2026 Champions of Change Awards Nomination Form

2026 Champions of Change Awards

Nomination Form
The Champions of Change Awards are given annually to individuals from Allen County who:
- Demonstrate an unwavering passion and commitment to our community.
- Are role models and mentors making a difference in the lives of others.
- Have made significant contributions that have inspired women to succeed.
- Have made Allen County a better place to live, work, and play.
Qualifications
- Nominees must be currently working and/or living in the greater Fort Wayne area / Allen County.
- Nominees are eligible for re-nomination in subsequent years by meeting the requirements of the award.
- Nominators will receive a notification once a nomination has been received. Nominees will be notified only if they are chosen as a finalist.
- Finalists will be notified prior to the Champions of Change event and offered a complimentary ticket to attend. A finalist’s name, bio, and/or photo may be used for social media or marketing promotional materials by Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
- Award winners will be announced at the Champions of Change event.
- Greater Fort Wayne Inc. reserves the right to decline a nomination and/or rescind an award from the winner in cases of fraudulent or criminal allegations, accusations, investigations or charges.
To nominate an individual or yourself, please complete the following form by Monday, February 23, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST. Information can be obtained by the nominee, if necessary. You can save or submit your nomination at the bottom of this page. If saving your progress to complete at a later time, you will be provided a unique link to return and submit prior to the deadline.

For questions, contact Meghan Murphy at mmurphy@gfwinc.com.

Nominator Information
This section will not be shared with the selection committee. You may nominate yourself for the Champions of Change awards.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Employer/Organization*
Title*
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number*
Include area code.

Nominee Information
This section will be redacted before sharing nominations with the selection committee.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Phonetic Spelling of Name*
Please spell out name as it sounds (to be read aloud at awards ceremony).
Employer/Organization*
Title*
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number*
Include area code.
Which category/industry does the nominee best fit into?*
Demographic Information:

As part of Greater Fort Wayne Inc.'s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please share how the nominee identifies with the following questions. This data is confidential and will only be shared with GFW Inc. program personnel for program and event reporting. Demographic information will be redacted during the rating process and does not impact a candidate’s eligibility to win the award.
Age Range*
Gender*
Race (select all that apply)*

American Indian or Alaska NativeAsian or Asian AmericanBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinxNative Hawaiian or other Pacific IslanderWhite or CaucasianPrefer not to answerOther
Does the nominee need any special accommodations/assistance to participate in the award presentation (e.g. cognitive or physical disability, blind or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, service animal)? If yes, please describe how we can best facilitate and provide support during the event.

Nomination Questions
Your responses to the following section will be used by the selection committee to evaluate you / your nominee. Please do not use your / the nominee's name when answering questions, only pronouns, and provide specific examples. Responses will be scored based on the merits and quality of the content, as well as how well it relates to the question. Responses are limited to 250 words, but please answer each question thoroughly as this is a blind rating process and the selection committee will not know who the nominee is nor receive any supplemental material about them before scoring. If any section is left blank or unfinished, the nomination will be considered incomplete and therefore disqualified.
How has the nominee demonstrated leadership, passion, and commitment to our community? Please include any board or committee service in Allen County.*

0/250
How has the nominee served as a role model and/or mentor to women while advocating for their success?*

0/250
How has the nominee made Allen County a better place to live, work, and play?*

0/250

Award Promotion / Supportive Materials
The following materials will not be shared with the selection committee, only used in public promotions or digital/print assets at the awards ceremony if the individual is selected as a finalist. Please approve with your nominee in advance, if necessary.
Please upload a high-resolution professional headshot photo of the nominee.*

Accepted file types: jpg, png, gif, Max. file size: 10 MB.
Cancelof
Please provide a brief professional biography of the nominee. Biographies typically include a name, key accomplishments, leadership skills & impact, current title/role or work history, community or volunteer experience, education, and/or personal attributes. Note: This bio will be reviewed & approved by the finalist prior to the event, if selected.*

0/250

Certification
By checking the box below, I certify that all statements or information I have provided above are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. Any deliberate misrepresentation found may be cause for the dismissal of this nomination and may prohibit me from recommendations again in the future.
Select the box below to certify your statements.*

I certify.
Name of Nominator*

First NameLast Name

Form Submission
Should be Empty: