Women of Achievement Awards

Thursday, March 26, 2026

The Oregon Commission for Women (OCFW) is seeking nominations of trailblazers and emerging leaders who are working to establish economic, social, legal, political and/or health equity for women and girls in Oregon for the 2026 Women of Achievement Awards.

See the full Women of Achievement 2026 Information Packet here

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Nomination Period

Nominations are open through 11:59 PM on February 18, 2026. The Commission will not review incomplete or accept any late nominations.

History of Women of Achievement Awards

Since 1985 the Oregon Commission for Women has recognized and honored 113 women who, through their works and practices, have significantly improved the lives of women in Oregon.

This award demonstrates our state's appreciation for their endeavors and recognizes their accomplishments across Oregon. The statutory charter of the Oregon Commission for Women empowers the Commission to “promote the full recognition of the contributions of women.” (ORS 185.540 Section (5)(b)) Check out the complete list of prior Women of Achievement Award recipients below.

Goal of the Women of Achievement Awards

Recognize women in Oregon who have achieved leadership and success in their personal lives, professional endeavors, civic engagement, volunteer efforts, and activism.

• Promote equity and inclusion through the recognition of diverse Oregon women who are typically underrepresented in race, ethnicity, gender identity, occupation, income, and geography.
• Recognize the often unseen and thankless work that women are doing to promote equity for all.
• Increase knowledge of the mission and priorities of the Oregon Commission for Women among state and local agencies, elected officials, community and advocacy organizations, foundations, and other groups throughout the state.

Nomination Process

• Nominations must be submitted via our online form here. This is a Google form and will require a Google account to upload attachments. If you do not currently have an account, you can create one for free.
  
• All nominations must include the nominee’s resume and one (1) letter of support.
• Any submission received via email or other platforms will be disqualified.
• All submission documents MUST include the nominee’s full name in the document title.
  
• Should nominators have issues, please email OACO.Mail@oac.oregon.gov with the subject line “Women of Achievement Award Nomination”.
  
• Letters of support should be one page maximum and consider the selection criteria below.
• The Commission will not consider nominees who are incumbent elected officials or candidates during an election cycle.
• Nominations not selected for an award may be resubmitted again in a future year.

Nomination Categories

Women in every stage of their personal, political, and professional development deserve to be recognized for their growth and achievements.

1. Emerging Leader Award: Presented to an early career woman who has been working, volunteering and/or organizing for less than 5 years. They have displayed a commitment to their field, passion, or community.
2. Professional Achievement Award: Presented to a woman who has been active for the last 5-15 years in furthering a cause, policy or need in their personal, professional, volunteer, or activism work.
3. Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented to a woman who has paved the way for other women in their 15+ years of service. Through their volunteer, personal, professional and/or activism work, they have inspired and supported the advancement of other women in their community and/or field.

Selection Criteria

• Exemplifies leadership and accomplishment in Oregon and has had an impact on the community they serve.
• Actively promotes the status of Oregon women through their work to advance women’s rights, status, or condition.
• Demonstrates special commitment to equity and diversity in Oregon, as evidenced by service for women historically underrepresented due to culture, race, ethnicity, gender identity, occupation, income, religion, and geography.
• Is recognized as a leader by peers or organizations, as evidenced by at least one letter of support for their nomination from such individuals and/or groups.
• See Scoring Matrix below.

Highlighting Nominee’s Leadership and Accomplishments

• Demonstrates leadership and significant accomplishments in Oregon and how their achievement(s) influenced the local or statewide community. The Commission is seeking examples of successful, dynamic, and inclusive leadership.
• Promotes the status of women in Oregon by advancing women’s rights, status, or condition within the applicable strategic priority area. The Commission is looking for the identification of any special efforts or programs they have initiated or participated in, that fulfill this objective.
• Demonstrates a specific commitment to equity and diversity in Oregon. The Commission is looking for a demonstrated respect for cultural, religious, ethnic, and other types of diversity, especially regarding the candidate’s advocacy of, or participation in, programs and policies impacting women, their families, the community, and the workplace.
• See Scoring Matrix below

Scoring Rubric

• Score 5: Exemplary performance in the criterion, far exceeding expectations and having substantial impact or recognition.
• Score 3: Meets the basic requirements of the criterion but has room for improvement or greater impact.
• Score 1: Fails to meet expectations, minimal to no contribution or recognition in this area.

Total Weight: 100%

Priority for BIPOC Nominees

If a nominee belongs to a BIPOC group, add 10% to the final score as a bonus for prioritizing historically underrepresented groups.

This matrix ensures a fair, transparent evaluation process, emphasizing equity, leadership, and diversity in Oregon.

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