Thank you for your interest in Pursuit of Excellence Award program. The entry period for the 2025 Pursuit of Excellence Awards is now closed. Honorees will be announced September 1. 

Registration and application materials for the 2026 Pursuit of Excellence Awards will be available in October 2025.

1. Don’t wait until the last minute! Putting together an entry does require an investment of time, so get started on your funeral home’s application today! 
2. Make it a team effort. Our easy-to-use online entry platform enables you to work on your entry, save it and work on it another day. You can even invite other staff members to contribute information to your entry. 
3. Be specific. As you are describing how you have fulfilled a criterion, include names, dates, locations and places as appropriate. More information is always better. 
4. Don’t forget your documentation. If documentation is required for a particular criterion, it’s noted in the online application. If you have documentation for other criteria, you’re welcome to submit it as well.
5. Submit your entry. Once your entry is complete, be sure to click the green "Submit" button to officially transmit your entry to NFDA. Once you click the button, Survey Monkey Apply will show that your entry has been submitted and you will receive a confirmation email. 
6. Don’t be late! The deadline to submit your entry is 11:59 p.m. CT on July 15. To be fair to those who make the deadline, we’re unable to make exceptions to the deadline.
7. Have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Contact us at pursuit@nfda.org or 800-228-6332 (262-789-1880). 

Helpful Links: 

FAQ: Creating an Account

FAQ: Completing an Application

How to Ensure Emails Are Received from SurveyMonkey Apply