Surety professionals promote contract surety bonds in construction for two reasons, neither of which is driven by accolades and awards.

  1. They want to develop new business. Visiting with conference attendees, meeting with construction contractors, and answering questions from private owners, developers, public owners, and construction lenders are great ways to interact with potential new clients.
  2. They want to give back to the surety industry and the community. By promoting the value and benefits of surety bonds, surety professionals establish positive awareness of the surety product.

We know surety professionals are not promoting surety to win awards, but NASBP and SFAA want to recognize surety professionals' efforts anyway. NASBP and SFAA want to say “thank you” for taking the time, going above and beyond, and—ultimately—making a difference.

For more information, see the links below.

Surety Industry Award Criteria

Tiger Trust
This award is for NASBP and SFAA members who persuade a private construction project owner or lender to require surety bonds on a project.

Induction into the Tiger Trust is available to current dues-paid members of NASBP or SFAA. Nominations may be made by the person seeking the Tiger Trust or from another party familiar with the facts of the situation. Applicants must complete the online nomination form.

The nomination must demonstrate that the owner or lender of a specific construction project was persuaded to require surety bonds due to the candidate’s efforts or influence. The applicant must include details of how he or she convinced the owner or lender to require a bond along with documentation from the owner or lender on official letterhead verifying the candidate’s role in persuading the owner or lender.

Gold Award
This award is for LSAs that conduct at least ten (10) public relations and educational activities in a calendar year to promote the use of contract surety bonds in construction to non-surety, non-insurance, or non-lawyer audiences.

Platinum Award
This award is for an individual SFAA or NASBP member whose efforts to promote contract surety bonds have had a significant impact on the surety industry. This award is not based on the volume of activities but on the successful outcome of the individual’s actions in promoting the value and benefits of contract surety bonds.

Nominations for this award must summarize the significance of the individual’s accomplishments and specify outcomes and results of his or her efforts.

Silver Award
This award is for LSAs that conduct at least five (5) public relations and educational activities in a calendar year to promote the use of contract surety bonds in construction to non-surety, non-insurance, or non-lawyer audiences.

Advocacy Award
This award is for LSAs that conduct significant activities advocating for suretyship, other than public relations or educational, such as fighting legislative efforts to waive bonds or increase bond thresholds, or advocating for reasonable bond forms.

For more details about the kinds of activities that will and will not count toward an award, please see the Advice page.