
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
- An Intent to Apply form must be submitted prior to application submittal (unless you are a level 1 applicant – see below)
- An organization that is a part of a larger entity must have sufficient autonomy and authority to make decisions, initiate actions, implement programs, and allocate resources free from the direct control of the larger entity in order to apply individually.
- An organization must have existed at least one year prior to submittal.
- The organization must be permanent (i.e. must not be a unit with a defined, limited life or an ad hoc committee, board or other such unit).
- The organization must have more than two full-time workers.
- A subsidiary and its parent organization may not both submit a Level 2-4 application in the same year. Different subsidiaries of the same parent organization may apply concurrently.
- Eligibility at the regional SWAE level does not automatically confer eligibility at the national Baldrige level.

INTENT TO APPLY
- For Process Application, Intent to Apply may be submitted at any time.
- For Level 1 Application, an Intent to Apply is not required.
- For Level 2 – 4, an Intent to Apply is due by Jul 14, 2023.
APPLICATION
- Process Application Packet:
Application can be submitted at any time and is due within 60 days of submitting the Intent to Apply.
- Level 1 Application Packet:
Application can be submitted at any time.
- Level 2 – 4 Application Packet:
Application is due Aug 1, 2023.
BALDRIGE EXCELLENCE BUILDER
In addition to SWAE’s performance excellence assessment conducted by a team of trained examiners, organizations can utilize the Baldrige Excellence Builder tool to self-assess their operations and performance.