Funeral homes that earn a National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of Excellence Award are among an elite group of funeral service providers. The Award is presented annually to firms that have demonstrated a commitment to raising the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to strict ethical and professional standards and providing outstanding service to families and communities.

Pursuit of Excellence Award

The program's principal recognition, the Pursuit of Excellence Award, is awarded to NFDA-member funeral homes that meet or exceed business standards set forth by the program and demonstrate proficiency in key areas of funeral service, such as compliance with state and federal regulations; providing ongoing education and professional development opportunities for staff; offering outstanding programs and resources to bereaved families; maintaining an active level of involvement within the community; participating and actively serving in the funeral service profession; and promoting funeral home services through a variety of marketing, advertising and public relations programs. Participants are also required to adhere to a Pledge of Ethical Practices.

Click here to view this year's Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients.

Innovative Ideas

Funeral homes that earn the Pursuit of Excellence Award strive to develop programs and services that meet the unique needs of families and the communities they serve. Click here to be inspired by the great ideas shared by award recipients.

Hall of Excellence

Created to recognize long-term participation in the Pursuit of Excellence program and a consistent display of service excellence, NFDA-member funeral homes will be inducted into the Hall of Excellence upon receiving their 10th Pursuit of Excellence Award.

Click here to view Hall of Excellence inductees.

Richard Myers Pinnacle Award

As part of the entry process, all program participants are required to submit an essay describing the development and execution of a program or service that had a positive impact on those served. To recognize funeral homes that develop an extraordinary program or service, as described in their essay, that far surpasses the definition of funeral service excellence, NFDA established the Richard Myers Pinnacle Award. The award is conferred at the discretion of the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force and only when it encounters a remarkable example of excellence in the profession. 

This award, first conferred in 2018, is named in honor of the founder of the Pursuit of Excellence Program, NFDA Past President Richard Myers.

Click here to view the Richard Myers Pinnacle Award recipients and their superior programs and services. 

Best of the Best Award

All Pursuit of Excellence applicants submitted an essay describing the development and execution of a program or service that had a positive impact on the families they serve or their community, qualifying them for the Best of the Best Award, which recognizes the most novel and innovative programs and services in the profession. After a thorough review, the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force can select up to 10 funeral homes to receive the Best of the Best Award.

Click here to view Best of the Best recipients and their innovative essays.

Honorable Mentions

As part of the entry process, all program participants are required to submit an essay describing the development and execution of a program or service that had a positive impact on those served (Category 1, Criterion I). Funeral homes that develop a program or service that is exceptionally well-executed and yielded positive results will receive a Certificate of Honorable Mention from the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force.

Click here to view Honorable Mentions.