Selecting an Opus Prize Nominee

The Opus Prize Foundation established a confidential process for nominating and selecting Opus Prize winners. To ensure the integrity of the method, the Opus Prize Foundation does not accept unsolicited nominations.

University Partner
The Opus Prize Foundation selects universities as partners to organize and execute the Opus Prize selection process and award ceremony. Through these partnerships, students are challenged to think globally and inspire to lives of service. The 2009 partner is the University of St. Thomas, located in St. Paul, Minn.

Selection Criteria
The Opus Prize is awarded to an organization in honor of the Prize winner. Winners' organizations must be legally incorporated, nongovernmental, publicly recognized, charitable organizations with IRS tax-exempt status or the equivalent thereof outside the United States.

Opus Prize nominees must be:

Nominated through a process administered by the university partner
Working anywhere in the world
Affiliated with any religious faith or denomination
Eligible to benefit significantly from the monetary and publicity aspects of the Opus Prize
Engaged in work that is faith-based and aligned with the mission and values of the Opus Prize
Demonstrating a record of accomplishment and the commitment to continued success in transforming the lives of others

Nomination Process
Each university partner is tasked with selecting more than a dozen "spotters" - people drawn from the educational, non-profit, humanitarian and religious communities who are well-equipped to identify and research potential candidates. The spotters anonymously research potential candidates and submit nominations to a panel of distinguished jurors who select three Opus Prize finalists.

Identifying Winners
Once the finalists are selected by the jury, the Opus Prize Foundation and university partner conduct due diligence to evaluate nominees' work in the field.