What is the Baldrige Framework? Baldrige is the national public-private partnership developed to promote and recognize performance excellence across the U.S. The Baldrige framework is designed to improve your organization's performance and get sustainable results by focusing on 5 key areas:

• Product and process outcomes
• Customer outcomes
• Workforce outcomes
• Leadership and governance outcomes
• Financial and market outcomes

The Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence (IRPE) Award is Iowa’s National Baldrige-based process designed to recognize role model organizations in all industries across the state. Our 20+ year-old award process is one of the most comprehensive ways an organization can assess and improve their systems and operations. 

With criteria books geared towards healthcare, education and business/nonprofit, any organization can get involved and apply for an IRPE award.

We also welcome individuals from ANY organization to join our Board of Examiners. Regardless of whether or not their organization is on a Baldrige journey, the examiner experience is a rewarding process that cannot be matched by any other training program. Read first-hand accounts of the examiner process on our Board of Examiners page.