2025 Impact Awards
Celebrating 40 years with 4 awards and $400,000 in funding.
Chicago Foundation for Women’s Impact Awards celebrate bold organizations and changemakers working tirelessly to ensure women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals have the support they need to succeed. As we commemorate CFW’s 40th Anniversary and Women’s History Month, we honor our Founding Mothers who ignited a movement and the trailblazers who continue to expand its reach through the Founders’ Fund. Join us for an inspiring evening of celebration and reflection, honoring the extraordinary organizations driving a brighter and more equitable future for the Chicago region.
Meet the 2025 Honorees
Ba Nia Incorporated
Ba Nia Incorporated offers an array of culturally-relevant, holistic health services for women of color, LGBTQ+ communities, regardless of income.
Lucia Woods Lindley Reproductive Justice Award
This award honors an organization advancing reproductive justice as a fundamental human right, addressing disparities in health outcomes, and advocating for equitable policies and services.
Lucia Woods Lindley Reproductive Justice Award
This award honors an organization advancing reproductive justice as a fundamental human right, addressing disparities in health outcomes, and advocating for equitable policies and services.
Life Is Work
Life Is Work is a trans-led organization that educates, empowers, and organizes TLGBQ+ people from diverse backgrounds to secure safety, wellness, and justice for all.
Iris J. Krieg Economic Security Award
This award honors an organization working to expand the economic security of women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals.
Iris J. Krieg Economic Security Award
This award honors an organization working to expand the economic security of women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals.
Sista Afya Community Care
Sista Afya Community Care builds sustainable mental wellness communities through providing affordable and culturally-centered community mental wellness care and education.
Marjorie Craig Benton Access to Health Award
This award recognizes an organization advancing access to high-quality health services and information, including mental, physical, reproductive health, and preventive care.
Marjorie Craig Benton Access to Health Award
This award recognizes an organization advancing access to high-quality health services and information, including mental, physical, reproductive health, and preventive care.
Life Is Work
Un Nuevo Despertar - A New Awakening assists survivors of domestic violence through programs focused on intervention, prevention, counseling, training and education that address emotional, physical, financial and employment needs.
Sunny Fischer Freedom from Violence Award
This award honors an organization dedicated to expanding freedom from violence in all its forms, including domestic violence, child and elder abuse, dating violence, sexual assault, harassment, stalking, prostitution, and trafficking.
Sunny Fischer Freedom from Violence Award
This award honors an organization dedicated to expanding freedom from violence in all its forms, including domestic violence, child and elder abuse, dating violence, sexual assault, harassment, stalking, prostitution, and trafficking.
Selection Committee
Chair
Akira Barclay
Members
Elianne Bahena
Ellen Benjamin
Tanya Davis
Anna DeShawn
Kendra Hyett
Gabriela Kreszchuk
Sarah A. Malone
Jennifer Tani
Thank you to our Funders' Fund Sponsors
Anonymous, Fay Clayton, Nina Corwin, Sunny Fischer, The Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Laura Kaufman (Kaufman-Levine Social Justice Fund), Keenya Lambert, Marcie Love, Janice Rodgers, The Seedling Foundation, Isabel Stewart, Elizabeth J. Vastine, and Gretchen Wolf.