The North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE)
We customize our services to match the client’s needs
- On-site Coaching: This can take various shapes (and time lengths) but works in many ways like our ISO 9001 implementation – where I would spend 1-2 days with them each month.
- Baldrige/NCAFE Overview Training: Usually this is a short training session to get staff (and/or senior leadership) familiar with the Baldrige basics. Typically either ½-day to 1-day course. Depending on the content.
- Application writing: Help write and edit the client’s next application.
- Application review: Review and edit the applicant’s next application. This can even include a scoring assessment.
- Strategic Planning facilitation: Help the client conduct and document their next strategic plan.
Based upon the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the North Carolina Award for Excellence (NCAfE) is the top state-level recognition presented to an organization that has demonstrated, through its practices and achievements, the highest level of performance excellence by applying the principles of the Baldrige Excellence Framework.
The Baldrige Excellence Framework provides the tools to examine and improve each aspect of your organization’s performance while keeping the whole organization in mind. The management framework enables leaders at businesses, hospitals, factories, schools and government bodies to examine every layer of the organization and devise strategies to reach goals, improve results and become more competitive by aligning people, plans and processes.
The framework consists of the Criteria for Performance Excellence and offers a recognized way to achieve the following benefits:
- Innovation
- World-class results
- Integrated processes that enhance effectiveness and efficiency
- Organizational learning
- Sustainable success
Why Apply?
The Baldrige Excellence Framework is the key to accessing if your organization is doing as well as it could. Organizations receive extraordinary learning associated with applying the Baldrige Excellence Framework through the award application process. Receiving the NCAfE Award is recognition of being among the best performing organizations in North Carolina. The NCAfE award also satisfies a preliminary requirement for an organization that is interested in seeking recognition from the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Download and apply.
Application Timeframe
NCAfE is partnering with the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence to provide examiner training. Orientation is virtual, training will be held in-person. More details at TNCPE.org.
Track 1
Organizational NCAfE Award Deadlines
- Awards Program Intent to Apply Due:
- Friday, April 3, 2026
- Assessment Applications Due:
- Friday, July 31, 2026
Track 2
Examiner Program Deadlines
- Board of Examiners Applications Due:
- Friday, April 3, 2026 (grace period ends Friday, April 17, 2026)
Examiner Orientation
- Thursday, May 7, 2026 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT) (held virtually)
- Tuesday, June 23 – Thursday, June 25, 2026 (held in-person at address below)
NC State University Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
NCAfE accepts applications once a year. In order to be considered in the 2026 award cycle, your application documents must be postmarked by the dates below.
Step 1: Intent to Apply – April 3-May 29
Complete the Intent to Apply/Eligibility Form. Mail one printed copy to NCAfE along with the appropriate Intent fee. North Carolina Awards for Excellence c/o Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence 2525 Perimeter Place Drive, Suite 122 Nashville, TN 37214-3773 800.453.5474
Step 2: Submit Application Packet – June 2-July 31
Complete the Application Form and Organizational Profile as described in the NCAfE materials. Mail one printed copy and one electronic copy of the Application Form, Organizational Profile, and Criteria Response to NCAfE along with the appropriate application fee. North Carolina Awards for Excellence c/o Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence 2525 Perimeter Place Drive, Suite 122 Nashville, TN 37214-3773 800.453.5474 (contact@tncpe.org)
Step 3: Prepare for Site Visit – September 14-October 9
The team of examiners assigned to your organization will begin their evaluation a few weeks after you submit your application packet. Shortly after, the team leader will contact you to schedule a site visit. During the two-to-three day visit the examiner team will tour your facilities and interview your leadership team and employees to gain a greater understanding of your organization. Site visits typically occur during October. A site visit fee applies to this step of the process. You will receive an invoice for this fee after the examiner team has completed its site visit. Please see the fee schedule for details.
Step 4: Award Notification and Feedback Report
In November, a Panel of Judges will review the examiner team’s work and confirm your award. Following this meeting, NCAfE will call with your results. You will receive your feedback report by the first of January.
Step 5: Recognition
Celebrate Your Success at the 2027 TNCPE Excellence Conference in February 2027. NCAfE will work with your organization to determine an appropriate event where your organization will officially receive its award and be recognized for your pursuit of performance excellence. In addition, after you have been notified of your award, NCAfE will publicize your accomplishments via press release, email blast to our database and posting on our website.
What are the different levels of achievement and recognition?
The Interest Award is presented to organizations in the initial stages of implementing performance improvement principles and defining their key priorities and resources.
Level 2: Proficient Award
The Proficient Award is presented to organizations that have shown significant progress by identifying and implementing key process improvements directly linked to a data-driven improvement approach.
Level 3: Advanced Award
The Advanced Award is presented to organizations that have made substantial progress in developing systematic, well-implemented processes aligned organization-wide and reflecting continuous learning cycles.
Level 4: Excellence Award
The Excellence Award is presented to organizations that have showcased the highest level of performance excellence through their processes, practices, and results.
Is there a cost for my organization to apply for the State Excellence Award?
| Member | General | |
| Level 1 | <500 Employees: $3,000 >500 Employees: $5,000 |
<500 Employees: $5,000 >500 Employees: $8,000 |
| Level 2 | <500 Employees: $5,000 >500 Employees: $10,000 |
<500 Employees: $8,000 >500 Employees: $15,000 |
| Level 3 | <500 Employees: $8,000 >500 Employees: $13,000 |
<500 Employees: $12,000 >500 Employees: $18,000 |
| Level 4 | <500 Employees: $10,000 >500 Employees: $16,000 |
<500 Employees: $16,000 >500 Employees: $20,000 |
What type of organizations are eligible to participate?
Organizations must be self-sufficient enough to be examined in all seven Criteria categories. For example, an organizational unit with its own administrative, human resources and other support functions is eligible; but a unit that is entirely dependent upon the parent organization for the majority of these functions is ineligible.
The following organizational units are expressly allowed:
- Business units or larger
- A whole manufacturing plant
- Hospitals within systems; whole health care systems
- State government division/department/agency
- Stand-alone subunits of larger organizations
- School districts
- Individual schools
- Colleges within universities; whole universities
How are applications evaluated?
Stage 1 – Independent review and evaluation by a team of examiners
Stage 2 – Consensus review and evaluation by a team of examiners
Stage 3 – Site visit review by a team of examiners
Stage 4 – Final Feedback Report preparation by a team of examiners
Stage 5 – Panel of judges reviews and determines award
How long does it take to move through the Program?
Who are the examiners?
Who are the judges?
What’s included in the Feedback Report?
Why do I send my application to the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE)?
Is there a limit to how many State Excellence Awards are presented annually?
Do State Excellence Award winners have any additional responsibilities?
How may I become an NCAfE Examiner?
Employers have found that examiner training empowers employees to apply the Baldrige framework at their own jobs, improving processes and results along the way. Applicants have also discovered that having an examiner on their team improves their own NCAfE application.
NCAfE is partnering with the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence to provide examiner training. The Examiner Training will be held both in-person (if appropriate) and virtually. Questions? Please contact Kevin Grayson at kevin_grayson@ncsu.edu, or 704.751.9661. You can call NCAfE at 910.622.5849
Examinar Training Fees
| Member Registration | General Registration | |
| First Year | $500 | $1,000 |
| Second Year | $400 | $700 |
| Third Year | FREE | FREE |
Who are past NCAfE award recipients?
2024
Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA)
2015
Duke Regional Hospital
Pardee Hospital
2013
Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCare Center
Cherokee Indian Hospital
2012
Southeastern Regional Medical Center
CarePartners Health Services
CaroMont Health
2011
NACCO Materials Handling Group
2010
Southeastern Regional Medical Center
2009
Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Raleigh, NC
Fleet Readiness Center East, Cherry Point, NC
2008
Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC
WestCare Health System, Sylva, NC
2007
American Kennel Club
High Point Regional Health System
Iredell-Statesville Schools
NC Board of Nursing
NC Child Support Enforcement
Woodland Terrace
2006
Asheville Eye Associates
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools-Building Services
Duke University Hospital
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
High Point Regional Health System
Premier Inc.
Wake Med Health and Hospitals
2005
Asheville Eye Associates
FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Inc.
Iredell-Statesville Schools
NC Board of Nursing
Premier, Inc.
Materials
We recognize four levels of achievement!
Level 1: Interest
The Interest Award recognizes organizations beginning to implement improvement principles and define key priorities.
Level 2: Proficient
The Proficient Award recognizes organizations advancing through data-driven process improvements.
Level 3: Advanced
The Advanced Award honors organizations that excel in building aligned, systematic processes and fostering continuous learning.
Level 4: Excellence
The Excellence Award honors organizations achieving top performance through outstanding processes and results.