Women's Opportunity Awards

The Women's Opportunity Awards program is Soroptimist's major project. Through the program, clubs in 19 countries and territories assist women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects. Each year, more than $1 million is disbursed through cash awards at various levels of the organization. Recipients of these women awards, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse, may use the awards to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare and transportation.

Eligible applicants must be women who provide the primary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, and cannot have already earned an undergraduate degree. Only residents of Soroptimist International of the Americas' 19 member countries and territories are eligible to apply.

Since the Women's Opportunity Awards program began in 1972, about $25 million has been disbursed through women awards to help tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. In 2007, the Women's Opportunity Awards received the Associations Advance America Summit Award—ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's highest level of recognition.

Meet the three remarkable women who were chosen as 2009 finalists
Read the inspiring stories of past recipients
Watch short videos featuring past recipients

Apply in English
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Women's Opportunity Awards fact sheet
Women's Opportunity Awards PSA

Soroptimist Members: Access resources for administering the Women's Opportunity Awards