What types of campaigns are eligible as Halo award nominees?
Entries must be for campaigns that occurred in whole or in part during 2021 in the United States or Canada. Campaigns qualify if they are designed to measurably advance the interests of both a business and a nonprofit partner or cause (note: this is MANDATORY. Campaigns that do not involve a company are automatically ineligible). Previous Halo Award winning campaigns are not eligible for re-entry in the category in which they’ve previously won (with the exception of new video creative in the Social Impact Video category).
When is the entry deadline?
For 2022 the deadline will be January 11 with late entries accepted no later than January 13, 2022 and subject to a late fee. All of your materials must be RECEIVED by these dates.
What is the judging process?
A committee of up to seven judges will evaluate the entries and select one winner and one runner up in each category. Judges will recuse themselves from judging a category if they have a relationship with an entrant that presents a conflict of interest. The judges may, at their discretion, switch the category in which an entry competes.
Finalists in each category will be notified of their status on or before February 15, 2022. Winners will be notified privately in late February or early March. Winners will not be announced publicly until May 18-19, 2022 at the Halo Awards Program at the 2022 Engage for Good conference in Atlanta. The identities of the judges will not be announced until the day of the event. The decision of the judges is final. In the event of a tie, the president of Cause Marketing Forum, Inc. will select the winning entry.
Who can enter?
Companies or nonprofits engaged in cause marketing or brand purpose work or relevant agencies. Campaigns qualify if they are designed to measurably advance the interests of both a business and a nonprofit partner or cause (note: this is MANDATORY. Campaigns that do not involve a company are automatically ineligible). Campaigns must occur in whole or in part during 2021 in the United States or Canada.
What are the judging criteria?
There are four judging criteria: Conceptual Strength, Execution, Business Results and Cause Results (Note: Entries in the video creative category will primarily be judged on their conceptual strength and execution).
Conceptual Strength
- Fit: Is there a strong fit between the cause and the business? Does the brand purpose shine through?
- Ownability: Does this campaign stand out and have an ownable angle?
- Depth: Does this program demonstrate a commitment to cause marketing beyond a quick promotion?
Execution
- Creative: Does creative clearly communicate the program to target audiences?
- Promotion: Was the program integrated into an effective marketing communications program?
Business Results
- Did the program achieve measurable results relative to stated objectives?
Cause Results
- Did the program achieve measurable results relative to stated objectives?
What are the categories?
The 2022 Halo Award Categories can be found in the application instructions packet.
What are the entry fees?
Standard Entry Fee Per Campaign (includes 1 category): $195 (if received by 1/11/22)
Fee per Additional Category: $50/category
Late Entry Fee (submissions received between 1/12/22 and 1/13/22): $150 additional
Do you have to be an EFG Member to apply?
No. EFG Members and Non-Members are welcome to apply to the Halo Awards.
What is the process for notifying winners?
We will be in touch in February to let you know whether your campaign was selected as a finalist (each category typically has four finalists). Finalists are typically announced publicly on/about February 15.
If your campaign is selected as a finalist, we will be back in touch to notify you if your campaign was selected as a Gold or Silver Halo Winner (each category will have one gold and one silver winner) in late February or early March. The Gold and Silver winners in each category are announced publicly at the Engage for Good conference.
Please note: if you are selected as a finalist, it does NOT necessarily mean you have won a Halo Award. If you have any additional questions about the distinctions between finalist and winner, please don’t hesitate to ask us.
If my campaign is selected as a finalist, does that mean we've won a Halo Award?
No. There are typically four finalists selected per category but only one Gold and one Silver Halo Award is given in each category. We will let you know if your campaign is a finalist and then we will be back in touch to let you know if your campaign was ultimately selected as a Gold or Silver Halo Award winner.
