Formerly the Award of Recognition, this award was created by the AACE International Board of Directors in 1995. Candidates must be a member in good standing of AACE with a minimum of ten (10) years of continuous active participation in AACE activities. The O.T. Zimmerman Founders' Award is given in recognition of significant continuous achievement and contributions by a member at large, who has been instrumental in the development of policies, practices, procedures, and products directed to the advancement of the precepts of total cost management and AACE International. The activities of the candidate shall be in direct support of the Board of Directors, one of AACE's associate boards, or an executive-level committee (such as the Constitution & Bylaws Committee, Ethics Committee, Fellow Admissions Committee, etc.), or other similar efforts supporting the overall functions and activities of AACE International. Membership in AACE is required.