The Communities of Excellence Recognition Program celebrates progress at every stage of a community's journey toward excellence. Our three levels help guide and recognize communities as they align leadership, build trust, and make measurable improvements to quality of life for all residents. Explore the levels below to see where your community fits in.
Level 1 - Commitment to Community Excellence
Laying the foundation for lasting change.
At this level, communities respond to the Community Profile questions of the Communities of Excellence Framework. This is a powerful first step for community leaders, helping them agree on a shared mission, vision, and values and begin to view their community through a common lens and agree on their key factors for success. This provides a strong foundation for the second step, Journey to Community Excellence.
In this application you will define:
- Your team's purpose, shared vision, and core values.
- The geographic and demographic boundaries of your community.
- The sectors, stakeholders, and organizations that make up your leadership team.
- Your community’s key characteristics, such as population, assets, and challenges.
- The factors most critical to your success and long-term vitality.
What you will receive:
- A summary of strengths and opportunities to guide next steps as well as detailed feedback from experience reviewers.
- A 60-minute virtual conversation with the reviewers to discuss your progress and next steps.
- A certificate acknowledging your community’s commitment and the opportunity to be recognized at our annual Conference Awards Celebration.
The Level 1 Assessment is available all year round and can be submitted at any time.
Download the Instructions for a Level 1 Assessment
Level 2 - Journey to Community Excellence
Deepening your commitment through collaborative action and reflection.
This assessment builds on your foundation from Level 1 by asking more in-depth questions about your leadership, strategy, resident engagement, measurement practices, and early results. It helps your team reflect on progress, identify gaps, and sharpen your approach for greater impact. This level provides a clear pathway for communities moving to the third level – Community of Excellence Recognition.
In this application, you will define:
- How your leadership team is structured and operates.
- Your approach to setting strategy and engaging residents and stakeholders.
- How you use data, knowledge, and processes to support community improvement.
- The resources and people that power your community efforts.
- What progress you are making—and how you know it's working.
What you will receive:
- A comprehensive feedback report with strengths and opportunities for improvement from a team of experienced reviewers.
- A 60-minute virtual conversation with the reviewers to discuss your progress and next steps.
- Recognition at our Annual Conference and a certificate celebrating your continued excellence journey.
Key dates:
- May 15th, 2025 - Journey to Community Excellence Request for Assessment Due
- July 1st, 2025 - Journey to Community Excellence Application Due
- October 1st, 2025 - Written Feedback Report Provided to Community Applicants
Download the Instructions for a Level 2 Assessment
Level 3 - Community of Excellence Recognition
Advancing Strategy, Systems, and Results
At this level, your community demonstrates sustained cross-sector collaboration, effective use of data, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Communities completing this assessment show they are using the full Communities of Excellence Framework to drive meaningful change and measurable progress in quality of life.
In this application you will define:
- The leadership systems and core strategies guiding your community improvement efforts.
- How you engage and support residents and key stakeholders.
- The processes your team uses to manage operations, gather and apply data, and improve performance.
- Your systems for equity, resilience, and community-wide safety.
- The results your community has achieved and how you measure and communicate them.
What you will receive:
- A detailed feedback report with insights into your strengths and opportunities for continued growth.
- A 60-minute virtual conversation with the reviewers to discuss your progress and next steps.
- Recognition as a Level 3 Community of Excellence, including a certificate and eligibility to be honored at the national conference.
Key dates:
- May 15th, 2025 - Community of Excellence Request for Assessment Due
- July 1st, 2025 - Community of Excellence Application Due
- October 1st, 2025 - Written Feedback Report Provided to Community Applicants
Download the Instructions for a Level 3 Assessment
Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Community of Excellence Recognitions
At the Communities of Excellence Level you have the option to include a scoring and judging component designed to move communities towards eligibility for the new Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Community Category. Please contact us (info@communitiesofexcellence2026.org) for more information.
