Skip to main content    

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov**              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.            

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**              A **lock** (  LockA locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.            

https://www.nist.gov/baldrige/award-recipients/name-trademark-guidelines

            -  Topics  -  All Topics 
-  Advanced communications 
-  Artificial intelligence 
-  Bioscience 
-  Buildings and construction 
-  Chemistry 
-  Climate 
-  Cybersecurity 
-  Electronics 
-  Energy 
-  Environment 
-  Fire 
-  Forensic science 
-  Health 
-  Information technology 
-  Infrastructure 
-  Manufacturing 
-  Materials 
-  Mathematics and statistics 
-  Metrology 
-  Nanotechnology 
-  Neutron research 
-  Performance excellence 
-  Physics 
-  Public safety 
-  Resilience 
-  Standards 
-  Transportation 
 
            -  Publications 
            -  Labs & Major Programs  -  Laboratories    -  Communications Technology Laboratory 
  -  Engineering Laboratory 
  -  Information Technology Laboratory 
  -  Material Measurement Laboratory 
  -  Physical Measurement Laboratory 
-  User Facilities    -  NIST Center for Neutron Research 
  -  CNST NanoFab 
-  Research Test Beds 
-  Research Projects 
-  Tools & Instruments 
-  Major Programs    -  Baldrige Performance Excellence Program 
  -  CHIPS for America Initiative 
  -  Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 
  -  Office of Advanced Manufacturing 
  -  Special Programs Office 
  -  Technology Partnerships Office 
 
            -  Services & Resources  -  Standards and Measurements    -  Calibration Services 
  -  Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP) 
  -  Quality System 
  -  Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) 
  -  Standards.gov 
  -  Time Services 
  -  Office of Weights and Measures 
-  Software 
-  Data    -  Chemistry WebBook 
  -  National Vulnerability Database 
  -  Physical Reference Data 
  -  Standard Reference Data (SRD) 
-  Storefront 
-  License & Patents 
-  Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC) 
-  NIST Research Library 
 
            -  News & Events  -  News 
-  Events 
-  Blogs 
-  Feature Stories 
-  Awards 
-  Video Gallery 
-  Image Gallery 
-  Media Contacts 
 
            -  About NIST  -  About Us    -  Leadership 
  -  Organization Structure 
  -  Budget & Planning 
-  Contact Us 
-  Visit 
-  Careers    -  Student programs 
-  Work with NIST 
-  History    -  NIST Digital Archives 
  -  NIST Museum 
  -  NIST and the Nobel 
-  Educational Resources 
 

## Baldrige Performance Excellence Program

-  How Baldrige Works  Expand or Collapse    -  About Baldrige  Expand or Collapse      -  Baldrige Impacts 
    -  History  Expand or Collapse        -  Malcolm Baldrige Biography 
      -  How the Baldrige Program Began 
    -  Baldrige Process Integrity 
    -  Baldrige FAQs 
  -  Baldrige Director  Expand or Collapse      -  Organization Chart 
  -  Baldrige Community  Expand or Collapse      -  Examiners  Expand or Collapse        -  Examiner Resources 
    -  Board of Overseers 
    -  Judges Panel 
    -  Executive Fellows 
    -  Baldrige Foundation 
    -  State & Local Baldrige-Based Programs 
    -  Baldrige Ambassadors 
    -  Communities of Excellence 2026 
    -  International Award Programs 
  -  News/Media Room  Expand or Collapse      -  Researchers 
-  Self-Assessing  Expand or Collapse    -  Getting Started 
  -  Baldrige Key Terms 
  -  Improvement Tools  Expand or Collapse      -  Job Quality Toolkit  Expand or Collapse        -  Recruitment & Hiring 
      -  Benefits 
      -  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility 
      -  Empowerment & Representation 
      -  Job Security & Working Conditions 
      -  Organizational Culture 
      -  Pay 
      -  Skills & Career Advancement 
      -  Job Quality Baldrige Style 
    -  Foundations for a Successful Business 
    -  Are We Making Progress? 
    -  Are We Making Progress as Leaders? 
    -  easyInsight: Take a First Step Toward a Baldrige Self-Assessment 
    -  Are You a Role-Model Leader? 
    -  Integrating Baldrige with Other Tools 
  -  Baldrige by Sector  Expand or Collapse      -  Manufacturing  Expand or Collapse        -  Are You Ready to Address Your Business Challenges and Get National Recognition? 
    -  Service 
    -  Small Business 
    -  Education 
    -  Health Care 
    -  Nonprofit/Government 
-  Products & Services  Expand or Collapse    -  Baldrige Cybersecurity Initiative 
  -  Baldrige Excellence Framework 
  -  Baldrige Excellence Builder 
  -  Baldrige Executive Fellows Program 
  -  Baldrige Connect 
  -  Become a Baldrige Examiner 
  -  Baldrige Examiner Training Experience 
  -  Shop Baldrige Gear 
-  Publications  Expand or Collapse    -  Baldrige Excellence Framework  Expand or Collapse      -  Business/Nonprofit 
    -  Education 
    -  Health Care 
    -  Baldrige Excellence Framework Graphics 
  -  Baldrige Case Study 
  -  Blogrige 
  -  Insights on the Road to Performance Excellence 
-  Conferences  Expand or Collapse    -  Quest for Excellence Conference 
  -  Baldrige Fall Conference 
  -  Baldrige Exhibit Schedule 
-  Award Recipients  Expand or Collapse    -  Current Baldrige Recipients 
  -  Name & Trademark Guidelines 
-  Baldrige Award  Expand or Collapse    -  Award Criteria 
  -  How to Apply  Expand or Collapse      -  Application Format 
  -  Award Cycle Overview 
  -  Is Your Organization Eligible? 
  -  Award Process Fees 

## Connect with us

TwitterGovDeliveryYoutube

# Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Name and Trademark Guidelines

## Share

Facebook

Linkedin

Twitter

Email

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Commerce Department agency that manages the Baldrige Program, has title to the Award's registered trademark. Other than Baldrige Award recipients and NIST and its subcontractors, organizations and individuals should not use the Baldrige Award trademark, other materials or objects that incorporate the trademark—including the Baldrige Award medallion and photos of the Baldrige Award crystal—or the name "Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award" without prior approval from NIST. Please apply the following guidelines when you refer to the Award in advertising, publications, audiovisual productions, and similar materials.

## **Baldrige Award Applicants**

If you apply for the Award, you may acknowledge their participation. However, your organization, in particular if it is selected for a site visit, should not state or imply that this is a formal recognition of achievements.

## **Baldrige Award Recipients**

If you are an Award recipient, you may use the ribbon portion of the trademark by itself or with the words "Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award". You may stack your name two lines below the trademark if desired. Clearly indicate the year you received the Award.

The typeface is Optima Bold. If you use the words with the ribbon, do not position them in any other order or typeface.

Authorized colors for the trademark are:Gold FoilBlackBurgundy PMS 209Blue PMS 289

Use all colors at 100 percent. You may reverse the image to white on a dark background.

## **No Endorsement Implied**

Receiving the Baldrige Award does not imply endorsement of your organization's products or services.
                  - In your copy, specify that the Award is for performance excellence and quality achievement.
                  - Do not state or imply that it is for a product or service.
                  - Do not use either the Award name or its trademark on products or in conjunction with specific product or service claims.

## **If Your Organization Changes ...**

If the name of your organization changes, you may continue to use the Award trademark in conjunction with your new name.
                  - Either add the line "Formerly XXX," or use the previous name with the line "Currently XXX."
                  - Include the year that the organization received the Award, as shown below.

If your organization substantially changes, is taken over by another organization, or in some way becomes a very different entity from the organization that received the Baldrige Award, NIST may ask your organization to discontinue using the trademark and referring to itself as a Baldrige Award recipient. NIST will continue to list the original organization as an Award recipient in published material.

## **Subsidiaries as Recipients**

If a subsidiary of your organization receives the Baldrige Award, make clear to the reader/viewer/listener which organization received the Award.
                  - In all publicity, state clearly that the unit—not the parent organization—received the Award.
                  - If you cite the parent, make the name of the subsidiary unit more prominent in placement, size, and usage than that of the parent unit.
                  - Use only the name of the organization that received the Baldrige Award in conjunction with the Award trademark.
                  - Use the trademark of the subsidiary unit, rather than the trademark of the parent unit, in conjunction with the Award trademark or text referring to the Baldrige Award recipient. If the subsidiary does not have a trademark, you may use the parent unit's trademark, but make clear in the text that the subsidiary received the Award.
                  - When others, such as the parent unit, suppliers, or customers, sponsor publicity, indicate this in the copy to make it clear which organization received the Award. The publicity should not imply that the sponsor has a connection to the Award.
                  - Statements from the parent unit's officers should not imply that an entire organization—rather than the subsidiary—received the award.

## **Publicity by Recipients**

                  - In publicity, do not imply that Baldrige Award recipients were compared to their competitors during the evaluation process. To avoid creating this impression, do not use trademarks or slogans that imply that an Award recipient is better than its competitors in conjunction with the Award name or logo.
                  - Do not use photos or likenesses of, or statements by, the President of the United States, the Secretary of Commerce, other government officials, or the White House in conjunction with Baldrige Award-related advertising or promotions. You may use photographs of the President, the Secretary of Commerce, or other government officials taken during the Baldrige Award ceremony and public statements made by them in news releases and newsletters.
                  - Carefully review all Award-related publicity to ensure accuracy. We encourage the responsible executives to ensure this attention, including consultation among parent units, subsidiaries, quality and public relations officials, and contractors.
                  - You may reproduce the Baldrige Award trademark and Baldrige Award medallion for use on mementos. However, replicas and printed reproductions of the medallion cannot include the Presidential seal, which is on the reverse side of the medallion. Copies of the medallion may be produced with plain reverse side, a duplicate of the front side, or name or trademark of the Award recipient along with the year the Award was received.

## Reproduction of Award

The award crystal cannot be reproduced in any form or size.

Performance excellenceBaldrige awardBaldrige examiners

## Contacts

                -      NIST Public Affairs Office    inquiries@nist.gov      (301) 975-2758          100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1070   Gaithersburg,  MD 20899-1070   

                -      Baldrige Customer Service    baldrige@nist.gov       (301) 975-2036          NIST/BPEP   100 Bureau Drive, M/S 1020   Gaithersburg,  MD 20899-1020   

### HEADQUARTERS

301-975-2000

Webmaster | Contact Us | Our Other Offices

TwitterFacebookLinkedInInstagramYouTubeGiphyRSS FeedMailing List

Feedback

            -  Site Privacy 
            -  Accessibility 
            -  Privacy Program 
            -  Copyrights 
            -  Vulnerability Disclosure 
            -  No Fear Act Policy 
            -  FOIA 
            -  Environmental Policy 
            -  Scientific Integrity 
            -  Information Quality Standards 
            -  Commerce.gov 
            -  Science.gov 
            -  USA.gov 
            -  Vote.gov