The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the nation’s only Presidential award for achievements in business performance and quality. It is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that an organization can receive. The award is administered by the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and was established by congress to promote national awareness of the necessity of performance excellence in business as a means to stay competitive in the global market. The Baldridge award recognizes U.S. organizations in a wide range fields. As many as 18 awards may be given annually across six eligibility categories including, education, health care, manufacturing, nonprofit, service, and small business. (Baldrige, 2015)
Applicants undergo a rigorous screening process which evaluates the organization on a range of factors that contribute to financial performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, business decisions and strategies that improve market performance, customer retention/ satisfaction, efficient and effective operation practices, and gains in market share. (Baldrige, 2015) All organizations participating in the application process receive a written summary of their strengths and an assessment on areas for improvement. Winners are allowed to promote and advertise their Baldridge Award. However, the award is not given for specific products or services. As of 2014, 105 awards have been presented to 99 organizations which include six repeat winners. (Baldrige, 2015)
Conception of the Baldridge award began in the early 1980s, as an increasingly competitive and demanding world market necessitated a reevaluation of current U.S. business practices and strategies. (Baldrige, 2015) While both government and industry leaders saw the need for a renewed focus on business performance and quality, few resources existed to help business owners embrace and incorporate this vision. The result was the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act of 1987 which led to the establishment of both the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. (Baldrige, 2015) There were three primary objectives to the award. Firstly to identify and honor role-model businesses, secondly to establish a criterion by which improvement efforts could be evaluated, and finally to promote and disseminate best practices and business strategies. (Baldrige, 2015) Both the program and award were named for former United States Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige who was a vocal advocate for the promotion of quality management and its importance to the continued prosperity of U.S. industry. In 2010, the program's name was changed to the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program to reflect a shift in the organizations focus away from quality management to a broader emphasis on overall organizational performance excellence. (Baldrige, 2015)
Today the Baldridge Program is a unique public-private partnership which is devoted to improving U.S. organizations through raising awareness about the importance of performance excellence and by offering businesses a multitude of services aimed at improving competitiveness and overall quality. Some of the services offered by the program include, evaluations/assessments of organizational strengths and opportunities by teams of trained experts, self-assessment tools, and executive development through educational conferences, workshops, and expert presentations. While a portion of the programs funding still comes from government investment, contributions from the private sector now provides important support for the organization both from donations and from countless volunteers who give their time and expertise to the institution. (Baldrige, 2015)
The impact of the Baldridge Award and Program has been considerable on organizational, national, and international levels. Recipients of the Baldridge award typically experience significant growth in revenue and job creation as well as becoming role models in for all other U.S. Organization. (Baldrige, 2015) Even those businesses who merely apply for the award benefit greatly from expert advice given during the application process. On a national level, the ratio of the Baldridge Program’s benefits to the U.S. economy versus its costs have been estimated at 820:1 and its estimated net benefit to the economy as a whole is believed to be upwards of 24 billion. (Baldrige, 2015) Globally, the Baldridge Program continues its commitment to the promotion of performance excellence by participating annually in the GEM (Global Excellence Model) council in an effort to work on common concerns and future development strategies. (Baldrige, 2015) Since its inception, the success of the program and award has inspired hundreds of related programs nationwide and abroad.

References
Baldrige: (Im)Prove Your Performance. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/