In today’s highly competitive world, awards can serve as powerful validation of your work whether you’re a startup founder, creative entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or corporate executive. But behind every trophy and standing ovation is usually a well-crafted award submission that tells a compelling story, aligns with the criteria, and stands out from the crowd.
Yet, writing an award submission is not just about listing achievements it’s about persuasion, structure, and strategic storytelling. Here’s how to write a winning award submission that gives your entry the best possible chance of success.
1. Understand the Award Criteria Thoroughly
Before putting pen to paper, study the award guidelines in detail. Every award has a unique set of requirements, including:
- Eligibility criteria
- Specific judging metrics (e.g., innovation, impact, scalability)
- Word limits or document formats
- Supporting document requirements (e.g., photos, testimonials, data)
Tip: Download the criteria and highlight key action verbs like “demonstrate,” “showcase,” or “quantify.” Tailor your answers directly to these cues.
2. Craft a Clear and Compelling Narrative
Awards are often judged by busy panels sifting through dozens (sometimes hundreds) of entries. A generic or jargon-heavy response will easily get lost. Your submission should tell a story that’s:
- Authentic: Avoid inflated claims; be truthful and confident.
- Focused: Stick to the most important points that match the criteria.
- Emotive and Impactful: If your work has changed lives, moved communities, or solved real problems, highlight that.
Structure it like this:
- The problem or challenge you faced
- What you did to solve it (innovation, strategy, execution)
- The outcome (data, testimonials, results)
3. Provide Quantifiable Results
Judges love numbers. Concrete data helps your submission stand out and shows measurable impact. Instead of saying:
“We helped our community access clean water,”
Say:
“We installed 10 solar-powered boreholes across 5 villages, providing clean water to over 7,500 people daily.”
Use infographics, charts, or timelines (if allowed) to further illustrate your achievements.
4. Tailor Each Submission — Never Copy and Paste
Avoid the temptation to submit the same entry to different awards. While some parts may overlap, each submission should be tailored to fit the tone, values, and goals of the awarding body.
Example:
- An innovation-focused award should highlight your creative process and disruption of the status quo.
- A community impact award should focus more on engagement, outreach, and real-life transformation.
5. Highlight the Team Behind the Success
Even if you’re the visionary behind the idea, it’s important to acknowledge the people who helped make it happen. Judges appreciate leaders who are collaborative and give credit where it’s due.
You could write:
“This project was brought to life by a dedicated team of five engineers, two community liaisons, and numerous volunteers who worked tirelessly over 18 months.”
6. Include Supporting Materials Wisely
Some awards allow or require the submission of additional materials such as:
- Testimonials from clients or stakeholders
- Press coverage
- High-resolution photos or videos
- Letters of recommendation
Choose materials that strengthen your claims not just fill space. A glowing testimonial from a respected industry figure can be more persuasive than a dozen generic attachments.
7. Proofread and Peer Review
Nothing undermines credibility like typos or poorly constructed sentences. After writing:
- Use editing tools like Grammarly for clarity
- Read your submission out loud
- Ask a colleague or mentor to review for feedback
They may spot inconsistencies or offer suggestions to make your argument even stronger.
8. Submit Early — Not Last Minute
Leaving submission until the deadline can result in rushed work and overlooked errors. Aim to complete your draft at least one week before the closing date. This gives you time to refine and polish it.
Also, technical glitches are common with online portals. Submitting early saves you from unexpected last-minute stress.
Final Word
Winning an award isn’t just about being the best it’s about clearly showing why and how you are. A strong submission is strategic, thoughtful, and personal. It connects your work with the award’s purpose and leaves judges convinced they’ve found a winner.
So whether you’re applying for a local entrepreneurship grant or an international innovation prize, follow these tips to ensure your submission doesn’t just make it into the pile but rises to the top.
