2026 Forum Catalyst Award Application

Overview:

The Catalyst Award recognizes outstanding women whose leadership is creating meaningful impact in private, public, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial settings. Many of these leaders advance change without traditional recognition or visibility; women whose work is essential and significant, yet may be overlooked due to role, identity, sector, or nontraditional career path. The Catalyst Award shines a light on their contributions and supports their continued growth.

Each year, the Forum Foundation selects Catalyst Award recipients who participate in a year-long leadership accelerator. The Catalyst Award honors their achievements while expanding their reach and reinforcing their leadership across sectors and communities.

 

Nomination Criteria:

Catalyst Award nominees are women who demonstrate:   

• Meaningful Impact: A clear record of contributing to positive change in their organization, sector, or community. Impact may be operational, strategic, cultural, relational, or systems-level.
• Leadership in Action: Evidence of leading with purpose, creativity, or courage. Nominees may hold formal leadership roles or lead through influence and initiative.
• Commitment to Development: Interest in personal growth, leadership learning, and participating in development experience during the award year.
• Alignment With Forum Foundation Values: A commitment to integrity, collaboration, equity, and strengthening the communities they serve.

 

Eligibility:

• Our intent is to elevate leaders outside of The Forum network. This award is therefore not open to current Forum members, nor current participants in The Forum’s 2026 Mentoring Program.
• Nominees may work in any sector: private, public, nonprofit, or entrepreneurial.
• There is no age, title, or education requirement; early-career to senior leaders will be considered.
• A letter of recommendation is required.

 

Recipients Will Receive:

• One year Forum Spark Membership (https://www.foew.com/spark-membership).  
• Participation in a leadership development program at Villanova University from September 24 to September 25, 2026. 
• Access to peer community and relationship-building opportunities.
• Visibility through the Forum Foundation network and communications.
• Recognition as a Forum Foundation Catalyst Award recipient.

 

More about The Forum Foundation and Catalyst Award: https://www.foew.com/forum-foundation. 

Although your progress can be saved if you have a JotForm account or external account connected, we highly recommend writing and saving your answers for this application in a separate document. If you have any issues or need assistance completing this form, please contact info@foew.com.

Below are guiding questions for your letter of recommendation. You do not need to answer every question as part of your letter (500 words maximum):

• Recommender name, title, company or organization, email, and phone.
• How you know the applicant.
• How has the applicant contributed to your workplace, sector, and/or community?
• How have you seen the applicant take initiative or lead?
• Can you share examples of the applicant embracing challenges or pursuing development experiences that helped them grow?
• How does the applicant show integrity in their work, decision-making, or interactions with others?
• What examples demonstrate the applicant's ability to collaborate effectively with peers, colleagues, or community members?
• Any additional information the recommender would like to provide.