Official Rules
Effective Date: January 2027 · The Roster Institution LLC · State of Florida · the-roster.net
Per Recipient · Awarded Every December · Up to Ten Recipients Annually
The Roster Annual Prize recognizes the most exceptional members of each founding class year. Recipients are selected entirely on merit — what they built, funded, launched, or shaped during the calendar year — as determined by private member nomination and independent panel deliberation.
The Annual Prize is sponsored and administered by The Roster Institution LLC, a limited liability company registered in the State of Florida ("The Roster," "Sponsor," "we," or "us"). The prize is funded through annual membership revenue. No purchase beyond membership is required to be eligible for nomination or selection.
The Annual Prize is awarded on a calendar year basis. The first award cycle covers the period from the close of the founding class through December 31, 2027. Subsequent cycles run January 1 through December 31 of each year. Recipients are announced at The Roster Annual Gala each December.
To be eligible for the Annual Prize, a person must:
The following states are excluded from eligibility due to state-specific contest regulations: Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, and North Dakota. Residents of these states may hold membership but are not eligible for the Annual Prize.
A minimum of 100 eligible members must be enrolled across both chapters for the prize to be awarded in any given cycle. If this threshold is not met, the prize cycle is deferred to the following year.
Up to ten members may receive the Annual Prize in a given cycle. Each recipient receives $1,000,000 USD, transferred via wire to a verified U.S. bank account within 14 days of the Annual Gala. The number of prizes awarded in any cycle reflects the quality of the class and the standard upheld that year, as determined by the panel.
The prize is merit-based and selective by design. The panel holds the standard high. In any given cycle, the number of prizes awarded will reflect only those members who genuinely distinguished themselves — which may be fewer than ten. This is a feature of the institution, not a limitation of it.
Recipients are responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes on prize winnings. The Roster Institution LLC will issue a Form 1099 to all U.S. recipients as required by law. The Roster Institution LLC recommends recipients consult a qualified tax advisor.
Each November, active members in good standing are invited to submit one private nomination. Nominations are submitted through the secure member portal and are visible only to the panel. Nominees must be active members at the time of nomination.
There is no self-nomination. Members may not nominate themselves. There is no campaigning, solicitation, or organized advocacy for nominations permitted. Members found to be organizing campaigns for their own nomination may be disqualified from the current cycle at the panel's discretion.
Nomination submissions close on November 30 of each cycle year. Late nominations are not accepted under any circumstances.
The panel conducts an independent review of the full membership beginning December 1 of each cycle year. The panel considers the following criteria, weighted at its discretion:
Selection is based entirely on demonstrated merit during the cycle year. Wealth, title, tenure, or prior recognition do not constitute selection criteria. The panel's decisions are final, binding, and without appeal.
The panel is composed of qualified operators, investors, and advisors appointed by The Roster Institution LLC. Panel composition is confidential. Panel members do not participate in cycles in which they have a direct financial interest in any nominee.
Recipients are contacted privately by The Roster in early December, before the Annual Gala. Notification is made by direct communication to the contact information on file. Recipients have 72 hours to confirm acceptance.
If a selected recipient cannot be reached or declines the prize within the notification window, the panel may select an alternate recipient at its discretion.
Recipients are announced at The Roster Annual Gala and are invited to address the full membership. Their names appear in the annual printed Index. No public announcement is made outside of The Roster membership.
The Annual Prize is funded through membership revenue. The Roster Institution LLC maintains a dedicated prize reserve account, separate from operating funds. The balance and governance of this account are subject to annual review by an independent accounting firm. Upon request, members in good standing may receive written confirmation that prize funds are held and available for the current cycle.
The prize reserve is built and maintained as the founding class grows. In the event that reserve funds in a given cycle do not fully cover all awarded prizes, The Roster Institution LLC will fund prizes on a pro-rata basis and carry the outstanding balance forward to the following cycle with priority. Members will be notified of any such adjustment no later than 30 days before the Annual Gala.
The Roster Institution LLC reserves the right to disqualify any member from prize eligibility at its sole discretion for conduct deemed inconsistent with the standards of the institution. Grounds for disqualification include but are not limited to: violation of membership terms, conduct unbecoming of the institution's standards, misrepresentation in the application process, or any act that materially harms the reputation or interests of The Roster or its members.
Disqualification from prize eligibility does not constitute a refund of membership fees.
The Roster Institution LLC is committed to the Annual Prize as a permanent feature of the institution. In the event that material changes to the prize structure become necessary, active members will be notified in writing no less than 90 days in advance. Any such changes will be made in the best interest of the membership and consistent with the institution's standards.
These rules are governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Any disputes arising from the Annual Prize program shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Miami-Dade County, Florida, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Class action claims are waived.
These official rules constitute the entire agreement between participants and The Roster Institution LLC with respect to the Annual Prize and supersede all prior representations.
For questions regarding the Annual Prize or these official rules, contact The Roster Institution LLC at info@the-roster.net.
The Roster Institution LLC · Registered in Florida · the-roster.net · These rules are effective as of January 2027 and supersede all prior versions.