Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy

Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy is an American award by the United States Department of State which recognizes individuals, foundations, associations, and corporations that actively contribute to advancing America's ideals around the globe through public diplomacy. The award is named in honor of Benjamin Franklin because, as the nation's first envoy, he was "known for his creative ways of using culture, business and science to attract the attention of foreign audiences".

The establishment of the award was announced by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in January 2007, as the most prestigious honor that the Department of State can bestow on U.S. citizens and non-governmental organizations, giving special emphasis to activities that:
 * 1) provide hope and opportunities in the core areas of education, culture, and information
 * 2) empower, educate, and inspire key audiences such as women, students, and educators
 * 3) engage under-served communities and grassroots organizations.

The awards are presented in four categories:
 * Individuals
 * Corporations
 * Academic institutions (schools, universities, etc.)
 * Not-for-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, foundations, associations, etc.)

Recipients
2016
 * Individual Category Winner: Eric Treene, Ehsan Zaffar, Catherine Newcombe – for their work on advancing religious freedom issues under United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18.


 * 2008
 * Non-Profit Category Award Winner: Search for Common Ground
 * Academic Category Award Winner: University of Southern California
 * Corporate Category Award Winner: Johnson & Johnson
 * Individual Category Award Winner: Dave Brubeck