The successful work of SOS Children’s Villages brings it many distinctions, notably the humanitarian price Conrad N. Hilton. 

SOS-Kinderdorf has received on 14th of October 2002 the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. This one million dollar prize is the world’s largest award for humanitarian service. It is annually presented to an organization that makes extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering. This price is the consecration of all the SOS workers’ efforts in the world.

During the reception, on 14th of October 2002, Mr. Helmut Kutin, President of SOS-Kinderdorf International said "receiving the Hilton Humanitarian Prize is a very special honour for our thousands of SOS co-workers worldwide, and it emphasizes the absolute right of children to a family, to respect and to have equal chances". The prize-money was and is still used to fund projects for AIDS victims run by SOS Children's Villages in southern and eastern Africa.

For the quality of its work, SOS Children’s Villages has received many other distinctions. For example the multiple nominations of both the SOS Children's Village organization and its founder, Hermann Gmeiner, for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The organization has received important prizes in almost all the countries in which SOS Children's Villages is active.
Many nominations as Honorary Citizenships, Orders of Merit and Honorary Doctorates have awarded the quality of the SOS Chidren’s Villages work. The most important are: 1980 Grand Cross and Star of the Papal Order of St. Gregory to Hermann Gmeiner, 1999 also awarded to Helmut Kutin / 1983 The Wateler Peace Prize, The Hague, The Netherlands to Hermann Gmeiner / 1985 The "Aristotle Prize" of the Onassis Foundation, Athens, to Hermann Gmeiner / 1986.

In recognition of its commitment to peace and as an expression of appreciation for special efforts made in the context of the International Year of Peace, SOS-Kinderdorf International was honoured as a "Peace Messenger" by the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Javier Pèrez de Cuèllar / 1990. Huan Chuong Huu Nghi (Friendship Order), Republic of Vietnam, to Helmut Kutin / 1990, "Distinguished Service Cross of the Order of Merit", Federal Republic of Germany, to Helmut Kutin / 1994 Commander of the Order of Merit, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Helmut Kutin / 1997, "The Award of Friendship Order" of Russia to Helmut Kutin / 2001, "Honor al Merito Parlamento Centroamericano", Guatemala, to Helmut Kutin.