 11, 2024 on your calendar too – as we will want you as the nominator to attend and celebrate!

That’s great! Each nomination received is reviewed and judged separately by Award Panelists. However, the number of times someone is nominated does not influence the likelihood of that person/organization being selected as the recipient. This is why it is so important that you submit complete and thoughtful nominations which address ALL of the corresponding questions. 

The event is our opportunity to publicly acknowledge all nominees and their commitments to the community. Since we do not announce award recipients in advance, all nominees are expected to attend. We are looking forward to gathering with all of this year’s nominees, nominators, and our Marin community, on January 11, 2024, at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall. We would love to see you there!