Eligibility

Who can apply for the SIMNA Awards? 

The SIMNA Awards are open to organisations of every size and type from across the country: not-for-profits, social enterprises, funders, B Corps, corporates, and government agencies. 

Do I need to be a SIMNA member to apply?

No, anyone who meets the criteria can apply. If you’re not already a member, do find out more about becoming a SIMNA member!

Can an organisation apply in more than one category?

Yes, organisations are welcome to submit multiple applications. However, each individual project or initiative can only be entered into one category, so please choose the category that best fits before applying. We recommend that you read through all the category descriptions first to find the best match for each project.

Can previous winners, finalists or applicants enter again?

Yes, although you need to either apply for a different initiative or show progress in the work you applied with previously.

Can SIMNA partners/awards sponsors apply for the Awards?

Yes, partners and awards sponsors may apply for the awards. Where partner or sponsor organisations are also involved in judging, the guidance on conflicts of interest applies.

Application process

What is the deadline for entries for the 2026 Awards?

The deadline to submit entries is 5:00pm AEDT on Friday 16 October 2026.

Can I get an extension for my application?

If you need additional time to finalise your application, please contact us ahead of the application deadline. 

How are applications judged?

There are two rounds of judging. In the first round, two judges are allocated to each category and score each application against the criteria. Their scores are aggregated, and the finalists are determined (usually between three and five finalists per category). 

The shortlisted entries then proceed to a second round of judging with a different pair of judges. All four scores are then aggregated, and a winner and runner-up are awarded in each category.

How are judges selected?

Any SIMNA member can volunteer as a judge, including individual members, organisational members and partners. Judges will be selected based on their knowledge of and experience in social impact measurement, and we will seek to ensure diversity across the judging panel. If you’re interested in volunteering as a judge, please let us know via this short EOI form.

We ask those planning to submit award entries to register their interest in judging for a future year instead.

How do you deal with conflicts of interest?

As we’re a tight-knit sector, we recognise that some members of the judging panel may be connected to one or more applications. The judging allocations consider any instances where judges are involved to ensure that these judges do not score any such applications.

However, in some instances the connection may not be immediately apparent. Therefore, we also ask all judges to look through the applications in the category to which they have been allocated before they start scoring. If they receive any applications with which they or their organisation has a direct or indirect association, they should inform us immediately, and the judging allocation will be adjusted accordingly. 

Generally, we feel that it is still acceptable to judge an application if you know the person involved, but not if you or your organisation had been directly involved or stands to benefit in any way from winning an award.

Finalists and winners

What happens if I’m shortlisted as a finalist?

All applicants will hear back on the outcome of their application by early November. 

Shortlisted finalists will be invited to share a short pitch video (no more than 60 seconds) to be played at the awards ceremony. This video is not judged in any way and is your opportunity to share more about your social impact initiative and measurement approach. 

Will I receive feedback on my application?

Yes, all applicants will receive feedback on their application. 

When are the winners and runners-up announced?

The winners and runners-up will be announced at an online awards ceremony at the end of November.