ADP® Grit & Wisdom Awards Contest
The Grit & Wisdom Awards Contest honors ADP small business clients like you. Your grit built your business and your wisdom drives it forward. Share your story for a chance to win up to $5,000 in prize value plus a year of free payroll*.
Details on how it works and entry rules.
We’re recognizing the moments that show the heart, effort and insight behind how our clients run their businesses. Share an experience that shows what you’ve learned along the way, including:
Every business has experiences that shape how it grows. Use the guidance below to help frame the one you want to share.
Share a meaningful learning moment your business faced in the past three years — the grit that got you through it, and the wisdom you gained. How has your business changed since?
Keep your response focused on what happened, what you took from it and how it shapes the way you operate today.
Form closes Friday, February 20th, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. By submitting, you agree to our rules
Our Grit & Wisdom book series brings together real advice from the people who know the work best.
SMALL BUSINESS BOOK
Smart Advice from America’s Hardworking Small Businesses
Practical advice from small business owners, offering personal perspectives on what it takes to succeed.
ACCOUNTANT BOOK
Advice from Accountants for Accountants
A curated collection of real accountant insights on what matters most in the profession today.
It is ADP’s way of recognizing small business clients whose experiences show steady drive and thoughtful decision-making. The awards highlight moments that demonstrate how you move your business forward with focus, clarity and a willingness to learn.
We want to hear about a real moment that occurred in the last three years that impacted your business. Pick an experience that shifted your direction, taught you something useful or refined how you lead. We’re looking for substance over style, so the writing doesn’t need to be polished.
Any RUN Powered by ADP® small business client in good standing can enter, including sole proprietors and single-person businesses. If you’re a RUN client, your story is welcome here.
Each submission is reviewed and scored by an internal ADP panel. Judges look for a strong connection to the themes of Grit & Wisdom, clear and thoughtful storytelling and stories that leave a lasting impression.
Ten RUN Powered by ADP® clients will be selected to receive approximately $5,000 in curated prizes — along with one free year of payroll*. Plus, you may have the chance to share your story as part of ADP’s media coverage spotlighting the award winners. Prizes are awarded to the business named in the entry, and an authorized signatory must be listed to accept them.
Yes. The Grit & Wisdom Awards Contest is exclusively for RUN Powered by ADP® small business clients. You must be an active client in good standing at the time of entry to be eligible, and an authorized signatory must be provided to confirm eligibility and receive any award.
Winners will be contacted directly by email. All communication will be sent to the contact information you share in your entry.
Yes. The Grit & Wisdom Awards Contest is a new, separate program from the earlier contest.
*Free payroll is for RUN Powered by ADP® payroll for the business associated with the winning entry for one year up to $2,500 value and is not a condition to winning. Free payroll applies to companies with 1 to 100 employees and to all features of standard payroll processing invoiced on client’s regular processing cycle and does not include additional non-payroll services; excludes pass through costs, courier and other delivery fees, including off cycle fees, hardware, or penalty and interest fees.
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE CHANCES OF WINNING.
Open to legal residents of the 50 US/DC of the age of majority or older as of the date of entry, who are business owners, partners, founders, or employees of an eligible small business located in the U.S. with 100 employees or fewer that is also an existing ADP RUN Powered by ADP® client in good standing. (10) Awards: Business prize pack and year of payroll service, ARV up to $7,500.
Subject to Official Rules, including all details at www.adp.com/awards. Begins 1/14/26 at 9:00 am ET; ends 2/20/26 at 5:00 pm ET. Void where prohibited.
