HUMANITARIAN PRIZE NOMINATION PROCESS

The $1.5 million (U.S.) Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize is awarded annually to an organization making extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering anywhere in the world.

We will accept nominations from throughout the international community for the 2011 Hilton Humanitarian Prize in the spring of 2010 (see announcement below).  Please check back for more information.  An independent international panel of jurors will make the final selection.

Important Announcement Regarding Nominations for the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize 2010 and 2011

On September 8, 2009, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation announced a new partnership with the Global Philanthropy Forum, a project of the World Affairs Council of Northern California. The annual Hilton Humanitarian Prize presentation will be moved from the fall to a spring dinner ceremony, where in 2010 it will be awarded on the evening of April 20 at the Global Philanthropy Forum conference in Redwood City, California.

We would normally be opening nominations for the 2010 Prize right now, but to accommodate this change in the first year of our new partnership, the next six months do not allow enough time for the rigorous evaluation process that is conducted for each nominee before consideration by the international Hilton Prize jury. Rather than skipping a year in the Hilton Prize process, and since the vetting process has already been completed for all nominees submitted for the 2009 Hilton Prize, the decision has been made to carry over the same group of nominees for the 2010 Prize. For new organizations and nominators who were planning to submit nominations for the 2010 Prize, nominations will have to be postponed for consideration until early spring 2010 and will be reviewed for the 2011 Prize (to be presented in April, 2011).

We sincerely apologize to all new nominees and nominators for this delay in reviewing your organization’s nomination. If you wish to be notified when the nominations will officially open in spring 2010, please let us know by e-mailing nominations@hiltonfoundation.org. Otherwise, please watch this page for updated information in the spring of 2010. At that time, the new guidelines and nomination dates will be posted online.

Thank you for your continuing interest in the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Nominee Eligibility

• Nominees must be organizations, not individuals.
• Nominees must be established, non-governmental, publicly supported charitable organizations. U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status—or the equivalent for international organizations—will determine eligibility.  (International nominees will be contacted by the Foundation for appropriate documentation.)
• Nominees must be legally established for at least five years (established prior to 2006 for the 2011 Hilton Humanitarian Prize) in order to be considered.
• Nominees must have an operating budget (expenditure) greater than U.S. $500,000.
• An organization that has received a single grant of $1.5 million or more from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation must wait 3 years before being eligible for nomination.

Nominator Qualifications

• The Nominator should have direct knowledge of the nominated organization’s work.
• The Nominator may not be an officer or employee—or any other individual receiving remuneration for their services from the nominated organization. Board members may nominate providing they receive no payment for their service.  
• The Nominator may not be a family member of an officer or employee of the nominated organization.

Evaluation Criteria

Since the Prize is not a grant, nomination material should emphasize the organization’s accomplishments rather than future goals. Both historic and recent performance should be addressed. Following are suggested criteria to consider in describing your Nominee’s work:

• Extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering
• Established record of achievement
• Innovation in program design
• Organizational capacity and administrative efficiency
• Demonstration of long-term impact

Nomination Process

The Identification Sheet (sample of 2009 document; the 2011 document will be posted in the spring of 2010) must be completed, signed by the nominator, and returned.  If the identification sheet is submitted without a signature via e-mail, a copy must also be sent via facsimile or mail, as the signature of the nominator must be on file.  If you would like to receive a hard copy of the new Identification Sheet and updated nomination guidelines by mail, please email nominations@hiltonfoundation.org with your request and with your contact information.

1. A personal Nominating Letter in English, not to exceed five typed pages, should cite the reasons the Nominee deserves to be awarded the Hilton Humanitarian Prize. Please include or ask your nominating organization to send an annual report or brochure and the latest financial statement (in U.S. dollars). Please do not submit any additional materials such as videos, original photographs, or books, as they cannot be returned. All materials submitted must be in English.

2. Multiple nominations are not encouraged, although more than one person can sign a nomination letter. If more than one nomination is received for an organization, the first one received will be the nomination of record.  All other nominations will be registered as letters of support; however, no more than three letters of support will be recorded. 

3. Once the nomination has been received, the Hilton Foundation may require additional support material from the Nominee.  The Foundation will contact the Nominee directly for this information.

4. Please note that any attempted contact with the Hilton Prize jurors about the nomination may disqualify a Nominee.

5. For a list of frequently asked questions about the nomination process, please  click here.  

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at: nominations@hiltonfoundation.org