Remarkable Ideas Grants

2025 Great Dames Remarkable Ideas Grants

At Great Dames, we believe stories spark change. An honest, personal, and powerfully told story can shift perspectives, build community, and amplify voices that need to be heard.

The 2025 Remarkable Ideas Grants will support women-led, women-serving nonprofits that use storytelling to inspire transformation — through lived experience, healing, or social change.

Finalists share their impact through the people whose lives have been transformed. These grants go beyond funding — they elevate authentic stories that make a difference.

2025 Grant Award Package — $25,000 Value

The Great Dames Remarkable Ideas Grant Program invites women-led nonprofits to showcase bold ideas and powerful storytelling that drive real change.

Award includes:

$10,000 cash grant
$15,000+ in business services
Access to mentorship and resources from the Great Dames community

Want to support remarkable women innovators?

JOIN the Giving Circle

Great Dames Announces

2025 Remarkable Ideas Grant Award

$25,000 Package Awarded to

Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation

Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation video / website / donate

We’re pleased to announce that Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation has been selected as the 2025 Remarkable Ideas Grant Recipient.

Chosen from a powerful group of women-led nonprofit finalists, Fresh Start stood out for its ambitious vision to use education and mentorship to help Delaware women complete their degrees, strengthen their families, and create more secure futures.

Congratulations to our 2025 Remarkable Ideas Grant Recipient!

2025 Remarkable Grant Finalists:

Byrd Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation video / website / donate

Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation video / website / donate

Global Interactions video / website / donate

The Wardrobe video / website / donate

One Village Alliance, Inc./Girls Can Do Anything video / website / donate

Please take a moment to complete the Audience Feedback Form. Our presenters value and benefit from your input.

Audience Feedback Form

Donate: Support Remarkable Women

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We believe in the power of story to transform lives.
If your work is making a difference—one authentic story at a time—we want to hear from you.

Together, we amplify voices that create change.

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Prior Remarkable Winners

2024 Great Dames Remarkable Ideas Grant Competition

True to You Mental Health Initiative video / website / donate

Congratulations to our 2024 Remarkable Ideas Winner, LaVante’ Dorsey, True to You Mental Health Initiative. And kudos to all of our 2024 remarkable finalists who are doing vital work to empower women and girls in our communities. Please support them.

Want to support remarkable women innovators?

JOIN the Giving Circle

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2023 Great Dames Remarkable Ideas Grant Award

Body Empowerment Project Leaders

Body Empowerment Project video / website

The Great Dames community was thrilled to announce the winner of our 2023 Remarkable Ideas Pitch Competition. Body Empowerment Project, a nonprofit that empowers youth to find body acceptance and self-worth, was awarded our premier grant. The winning pitch offered a well-researched presentation of their efforts to help prevent eating disorders in adolescents, specifically in populations lacking access to treatment and preventive care. The award included a $5,000 grant, a business mentor, business services portfolio, and a strategic partnership with Great Dames.

Two other nonprofits, The Wardrobe and Unite for Her, were given finalist awards that included a business mentor, services, and a seed grant.

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2021 Remarkable Ideas Virtual Pitch Competition features Women with BIG Ideas for Reimagining the Future

2021 Competition Finalists’ Pitch Videos:

Up Cycle Design, Sierra RyanWallick, the 2021 Remarkable Winner! Read here.

Imagine Me Healthy, Chesha Hodge

Dear Katie: Survivor Stories Podcast, Kelsey Styles

Quality Communication Training, That Scales, Rachel Cossar

Redefining the Superwoman, Nicolle Surratte

Please share your feedback: Audience Evaluation of Pitch Videos

Theme: Reimagining our Future with Your Remarkable Ideas

Winner will receive a package, including $1,000 in cash, a business mentor, and a portfolio of valuable business services. Judges will select 5 finalists among the pitch videos submitted. The Great Dames Circle community will select the WINNER!

2020 Remarkable Ideas Pitch Competition features Women with BIG Ideas for Reimagining their Communities

Ten remarkable young women pitched their innovative ideas to the Great Dames community and each deserved recognition and support. Giftie Umo was declared the winner for her project that is dedicated to giving women in Africa a voice. Giftie, a Nigerian-born Delawarean, founded Girls Leading Africa to empower girls and young mothers who face gender inequity. Giftie remarked "I was tired of the invisible scars women and girls carry with them. I believe there is no better time to amplify their voices." Giftie was awarded a $1,000 grant and will be assigned a business mentor to support her efforts. We invite you to review all eight pitches and offer your feedback and support!

Remarkable Ideas Survey Link