Awards for women in business range from large international programs, such as the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Cartier Women’s Initiative, to honors run by membership groups and local business journals. To find the right ones, compare each program’s eligibility rules and fees with your business, then put the deadlines that fit on your calendar. If nominating yourself makes you squirm a little, knowing the rules ahead of time takes some of the guesswork out. We confirmed the eight programs below on their official sites in October 2026.
Eight Women in Business Awards and Programs to Know
The National Association of Women Business Owners gives its Woman Business Owner of the Year award to a member who owns at least 50% of her business and runs its day-to-day operations. Nominees must have been NAWBO Premier members for at least one year. Nominations for the 2027 award are open September 7 through October 30, 2026.
Inc.’s Female Founders 500 is open to female founders of independent organizations. Inc.’s FAQ lists a $295 fee through the early-rate deadline of November 6, 2026, and $395 after that, with a regular deadline of December 11, 2026.
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is for women founders who are 21 or older and legal residents of the United States or its territories. Their business must be for-profit, at least 51% owned and controlled by women, and earning at least $75,000 a year. Applications are open from September 22 to November 17, 2026, with fellows selected in May 2027, and the program FAQ says applying is free.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business accept nominations worldwide in more than 200 categories, and the 2025 Stevie Awards drew more than 1,500 nominations from 48 nations. For the 2027 edition, entries open May 11, 2027, with a primary deadline of July 22, 2027, and a final deadline of August 19, 2027. The 2026 fee schedule put most individual categories at $215 to $315 per entry before the early deadline, and government or non-profit categories were free.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Regional Awards are for women-owned and women-led impact businesses. Applicants should have earned between $50,000 and $5 million in the last closed fiscal year and employ five to 250 team members. The top three in each of nine regions become fellows with grants of up to $100,000. Applications for the 2027 edition closed on June 16, 2026, and the official pages we reviewed list no application fee.
EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women North America is open to women who are founding CEOs and majority owners of a privately held, for-profit company headquartered in the US or Canada. The company needs at least US$2 million in sales in each of the past two fiscal years. The page listed no current deadline, and EY’s global program page says its Asia-Pacific and EMEIA programs are open.
The Indianapolis Business Journal’s Women of Influence recognizes women for professional excellence and leadership, and its 2026 nomination deadline was August 5. NAWBO Charlotte offers its members a Solopreneur of the Year award.
How to Choose Which Awards for Women in Business to Enter
With so many programs, it can be hard to know where your time and entry fees will count most. If you are a female entrepreneur deciding where to enter, eligibility is a good first filter, because revenue floors run from $50,000 for Cartier up to US$2 million in each of two years for EY. Then you can weigh the cost, from free to a few hundred dollars per entry, or a year of Premier membership for the NAWBO award. An award that comes with a grant, such as Cartier’s, adds funding, while a local business journal honor reaches readers in your city.
What to Check Before You Write a Nomination
It helps to read each program’s judging criteria before you write. The Stevie Awards’ entry preparation tips say the 2026 eligibility period ran from July 1, 2024, through August 19, 2026. They also say judges will not give high scores to entries that do not focus on achievements from that period, so you can build your entry around what you achieved between those dates.
How to Use a Win for Visibility
Inc. says Female Founders honorees receive a company profile on Inc.com. Add the honor and year to your About page and LinkedIn profile so visitors see an award-winning business at a glance.
The Stevie Awards pre-announce finalists in September, and on November 16, 2026, those finalists learn whether they have won a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Award. Before you contact reporters, read the guide on how to get press coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Awards for Women in Business Are Open to Entrants Outside the US?
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business accept nominations worldwide. The Cartier Women’s Initiative selects fellows from nine regions, and EY runs Winning Women programs for Asia-Pacific and EMEIA.
How Do I Nominate Myself for a Women Entrepreneurs Award?
NAWBO’s Woman Business Owner of the Year award invites you to nominate yourself or another woman business owner. Before you apply, you can confirm that you meet every eligibility rule.
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