Important – Please read! 

ACCE has updated the Chamber of the Year application process. Chambers will no longer submit a single PDF file as shown on the Chamber of the Year web page. Instead, all responses will be entered directly into this Jotform, with supporting documents uploaded as attachments where prompted. 

To avoid losing work, please prepare your responses in a separate document and copy them into the Jotform when you are ready to submit. We strongly discourage drafting responses within the form or leaving the form open for extended periods of time, as progress may not be saved. 

If you have questions, please contact coy@acce.org.

Step 1: Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking: This application is step two in the Chamber of the Year process. Your chamber must first qualify by completing ACCE’s Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking survey by March 13, 2026, and scoring above average in three out of the five following criteria: 

• Member Retention: Percent member accounts retained year after year
• Dollar Retention: Percentage of membership dues dollars retained year-over-year
• Net Income: Organizational profit
• Net Assets: Value of the organization’s equity
• Current Ratio: Liquidity ratio (measures the organization’s ability to pay its short-term debts with the assets it has on hand) 

Those who qualify will be notified no later than March 24, 2026. Please note that all applications that qualify as finalists may be shared on the ACCE website, with personal details removed.  

Step 2: Completing your Application: 
 
Category: Chamber of the Year applications are evaluated within four budget-based categories. Your category placement will be determined by the information provided in your Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking submission. View the category breakdown below: 
 
Category 1: Less than $649,999
Category 2: $650,000-$1,399,999
Category 3: $1,400,000-$3,999,999
Category 4: $4,000,000+

*Please ensure you select the correct budget category, as the application will adjust based on your selection. Category 1 and 2 chambers will submit one synopsis (a change from the 2025 application), while Category 3 and 4 chambers will submit two synopses. Contact coy@acce.org with questions.

Applications are due May 7, 2026.

Complete your program entry fee by May 7, 2026 at the following link: Pay here

If you have any questions about the application process, please call JoAnna Dehler at (703) 998-3542 or email coy@acce.org.

Synopsis Categories:

• Community/Social Impact: The chamber provides unique opportunities for individuals and businesses to make a difference by connecting them to important community issues.
• Building a Better Equipped Workforce: The chamber is engaged in education attainment and/or workforce development initiatives in their region.
• Public Policy: The chamber is an advocate for its member businesses and community to the local, state, regional and federal government.
• Business Impact: The chamber helps build stronger businesses by providing resources, support and opportunities for their members and the community at large.
• Economic Development: The chamber enhances and leverages the talents and resources of its members to improve economic opportunities within the community and surrounding area.
   

Examples of programs that could fall into one or more of these impact areas:

• Small business development services
• Education and talent development programs
• Economic development programs/campaigns
  Response efforts to community challenges
• Public policy/advocacy campaign or legislative victory
• Tourism campaigns
• Community marketing initiative
• Networking programs
• Special events
• Diversity, equity, inclusion and economic mobility efforts
• Healthy community/wellness effort

Your synopsis must communicate how it relates to one or more of ACCE’s Horizon Initiatives.

Program/initiative summary (100 words) (0 points): Summarize the nature of your program/initiative and how the Horizon Initiatives relate to the key outcomes.

Needs Identification (200 words) (10 points)

• Identify your target audience(s) and the needs your program/service meets. Needs should be clearly identified and ties to the organizational mission should be demonstrated.
• Discuss your needs identification and data collection process for your project or program.
• File Upload: Include as supporting materials your anecdotal or formal evaluation results, such as research, key facts, figures or trends about your community or target audience, situational analysis and/or copies of any survey instruments if used.

Program Objectives (200 words) (10 points)

• Discuss the goals and objectives for the program, relative to your identified needs and target audiences. Objectives should be clearly stated, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time sensitive (“SMART”). Goals and objectives must relate to the achievement of at least one of synopsis categories.
• File Upload: Include a copy of the strategic or project plans as supporting material.

Methodology (200 words) (10 points)

• Discuss the methods used to reach the objectives. Please list specific actions taken.
• File Upload: Include a detailed budget indicating expenses, revenues and in-kind contributions.

Communications (200 words) (10 points)

• Describe how your chamber developed and then executed its communications strategy to inform your intended target audience(s) about your program/service.
• File Upload: Provide an outline of your chamber’s communications strategy for the program or service, including specific marketing, communications, advertising and/or public relations vehicles (if used). For each description of the communications vehicle, include the communications points and/or call to action communicated as well as the target audience you intended to reach. Include appropriate supporting materials such as web page(s) describing the program, ads, brochures, guides, press releases, speeches, etc.

Evaluation (300 words) (10 points)

• Explain the impact your program or service had on your community and/or membership. Outcomes of your program or service should be related to your stated program objectives. Partial or projected information is acceptable.
• Demonstrate the outcomes of your communications related to your program or service. Partial or projected information is acceptable.
• File Upload: Provide supporting materials to support your data. Share supporting materials including data about increased sales, awareness and membership; participation and satisfaction survey results; member or participant testimonials.