Feminist Initiative Award

Deadline: April 1 of calendar year

History and Overview

In 2016, the SWS Council approved the (former) Social Action Committee's proposal to support direct social action by SWS members as central to advancing SWS’s purpose. 

SWS recognizes that action “for women” does not mean that the work was done “with women” or even “by women.” Substantial need exists for social action working with men, boys, LGBTQ communities and other marginalized groups where change will benefit women and can be understood as feminist action. Therefore, SWS recognizes work done in this broad spirit of community impact regardless of applicant’s gender identity.

Award Benefits

Funds in the amount of $500 to $1000 are available to support efforts to undertake social action broadly defined (e.g., advocacy, public education, organizing, movement-building).  Funds can be used, for instance, to sponsor a teach-in on reproductive justice or to collaborate with community projects (we discourage campus speaker events without a clear community or social action component). Be creative!

IMPORTANT: Please note expenses can only be reimbursed when itemized receipts have been submitted to the SWS Executive Office. This method is the only way for the award to not be classified as income for the recipient, and thus part of their taxes. Therefore, awards will not and cannot be paid in advance. Please contact the Executive Office at [email protected] if you have any questions about this arrangement.

Eligibility and Application Submission
Applicants must be members of SWS for a minimum of 3 years.

Preference will be given to proposals that involve collaboration with students, directly-affected persons, area advocates and activists and to applications from members who work in environments where funds and other support for such effort are extremely limited or non-existent; where heavy workload limits the time to identify and complete more extensive applications; and spaces/places where feminist social action is particularly needed. 

Priority will be given to projects that are creative and visionary with anticipated long-term impact.

Proposals must advance the purpose of SWS and be in compliance with the IRS regulations connected to the 501(c)(6) non-profit status of SWS. Please click theIRS constraints on the activity and spending document to confirm compliance.

A complete application includes:

• Title of Proposed Action

• Describe proposed feminist initiative (250-300 words) with project timeline. All projects must be completed by June 30th of the year. No cost extensions are allowed.

• Describe how the proposal corresponds to SWS’s Purpose (250-300 words)

• Proposed Budget (up to $1000). Click Here: Allowable Budget Items for Feminist Initiative Proposals for a document of allowable and unallowable expenses.

All submissions are via the Member Portal: sws.memberclicks.net.

Reporting Requirements and Timeline

• Award Recipient receives a certificate at the Annual Meeting.

• Submit a brief report (3 pages max) on the work completed during the scholarship year and how the funds were spent no later than August 30 of the year following the award, about 1 month after the end of the award period. This report should be emailed to the Awards Director at: [email protected].

Awardees are notified by late summer if they are the recipient.