Recognizing Excellence in Funeral Service Innovation

What is the best new product of 2019?

Find out at the 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo!
The NFDA Innovation Award is an achievement that recognizes the best new product or service, selected by funeral service professionals.

How does it work?

All exhibitors contracted for the 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo are eligible to submit their best product/service that has been introduced commercially since January 1, 2018.

The top three finalists will be independently selected by a panel of funeral service professionals. The award-winning entry will be revealed at the Opening General Session on Monday, October 29 in Chicago.

Submissions are now closed. Click here to see the finalists.

Judging Criteria

Qualifying entries will be evaluated independently by a panel of funeral service professionals. Each entry will be rated on a 1-10 scale (1=satisfactory, 10=superior), based on:

Originality & Uniqueness - Is the product or service unique in concept, design or performance? Is it cutting edge and first of its kind? How different is it from other products or services already in the market?

Quality & Design - Does the product or service demonstrate overall superiority and represent exceptional innovation in design, features, materials and process?

Practicality & Sustainability - Does the product or service have a practical application? Does it significantly improve business processes, increase productivity or overall efficiency?

Submission Guidelines

Entries that do not meet all eligibility requirements or do not include supporting documentation and materials will be automatically disqualified.
All entries must be submitted online using the official 2019 NFDA Innovation Award submission form (coming soon) no later than the posted deadline. All entries must include a video no longer than 30 seconds, also submitted via the online form. Do not email entries or files to NFDA staff.
Entrants are restricted to one entry per organization for a product or service that was commercially introduced since January 1, 2018. All entries must include date product/service was introduced.
All entry materials must be in English.
Entries should not contain confidential information, as confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
Entrants are encouraged to submit a description of 1,000 characters or less (including spaces) that illustrates how the product/service fulfills the judging criteria.
Once an entry is submitted, the form cannot be revised or resubmitted.
The decision of the judges is final.
The judges reserve the right to defer the award if there is not a suitable entry.
Applicants should be aware that the award may lead to further media interest.
Winners may be asked to submit a short article about their product or service for inclusion on nfda.org, in NFDA publications and/or social media platforms.

The Fine Print: The NFDA Innovation Award finalists are determined by judges based on the information submitted by the entrants. The judges will conduct no testing of the product or service. The selection of a particular product or service for the Innovation Award does not constitute an endorsement by NFDA or the judges. Selected products and services merely reflect the judging panel’s determination that, if the product or service in fact performs or functions as the submitted supporting documentation and materials claim, such product or service is desired over other submissions. NFDA reserves the right to defer the award if there is not a suitable entrant.

Material reprinted in article form on nfda.org or other publications reflects the views of the authors only and does not necessarily reflect the views of NFDA. The appearance, reference or advertisement of any product or service shall not be deemed an endorsement of such products or services by NFDA.