Recognition

Honoring Excellence in ERG Leadership

The National ERG Council™ recognizes the extraordinary individuals and organizations who are advancing the impact of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) across industries. ERG leaders play a critical role in strengthening workplace communities, developing future leaders, and creating environments where employees feel connected, supported, and empowered.

Through its recognition programs, the Council celebrates innovative ERG initiatives, visionary leadership, and organizations that are leveraging ERGs as strategic drivers of culture, engagement, and professional development.

These honors highlight leaders and programs that are setting new standards for excellence and inspiring others to elevate their ERG strategies.

National ERG Impact Award™

Overview

The National ERG Impact Award™ recognizes an Employee Resource Group that has made a meaningful and measurable impact within its organization or community.

This award celebrates ERGs that have successfully implemented innovative initiatives that strengthen workplace culture, support employee development, or contribute to broader organizational goals.

Winning ERGs demonstrate how employee-led communities can drive collaboration, cultural awareness, leadership development, and community engagement.

Selection Criteria

Submissions are evaluated based on:

• Innovation in ERG programming or initiatives
• Measurable impact on employee engagement or organizational culture • Alignment with organizational values and priorities
• Collaboration with leadership, departments, or external partners
• Sustainability and long-term impact of ERG initiatives

Eligible Nominees

Organizations may nominate:

• Individual ERGs
• Cross-ERG collaborative initiatives
• ERG programs that have produced measurable organizational impact

Recipients of the National ERG Impact Award represent the power of ERGs to influence positive change within organizations and communities.

National ERG Champion Organization Award™

Overview

The National ERG Champion Organization Award™ recognizes an organization that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing, supporting, and advancing Employee Resource Groups across its workforce.

This award honors organizations that have created a strong ERG ecosystem through executive sponsorship, effective governance, leadership development, organizational resources, cross-ERG collaboration, and meaningful opportunities for employees to participate and lead.

Recipients demonstrate that successful ERGs are not isolated programs but valuable organizational communities that can strengthen employee engagement, develop leaders, encourage collaboration, and contribute to organizational success.

Selection Criteria

Organizations are evaluated based on:

• Strength of the organization’s overall ERG strategy
• Executive sponsorship and senior leadership engagement
• Resources and organizational support provided to ERGs
• ERG governance and leadership structures
• Investment in ERG leader development
• Collaboration among multiple ERGs
• Integration of ERGs with organizational priorities
• Measurement and communication of ERG outcomes and impact
• Sustainability and continued development of the organization’s ERG ecosystem

Eligible Organizations

This award is open to:

• Corporations
• Nonprofit organizations
• Government agencies
• Educational institutions
• Healthcare organizations
• Professional and membership organizations
• Other employers with established Employee Resource Groups

Recipients of the National ERG Champion Organization Award™ represent organizations that are setting a national standard for how employers can support, develop, and strengthen Employee Resource Groups as an important part of their workforce and leadership strategy.

The recipient of this award represents the highest standards of ERG leadership and serves as a role model for ERG leaders nationwide.