Pinnacle Award FAQ's

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IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards - Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  When you ask for entries in the original format, what does that apply to?

A:  This mainly applies to the printed materials categories.  i.e. – your Event Program, Promotional Brochure, Poster, Single Newspaper Display Ad, etc.  We’d like to see the original formats for those as we’d like to see how they were printed and used.  For Categories such as Best Environmental Program, Best Media Relations Campaign – Best New Event – what we term as “the notebook categories” – you don’t necessarily have to have the original format for all of your supporting documentation – i.e. the press releases don’t have to be in the original format as we understand it’s difficult to clip all those releases!  However, if say in the Best Volunteer Program category – you have a Volunteer Handbook that you provide – please provide that in its original format – the same goes for other categories where something like that is provided – so we can see what you use and what format. 

 

Q:  What do you mean when you say, please provide entries in a 'notebook' or 'bound format.' 

A:  Categories 1, 38-68 are all categories that require a lot of written information and supporting documentation to be provided.  In order for that information to arrive in the order you intended it to be viewed by the judges, we ask that you bind your materials in some way.  You can use a 3 ring binder; you can spiral bind the entry; or you can actually bind the materials like a book.

 

Q:  For the more in depth entries that need to be provided in notebooks – do I have to answer or provide information for all the criteria and requirements listed under the category?

A:  YES!  We list the criteria and requirements for a reason – as that’s the information the judges are looking for – and that’s what they’re judging your entry against another event’s entry.  If you miss something out that we’ve asked for, you’ll be docked points from your entry.  So be sure not to skip or miss any elements for any specific category.

 

Q:  Referring to the above question, what if something in a specific category that is required, either does not apply to our event, or we are unable to provide the information required.

A:  SAY SO!  If you skip a specific required section completely – we’ll just think you skipped the section.  We won’t know it doesn’t apply to you or you don’t have the information. If it doesn’t apply to you or you don’t have the information available – let us know that and why.  Then you won’t be marked down.  It’s little things like this that make the difference between the Gold winners and the Silver and Bronze . . or not winning anything at all – so be sure to address everything that is required.

 

Q:  Certain entries ask for budget information, however we aren’t able to reveal certain elements of that information as it is not public knowledge.  How can I answer the required information if I’m not able to provide it.

A:  Same answer as the question above – SAY SO!  Just let us know you can’t reveal the information and why.  Provide as much information as you can – but we understand that not every detail of your financial information can be revealed so let us know that.

 

Q:  On certain entries, it says we can only provide 6 examples of supporting materials . . . how can I possibly only provide 6 examples! 

A:  It can be done – really!  The judges don’t need to see every single press clipping you’ve ever had published – or every ad or radio spot that has ever run.  They want to see the VERY best of your work that makes you look as great as we know you are!  If you’ve got hundreds of examples of things you want the judges to know about – just write that down.  i.e.: Here’s our 6 best press clippings, ads, promos etc – and in addition to these examples, we had “X” amount of stories run in “X” amount of publications from “X” date to “X” date.  They’ll get the idea!  Quality vs. Quantity! . . . Less really is more!!! 

 

Q: Why do we need to provide certain entries on disk or thumb drive?

A:  There has been increasing demand to view the winning entries of the Pinnacle Awards. That’s easy to do with things like merchandise and some of the print materials, but for entries that are submitted in a ‘bound format’ – it’s a bit more difficult. We’d love to say we’d scan all the winners in so they can be posted immediately online – but you know how big your entries are . . . we’d be still scanning! So to save time and resources, we ask that you provide categories 1, 38-68 also on disk, so we can post the winning entries online after they are announced. Please try to make your entry 1 (one) Word or PDF document (as opposed to multiple documents for one entry.  As we are posting these entries online, the more information you can include in that main document the better as we won’t be posting any supporting materials that you provide.

 

Q: Referring to the certain entries that need to be saved on disk/thumb drive, am I able to save all of the entries I’m submitting on one disk/thumb drive, instead of saving each individually?

A: YES – that is completely fine to save them all on one disk/thumb drive.  If doing it this way, please label the Disk/Thumb Drive clearly and attach it to your final payment form so it is easy to find once your entries are received.  If you prefer to provide a disk/thumb drive for each specific entry, please place the disk/thumb drive in the inside cover of each entry. 

 

Q: Are we able to enter the same event into multiple categories?

A:  YES – of course you can!  Just make sure you check the different requirements you're entering for the different categories.  Not all categories have the same requirements, so remember to change things up. Also – remember that each will be a separate entry and require a separate entry fee for each.

 

Q: Are we able to enter multiple items (that are different) in the same category, for the same event?

A:  YES – of course you can!  Everyone has different version of their t-shirts – hats - promotional items etc.  So yes, if you have more than one – up your odds and enter them all!  But again, remember that each will be a separate entry and require a separate entry fee for each.

 

Q:  I’m not a member of the IFEA, am I still able to enter?

A:  Yes you can.  However there is a slightly higher entry rate for non-members to enter the Pinnacle Awards.  If you're entering multiple entries, you may want to look into what the difference between the member/non-member Pinnacle rates would be - and perhaps just join the association so you can get the Member Pinnacle Rates. For membership information, just contact Beth Petersen, Director of Member Services at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Click Here. 

 

Q:  Can I pay for my entries via a wire transfer?

A:  Yes, you can.  Please contact Bette Monteith in the IFEA Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to work out the details. Please note, there is a wire transfer fee of $30 for doing this method of payment.  Preferred methods of payment are Credit Card or Check (in USD).

 

Q:  How are the Pinnacle Award Entries Judged?
A:  Entries are grouped into their main category areas (Multi-Media, Print, Sponsorship, Community Relations, Merchandise, Grand Pinnacle Etc.) and a group of 2-3 judges assigned to the specific category areas will go through the judging process, each looking thoroughly at each individual entry.  Each judge only judges their specific category area of entries, and will not view entries in any other category area.

 

Judges base their decisions on the specific criteria and requirements that have been asked for, for each category.  Entries must meet all the requirements needed for each specific entry.  If something within those requirements has not been met, points are deducted.  All of these requirements are based on the overall criteria for each entry.  If anything in the criteria has not been met, points are deducted. 

 

Each and every event that enters the Pinnacle competition is completely different from the other –no two are alike, therefore no two entries are alike.  So it’s quite difficult to judge one against the other.  Each festival & event’s interpretation of the specific requirements that are asked for is different from the other.  So it becomes the subjective opinion of the judges to determine if that festival or event has met the requirements based on the criteria and their experience and expertise in the festivals & events industry and their knowledge of that requirement area. 

 

Specifically looking at the Grand Pinnacle category, where there are usually 3 judges reviewing each entry, one judge’s subjective opinion may be completely different from another’s, therefore one entry may score higher with one judge and lower with another.  Because of this, we do not solely rely on the points scored to determine the winning entries but instead use them to assist the judges to narrow down the field of entries.  At that point, the judging is completely subjective.  The judges go to great lengths to discuss each entry, again based on their experience and expertise in the festivals & events industry, to determine to the top three winners.

 

Q:  Why do you not publish the points awarded for each entry in the list of winning entries?

A:  We do not publish the points that have been awarded to each entry during the judging process by each judge because based on the subjective discussion of each entry after the scoring process has taken place (as noted in the above question), the points awarded do not necessarily determine the winning entry.

 

Q:  Who judges the Pinnacle Entries?

A;  The judges are recognized professionals in their specific field, whether that be festivals & events, marketing, media, public relations, graphic design, promotions, broadcasting, online media, etc.  They do not take their judging role lightly.  They know the impact that their decisions will have on each event, whether they win or not and a great amount of time is taken over the judging process. 

 

Q:  Why aren’t we able to know the names of the judges?

A:  We do not reveal the names of the judges as we make every effort to protect them from questions from the media and/or festivals & events – opting to direct all the questions about the judging process and the awards directly to the IFEA instead. 

 

 

Q:  It looks like there’s even more requirements for some categories . . what specifically do I need to answer for categories 1, 38-68?

A:  We did add a few more requirements to each category . . however it’s not really anything additional than what you were already submitting in your entries . . we just put it on the entry form to ensure that everyone enters the same thing . . so everyone is on the same playing field.   As you can see, all the categories are listed on the left side of each page of the brochure.  Any information and requirements needed for each category or group of categories is listed on the right side of each page.  And then any additional information needed for each specific category (on top of what is asked for on the right side of the page) will be listed under that specific category on the left side of the page (if applicable.)  This information is unique to that specific category.  Be sure to provide any necessary information listed on the right side under the requirements section in addition to this information listed under each specific category.

 

Q:  For the above listed categories . . . what order should I list my entry in, in response to the requirements?

A:  List your entry in the order that it is listed on the requirements.  You can provide supporting documentation throughout the entry, or refer to it as being at the end of the entry.   The easier you make things to find for the judges, the better.

 

 

 

If you have any further questions about the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards, please contact Nia Hovde at +1-208-433-0950 Ext 3 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.