National Incentive Program 2026/2027
Membership Growth & Leadership Development
National Incentive Program 2026/2027
The National Incentive Program recognizes Conferences for the work that grows and strengthens the Society: inviting new members, keeping members engaged, forming new leaders, and connecting beyond the Conference.
It runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Conferences earn points by recording actions in the Members Portal, are recognized as they reach each tier, and the top-scoring Conference receives the Ozanam Award at the 2027 National Assembly.
“This is about mission, not competition. Every action is something a healthy Conference should be doing anyway, and any Conference, of any size, can take part.”
Recognition Tiers
Every tier you reach is yours to keep. A Conference that reaches Saintly will already have received the recognition for each tier before it.
| Points | Tier | Recognition | Conference Works Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,500 pts |
Servant Conference
|
Pin badge for each member | — |
| 3,000 pts |
Venerable Conference
|
A Mass said for your Conference by Archbishop Bellisario | — |
| 4,000 pts |
Blessed Conference
|
National spotlight and a $250 Conference Works Grant | $250 Grant |
| 5,000 pts |
Saintly Conference
|
Recognition at the 2027 National Assembly and a $500 Conference Works Grant | $500 Grant |
| Top Score |
The Ozanam Award
|
$10,000 Conference Works Grant, presented at the 2027 National Assembly | $10,000 Grant |
Servant Conference
1,500 pts
Servant Conference
Pin badge for each member
Venerable Conference
3,000 pts
Venerable Conference
A Mass said for your Conference by Archbishop Bellisario
Blessed Conference
4,000 pts
Blessed Conference
National spotlight and a $250 Conference Works Grant
$250 Conference Works Grant
Saintly Conference
5,000 pts
Saintly Conference
Recognition at the 2027 National Assembly and a $500 Conference Works Grant
$500 Conference Works Grant
The Ozanam Award
Top Score
The Ozanam Award
$10,000 Conference Works Grant, presented at the 2027 National Assembly
$10,000 Conference Works Grant
Important Guidelines: A tier requires at least one action beyond Area 1 (Preparing for Mission). Conference Works Grants are drawn from a fixed pool and awarded in order of achievement, to strengthen Conference works, membership growth, formation, leadership development, or another approved Vincentian mission priority.
How Will Your Conference Grow?
Use our interactive estimator to test different growth strategies, see your projected tier, and print or copy your Conference action plan.
How to Earn Points
Points come from five areas. Record each action in the Members Portal to count it. Full definitions for every action are in the official Program Overview.
Where Are You Today? — Preparing for Mission
All member details up to date in the Members Portal
Worth 100 points each time, up to 4 times a year (400 points total)
100 pts
Assign a member as your membership/recruitment lead
Recorded in the Members Portal
250 pts
Read through Creating a Culture of Welcome as a Conference
Study and discussion during Conference meeting
250 pts
Conference implements ServWare
Optional software implementation for tracking assistance & cases
250 pts
Just Ask — Spreading the Word
Implement the Just Ask campaign, with every member inviting one person
Conference commitment to active personal invitation
500 pts
New members added (Active or Associate)
Conferences with under 10 members earn double points (50 pts per new member)
25+ pts each (50 pts each if Conference under 10 members)
Each new member under age 35 on join date
Additional bonus points on top of standard new member addition
50+ bonus pts each
Help start a Mini Vinnie, Youth Conference, or young-adult/campus ministry partnership
Fostering next-generation Vincentian service
1000 pts
Help start or mentor a new Conference
Maximum 1 per year
1000 pts
How Can We Help Them Stay? — Retention
Conference reaches 100% Ozanam trained
Complete foundational Ozanam orientation for all active members
500 pts
Annual recommitment ceremony
Spiritual ceremony renewing Vincentian promises together
100 pts
Leader attends a Leadership Formation Session
Developing Vincentian governance and servant leadership
150 pts
Spiritual retreat or formation session during the year
Deepening reflection on Vincentian spirituality & Gospel values
250 pts
Conference attends Mass together
Shared liturgical prayer (once during program year)
100 pts
Social gathering away from the church
Fellowship meal, picnic, or gathering (250 pts each, up to 3 a year = 750 pts)
250 pts
Who's Next? — Everyone Is Called to Leadership
Written succession plan
Documented plan outlining leadership transition and role preparation
500 pts
Each mentor–mentee pair established
Pairing experienced Vincentians with emerging leaders (100 pts each)
100 pts
New Conference officer identified and trained
President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer trained (max 2 = 500 pts)
250 pts
Member under 50 in a Conference leadership role
Active officer or committee lead under 50 years old
100 pts
What's Next? — We Are One Society
A member takes a Council, Region, or National role
Serving the wider Society beyond the local parish Conference
200 pts
A member attends a Regional Meeting, in person or virtual
Connecting with Vincentians across your geographic region
300 pts
A member attends the National Assembly
Representing your Conference at the national gathering
500 pts
Key Dates for 2026 / 2027
Mark these checkpoints on your Conference meeting calendar.
Program Launch
Fiscal-year fields in the Members Portal reset; points accumulation officially begins.
Points Tallied & Prizes Awarded
Points tallied at the close of each quarter; recognition prizes are awarded at the beginning of the following quarter.
Program Year Closes
Final deadline for Conferences to enter all recorded actions and member updates into the Portal.
National Recognition & Grants
Saintly Conferences honored on stage; Conference Works Grants and the coveted Ozanam Award ($10,000) presented.
Getting Started in 5 Simple Steps
Follow these straightforward actions to kickstart your participation and immediately earn up to 1,000 points.
Verify Members Portal Access
Confirm your Conference has active Members Portal access and that every active member’s record is up to date.
Name Your Recruitment Lead (250 pts)
Designate a member as your membership and recruitment lead and record them in the Portal.
Discuss "Culture of Welcome" (250 pts)
Put the program on your next meeting agenda and read through the “Creating a Culture of Welcome” guide together.
Adopt the "Just Ask" Campaign (500 pts)
Commit as a Conference to have every member personally invite at least one person to learn about Vincentian work.
Record Actions as You Complete Them
Log every step in the Members Portal throughout the 2026/2027 year to climb recognition tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about points, tiers, grants, and Portal recording.
Is participation required?
No. Participation is completely voluntary, but every Conference is warmly encouraged to take part. Most of the work is simply recording and celebrating what you are already doing in your parish community.
How are points recorded?
Through the Members Portal (www.svdpmembers.com). Points count when the action is recorded there, and a real-time running tally is readily visible to your Conference officers.
Who verifies the points?
Conferences self-report in the Portal on the honor system, in keeping with the Vincentian spirit of mutual trust and Christian integrity.
Our Conference is small. Can we compete?
Yes! Conferences with fewer than 10 members earn double points (50 pts instead of 25 pts) for each new member added. Furthermore, most foundational actions are worth the exact same point value for Conferences of every size.
What counts as a new member?
A new Active or Associate member added to the Portal during the 2026/2027 fiscal year. If a new member is under 35 years old on their join date, they earn an additional 50 bonus points.
Do we have to use ServWare?
No. ServWare is an optional 250-point action. A Conference without ServWare can still earn thousands of points and reach every tier, including the Saintly tier and the Ozanam Award.
What do "once," "each," and "max" mean?
A few actions are capped so that no single activity disproportionately skews the score. Actions marked “each” can be earned repeatedly (such as each new member, each social event, or each mentor–mentee pair).
When is recognition awarded?
Points are tallied quarterly, with recognition prizes awarded at the beginning of the following quarter. Saintly Conferences are recognized, and Conference Works Grants are awarded, at the 2027 National Assembly.
How is the Ozanam Award winner decided?
The Conference with the highest verified point total for the 2026/2027 fiscal year receives the prestigious Ozanam Award—a $10,000 Conference Works Grant presented on stage at the 2027 National Assembly.
We don’t have Portal access, or our records are out of date. Where do we start?
That is exactly where to start! Updating member details is worth 100 points per quarter (up to 400 points a year). Reach out to Portal support at mdeclue@svdpusa.org or contact your Council representative.
Where to Get Help
You are never alone on this journey. We are one Society supporting each other.
Program Questions
Your Council Representative
Your Council representative will answer local questions and elevate complex inquiries to the Regional Coordinator.
Members Portal Support
Megan DeClue
Access questions, password resets, and database training videos.
ServWare Case Management
ServWare Team
Digital assistance logging and client casework software tailored for SVdP Conferences.
Culture of Welcome Guide
National Growth & Revitalization
Practical guide and discussion prompts for making meetings and ministries inviting.