All applicants must be an exemplary model of a sister city program and must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current dues-paying member of Sister Cities International;
- Have at least one formally recognized sister city partnership;
- Submit entries for programs that were conducted during 2019 only; and
- Must not have won in the same category in the previous awards cycle.
The Nominator for the Volunteer of the Year must meet the following criteria:
- Be from a current dues-paying member of Sister Cities International;
- Be actively involved in the local sister city program; and
- Local program must not have won in the Volunteer of the Year/Youth Leadership Award category in the previous awards cycle.
The Nominee for the Volunteer of the Year Award must be an exemplary model of a sister cities program volunteer and meet the following criteria:
- Be from a current dues-paying member of Sister Cities International;
- Be actively involved in the local sister city program.