GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is open to submissions from any type of government (general-purpose or special-purpose) at either the state or local level that makes available to the general public an operating budget document in either an uploaded document or hardcopy format, regardless of the length of the budget period (annual/biennial/triennial).

Participants may submit either their proposed budget or their adopted budget.

Submissions must be received within 90 days of the date when the budget was approved/adopted. To apply for the program, please follow the instructions below.

Please follow the steps below to submit your budget for consideration. Prior to the submission process, please ensure you have an electronic version of 1) your budget document, 2) the detailed criteria location guide, and 3) responses to reviewer comments from previous years.  In addition, applicants are responsible for understanding all criteria. The criteria includes 15 "mandatory" items and 10 “non-mandatory” items that will be reviewed by a panel of three reviewers.

Applicants are responsible for understanding all criteria. The criteria includes 15 "mandatory" items and 10 “non-mandatory” items that will be reviewed by a panel of three reviewers.

To ensure that reviewers can efficiently review your submission, GFOA requires all applicants to complete and submit the Detailed Criteria Location Guide.

To apply for the program, all applicants must complete an online application. Prior to starting the application process, applicants should gather and have available the following:

1. Electronic version of budget document (GFOA no longer accepts hard copies, CDs, or USB flash drives)
2. Completed Detailed Criteria Location Guide
3. Written responses to reviewer comments from previous year's submission
4. Valid username and password for GFOA member (to submit payment and receive GFOA member discount)*

*Payment can be made online through GFOA's e-store or by check. When paying online, to recieve the GFOA member discount a individual with current GFOA membership status must be signed in. If you cannot log-in, non-member rates will apply. 

(Note: Community Colleges are apply using the fee schedule for special districts)

The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is managed by staff in GFOA's Technical Services Center. For more information or to ask any questions about getting involved, please contact budgetawards@gfoa.org or call the office at 312-977-9700.