The BBB Spark Award honors eligible social entrepreneurs, startup founders and new business owners that cultivate the Three C’s of Trust: Character, Culture and Community.
Donor Name: BBB Integrity Foundation
States: Kentucky, Tennessee
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Award
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 08/26/2022
Award Size: $2,000
Details:
These individuals are the future of a trusted marketplace, who are creating businesses that will transform and enhance the communities they serve.
The BBB Spark Award is bestowed upon entrepreneurs 35 years and under or new businesses operating for less than three years. Through an easy application process, business owners who demonstrate the Three C’s of Trust can apply for the BBB Spark Award.
Benefits
A variety of benefits come along with being a BBB Spark Award recipient, including:
- Cash prize! 1st place – $2,000 | 2nd place – $1,000 | 3rd place – $500 • 1 year of BBB accreditation for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. (valid for a one-year accreditation valued at $545 or $545 credit towards your accreditation. All businesses are subject to normal accreditation research standards.)
- Recognition in a news release shared with BBB media partners
- Recognition on the BBB Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky website and social media channels
- Utilization of the 2022 BBB Spark Award recipient logo on your digital and print marketing collateral
- The physical BBB Spark Award trophy to be proudly displayed at your company, symbolizing your commitment to ethics in the workplace!
Three C’s of Trust
- Character
- The character of the leader shapes the business in every decision. A business leader will be tempted to make decision that are unethical or immoral. A leader of exemplary character stands strong in making good decisions and are role models.
- Character traits include integrity, fairness, transparency, honesty, self-sacrifice, self-control, servant leaders, are teachable and have maturity.
- Culture
- A culture celebrating the team and aligned with the mission. A business that celebrates each member of its team as being an important contributor to the mission. Both the leader and the team co-create the culture.
- Culture should demonstrate collaboration with team, a reflection of character, compassion, transparency, respect, values, passion, celebrate each other.
- Community
- The community is a key stakeholder for the business. Businesses balancing the profit goals of the business with the needs of the community give back more than they take. They gift treasure, time, and/or talent to helping their community get ahead.
- In tune with the community, collaborative, inclusive, invested, social impact, giving back.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for the Spark Award, you must be:
- BBB Accreditation is not required
- Business must be in good standing with BBB and have at least a “B” rating
- A business owner of any age, with a business that has been established within the last 36 months OR —
- Be an entrepreneur, business owner or startup founder 35 years of age or younger.
- If you are an entrepreneur who has had founded more than one business, you must pick one for your application. Your organization must be within BBB Middle TN and Southern KY service area:
- Kentucky: Allen, Christian, Todd, Trigg, Logan, Monroe, and Simpson County.
- Tennessee: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Davidson, Dekalb, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson, and Wilson County.
For more information, visit BBB Integrity Foundation.
