Flourish Award

Overview:
The Flourish Award directly supports leaders who invest their time, resources, and often their own well-being to serve women in Cleveland. This work often goes unrecognized, undervalued, and overlooked even though it is critical to individual and collective well-being. The award aims to replenish and refuel local changemakers, sustaining their invaluable contributions to the Cleveland community.

Geographic Scope: Cleveland, Ohio

Focus Areas:

• Gender justice and equity
• Supporting women, nonbinary individuals, and those negatively impacted by gender injustice
• Women's leadership and empowerment

Eligibility

Who are "Changemakers"?
Flourish Award Changemakers are individuals who have done one or more of the following in the past two years:

• Heal, serve, and partner with communities to make them safer, more accepting, and more supportive of women, nonbinary individuals, and all negatively impacted by gender injustice
• Organize action around gender justice and individuals negatively impacted by gender injustice
• Advocate for individuals negatively impacted by gender injustice
• Champion, sponsor, and/or mentor women, nonbinary individuals, and all negatively impacted by gender injustice on their path to becoming changemakers

Selection Process

Current Status: The inaugural Flourish Award was launched in 2025. The inaugural Advisory Committee members are acting as nominators for the award's inaugural year. As the Flourish Award matures, Collaborate Cleveland will continue to explore how to adapt and evolve the nomination and selection process.

Background

The Flourish Award journey began with the question: "How can we better support the changemakers who dedicate their lives to uplifting women and advancing gender justice in Cleveland?" The award was developed through a multi-year process:

• 2023: Collaborate Cleveland formed inaugural Advisory Committee (15 local women leaders) which identified the need to increase support for local changemakers
• 2024: Smaller steering committee worked with Rosa Consulting, LLC and Adler & Colvin to develop the fund's blueprint
• 2025: The Flourish Award was officially launched

Vision

Collaborate Cleveland envisions a Cleveland that supports, amplifies, and celebrates women—a community with gender justice at the heart of its policies and practices.

Application Process

Current Status: For the inaugural year (2025), nomination is by invitation from Collaborate Cleveland's Advisory Committee members acting as nominators.

Future Applications: As the Flourish Award matures, Collaborate Cleveland will continue to explore and adapt the nomination and selection process. Specific application procedures for future years have not yet been detailed on the website.

How to Support Recipients:
While application details are limited, Collaborate Cleveland encourages community support of awardees through:

1. Learn - Understand each award recipient, their work, and aspirations
2. Contribute - Offer financial support, volunteer time, help with organizing initiatives, or spread awareness of their mission
3. Engage - Stay informed about broader Collaborate Cleveland work and remain engaged with activities