Diamond Award
The coveted Diamond Award recognizes one ANFP state chapter per year that exemplifies dedication to members through chapter initiatives and enthusiastic leadership.
2023 Diamond Award Recipient
Georgia ANFP
Congratulations, Georgia ANFP!
When a neighboring chapter asked the GA ANFP leaders for guidance and support to help with rebuilding their own chapter, the Diamond Award-winning chapter did not hesitate to provide guidance, support, and assistance to ensure another chapter was successful. Led by the GA ANFP chapter leaders, the neighboring chapters joined forces by hosting a multi-state virtual meeting to serve nearly 1,400 members within the region. They have also continued to provide one-on-one mentoring and training for the other chapter leaders throughout this process to ensure their chapter remains sustainable.
In addition to mentoring neighboring chapters, GA ANFP sponsored a cookie drive for the Robins Spouses Club & Philanthropic Association as well as the Air Men of the Warner Robbins Air force Base, of which were not able to leave the base during the Christmas holiday. In the end, they donated over 2,400 or 200 dozen cookies as well as a cash donation of $300.00. Because of the chapter’s actions and generosity, they were able to support their fellow ANFP chapters to the benefit of their members, as well as their communities and local organizations.
Diamond Award Best Practices & FAQs
The Diamond Award recognizes one chapter each year that has gone above and beyond the chapter minimum standards and embodied ANFP’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. Initiatives throughout the year are taken into consideration, in addition to documentation of one, chapter best practice.
How Does a chapter qualify for the Diamond Award?
To qualify for the Diamond Award, chapters must have met the following criteria:- Met all rebate requirements for the past two rebate cycles (June and January of the volunteer year.)
- The chapter initiative/best practice falls into one of the 5 categories:
- Recruitment & Retention
- Meetings & Education
- Social Media
- Advocacy/Government Affairs
- Community Service & Projects
- Chapters must include a timeline of the project.
- Chapters must explain how and why their submission fits into the above categories and how the initiative impacted the chapter, membership and/or organization.
- Chapters must distribute regular communication to members and chapters@ANFPonline.org.
- Chapters must update their website regularly.
How does a chapter apply for the Diamond Award?
Chapters can apply for the Diamond Award by completing the application which is available to download via the chapter portal (exclusive to chapter leaders). Applications should be completed and submitted along with any supporting documents by April 30 each year. Chapters can upload the completed application via the chapter portal or send it to chapters@ANFPonline.org along with any supporting documents.
What were past award-winning best practices/initiatives?
To learn about past award winners, please click here: https://www.anfponline.org/events-community/awards/diamond-award.
How is the winner selected?
The Awards & Recognition Committee takes into consideration many things when reviewing the applications and reviews all qualified applicants (based on criteria above) and ranks each of the qualifying chapters. The candidate with the highest score is deemed the winner.
Can a chapter win the award more than once?
There is no limit to the number of times a chapter can win nor sequence (i.e., consecutive years).
How are Diamond Award winners recognized?
Diamond Award winners are presented with this prestigious award during the Honors Gala at ACE each year. Recipients of this award are not made aware of the committee’s selection prior to this event and are often surprised to the delight of those in attendance at the Honors Gala as well as the winning chapter.
The chapter that receives the Diamond Award is also recognized in Edge magazine and on ANFP’s website year-round and receives a virtual badge on their website.
How often can a chapter apply for the award?
Chapters can apply once per volunteer year (June 1 – May 31).
Best Practices & Tips
ANFP’s Strategic Plan, Vision & Mission – When starting the project, chapters should keep in mind ANFP’s strategic plan along with chapter’s own goals and strategic plan. Consider projects or best practices that support these plans, along with the vision and mission.
Plan Ahead – Chapters should begin planning their Diamond Award initiative at the start of the volunteer year and consider these questions before they begin.
- Beyond required activities, what has the chapter done to support the strategic plan and raise awareness of the CDM, CFPP and/or ANFP?
- How has the chapter gone above and beyond for chapter management excellence?
Be Thorough – It is better to have an abundant amount of information, details, and examples than not enough to provide the selection committee with a full understanding of the best practice and its impact. See MN’s Diamond Award Application here as an example.
Follow Policies & Procedures – Chapters should reference their own policies and procedures to ensure they are following their policies and procedures when developing Diamond Award initiatives and allotting resources to the project.
Get Creative – Chapters are encouraged to “think outside the box” and create unique best practices while still serving the membership and supporting the vision and mission.
Involve Your Members – Chapters can ask their members for help and support by crowdsourcing ideas. Members are more likely to support the initiative and get involved and feel a connection to chapter if they contribute to the project.
Use Diamond Project/Initiative as a Planning Tool – Chapters that are planning to apply for the Diamond award should plan to incorporate the project/initiative as part of the strategic plan and use the application as a guide to develop the initiative.
We encourage chapters to share photos, images, supporting documentation, and/or testimonials that support the chapter initiative. See examples below. Please send supporting documents to chapters@ANFPonline.org.
Disclaimer: Use/application of suggested Diamond Award best practices, samples or tips does not guarantee a chapter will be selected as a recipient of the Diamond Award.
Best Practices from Past Diamond Award Winning Chapters
GA ANFP: 2022 – 2023 Diamond Award Winner
How did your chapter approach the Diamond project/initiative?
“Georgia-ANFP has always wanted to help the underserved people in our state/ cities and connect with other Chapters especially in the southeast region. We just had to put more initiative into developing relationships with our communities and our ANFP Chapter leaders.”
What do you wish you would have known then that you know now?
“How it important it is to network with people you don’t see every day, and to be prepared to make a commitment even when you can’t add anything else to your plate., by doing so you become focused on the greater good your service will provide.”
What other advice can you offer chapter leaders that are considering applying for the award?
“Think about what you want to focus on, what is your strengths as a team, Georgia-ANFP realized we all wanted to help people, any way we can and we continue to do consecutively even when we were not in the running for the Diamond Award it is our pleasure to serve.”
LA ANFP: 2020 – 2021 Diamond Award Winner
How did your chapter approach the Diamond project/initiative?
“At our state chapter meeting/conference – business meeting we discuss options brought to us by the membership and a vote is taken as to which project we want to adopt for the coming year.”
What do you wish you would have known then that you know now?
“We have learnt over the years that our community project takes a lot of man hours to be able to pull it off successfully, and even though we have a majority of the membership behind the cause it is often left to just a few dedicated volunteers to pull it off.”
What other advice can you offer chapter leaders that are considering applying for the award?
“When considering a diamond award project make sure that it is one that either benefits your membership or that it benefits a group within your community. Make sure you have the support of your state members and try to get everyone involved at some level.”
MN ANFP: 2020 – 2021 Diamond Award Finalist
How did your chapter approach the Diamond project/initiative?
“We always discuss applying at our summer and fall meetings. We have board meetings 4 times a year, and our goal is to start early in the year. The last few years have been difficult, so we looked at some of things our chapter members have been involved with that we could tie together. In other words, what were already doing that we could enhance or expand on. Since the new AL regulations were front and center that year and we had members participating in some of the training, we tapped into that.
Applying for the Diamond award has become a standard with our chapter. We wrote that into our P&P manual.
We discuss the actual plan and progress at our winter board meeting which is usually in January. Tasks that need to be completed or documentation needed from members is assigned.”
What do you wish you would have known then that you know now?
“The AL [assisted living] regulations were affecting a great share of our members. I think we could have done a better job in seeking out members who could have lent so much insight into what was happening in their facilities. So often it is just the board involved and it is supposed to be a “chapter project”.
“We could have used social media better to communicate the project to members. We could have sent out a survey, or asked members to send questions and comments to our Gmail account. Looking back there was a lot more we could have tapped into, but things were just too much of a scramble that year to use that effectively.”
What other advice can you offer chapter leaders that are considering applying for the award?
“Start discussing the process at the beginning of the chapter year and include the entire board in the process. So often it is the last thing a chapter has time to worry about. But start with the board and go from there.
Even though we assign responsibility for this award application to our chapter president, it is a whole chapter thing and needs to function that way. So often one person gets “stuck” with doing it. Even though the project might lean heavily on a few people, it is important to have everyone involved in some way, or at least in the communications regarding the project.
We could have done more brainstorming with chapter members. We have a large membership so it could be done with a focus group – that would have really helped us…get input from many sources. It also helps members see the value of the chapter and what they, as a member, can contribute to a project.
Don’t reinvent the wheel…Look at your chapter strengths and what you or a member is already doing. What could you expand on – or run with?
Aim to have everything needed for the application assembled and ready at least a month ahead of time. Our application had lots of pieces – emails, session programs, brochures, video clips, etc. and getting it all together took time.
Capitalize on social media. If a chapter has a FB page, that is a good way to ask a question periodically that is related to the project, and an easy way for members to respond…everybody isn’t on those pages, but it is a valuable tool. And it helps showcase your members – they need to feel valued and this is a way to do it.
Find the right person to pull it together if that isn’t the president. Not everyone is proficient at completing and submitting the application. So don’t be afraid to ask for a volunteer to pull it together. We added a power point deck to the application that included photos and emails that supported what we did. That helped in organizing the application into sections. That happens to be my strength so you can guess why I ended up doing it – as well as I had the time. But chapters have hidden talents in all their members. It also may be a way to identify future leaders or volunteers.”
Examples of supporting documents: PPT, videos, photos, letters, etc.