Nomination Info

Criteria: Honorees will be selected for evidence of notable actions, initiatives and accomplishments in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics Culture and Programs in for-profit and non-profit organizations and among individuals. Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Using company resources to address the broader needs and interests of an organization's stakeholders and the society and communities in which it operates and serves.

• Engagement of employees in volunteerism and community service.
• Response in various ways to both chronic and acute needs of the communities served by the organization and in which it operates.
• Breadth and depth of support for charitable and philanthropic causes that is effective and meaningful given the mission and purpose of the organization.
• Broad consideration of stakeholders in CSR decisions (e.g. mitigating adverse impacts resulting from an organization's operations or engaging in programs that broadly benefit employees, customers, suppliers, and elements of community served.
• Emphasis on employee health and/or safety.
• Support for societal causes (e.g. human rights, child labor, etc.)
• Supply chain management and integrity.
• Promotion of diversity within the organization.
• Support sustainable use of organizational resources through education, financial support, and operational innovation.

Ethics Culture and Programs: Doing the right thing and obeying both the letter and the spirit of laws and regulations.

• Tone at the top of the organization that reinforces the importance of ethics.
• A culture and strong internal controls that support compliance with laws and regulations.
• Robust internal ethics and compliance training and communications programs.
• Existence of internal advisory telephone line and other resources for reporting misconduct and seeking advice.
• High-level authority within the organization for ethics and compliance.
• Clear statement of non-retaliatory policy.
• Strong ethics and conflict of interest policies and codes of conduct.
• Explicit set of core values that guide behavior.
• Effective risk management practicies.
• Effective strategies to detect and prevent misconduct

Individual Recognition: Exemplifying strong ethical character through dealings with others, championing ethical practices or programs, and applying personal values in a manner that notably demonstrates integrity and ethics.

Examples of notable actions include the following:

• Displaying personal courage and commitment in promoting ethical values in institutions or in the community
• Personally exerting strong influence in ways that support ethical conduct in the local and/or global context.

Honorees will be selected for evidence of notable initiatives and accomplishments in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics Culture and Programs in for-profit and non-profit organizations and among indivuals.

Corporate Social Responsibilty: Using organizational resources to address the broader needs and interests of stakeholders thourgh volunteer and charitable service to the communtiy, influence on the integrity of suppliers, favorable impact on social causes and issues, and delivery of services that add value to the broader needs and interests of customers and clients.

Ethics Culture and Programs: Doing the right thing and obeying both the letter and spirit of laws and regulations through strong culture, core values, and internal controls.

Individual Recognition: Exemplifying strong ethical character through dealings with others, championing ethical practices or programs, and applying personal values in a manner that notably demonstrates integrity and ethics.

The selection process is designed and intended to honor those that stand apart in their dedication to corporate social responsibility, ethics culture and programs, and the highest standards of ethical conduct.

A Nominations Committee comprised of business and community leaders both nominates potential honorees and insures a robust nominations process. The Selection Committee identifies – from the Nominations Committee’s recommendations – honorees to participates in interviews by students of business ethics at UTSA’s College of Business and selects final best practices to be recognized based on end-of-term student reports. The Nominations and Selection Committees are independent of the Ecumenical Center’s staff, boards and the Steering Committee of the San Antonio Ethics in Business Initiative.

The following are not eligible for nomination for the San Antonio Ethics in Business Awards:

Individual Award

Ecumenical Center Board members or their spouses during their term of office

Current employees of the Ecumenical Center or their spouses

Persons currently serving on the SA Ethics in Business Awards Steering Committee, Nominations committee, or Selection Committee or their spouses

Principals (CEO, President, Managing Director, Executive Director) of sponsors of SA Ethics in Business Awards events in any amount above Community Partner ($5,000) level in the awards year of their sponsorship

Organizational Award (for profit or non-profit)

Business or Non-Profit in which current members of the Ecumenical Center’s board or their spouses are principals (CEO, President, Managing Director, Executive Director) or otherwise serve in a senior leadership role.

Businesses or Non-Profit in which current employees of the Center or their spouses are principals (i.e. CEO, President, Managing Director) or otherwise serve in a senior leadership role.

Sponsors of SA Ethics in Business Awards events in any amount above Community Partner ($5,000) level in the awards year of their sponsorship

Other Nominees that Present the Appearance of Impropriety

The Nomination Committee will consider any other potential conflicts and has final approval of Nominees presented to the Selection Committee.

Foundations are not eligible for consideration in the Ethics in Business Initiative.