Remarkable Ideas Grants

2025 Great Dames Remarkable Ideas Grants

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

The 2025 Remarkable Ideas Grants will fund women-led, women-serving nonprofits that use storytelling to inspire transformation. Applicants will share how storytelling supports their mission—through lived experience, healing, or social change. Finalists will present their impact through the people whose lives have been transformed.

These grants go beyond funding—they elevate the work that makes a difference, one authentic story at a time.

2025 Remarkable Ideas Grants

$25,000 Grant Award Package

Are you leading a powerful effort to empower women and girls? Do you use storytelling to spark change, elevate unheard voices, and bring communities together?

The 2025 Great Dames Remarkable Ideas Grant Program invites women-led nonprofits to showcase their bold ideas and impactful work—especially those that use storytelling as a catalyst for transformation. This annual award connects changemakers with funding, mentorship, and the Great Dames community to help them scale their impact.

A $10,000 cash award and a business services package valued at more than $15,000 will be awarded to a nonprofit selected by members of the Great Dames Giving Circle.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: September 22, 2025
Virtual Pitch Event: October 20, 2025
Grant Announcement Celebration: November 18, 2025

Guidelines & Application

What We’re Looking For:

Women-led nonprofits and changemakers with bold ideas
Programs or initiatives that empower women and girls through storytelling
Creative ways of amplifying the voices of those you serve—clients, participants, or community members

Why Apply?

$25,000 Winner Package
- $10,000 cash award
- Access to business mentors
- Portfolio of professional services (marketing, branding, executive coaching, and more)
Chance to share your story of impact at our October 20 Virtual Pitch Event, told through the voice of someone whose life has been changed by your work
Recognition and exposure to the Great Dames community and partners
Celebration and announcement of grant recipient(s) at our November 18 event, highlighting authentic stories that inspire action

How to Apply:

Submit your application by September 22
Finalists will be invited to present their story of impact at the October 20 Virtual Pitch Event
Grant recipient(s) will be announced at our November 18 Grant Announcement Celebration

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.

Guidelines & Application

Questions? Contact us at info@Great-Dames.com

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Prior Remarkable Winners

2024 Great Dames Remarkable Ideas Grant Competition

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.

2024 Finalist Pitch Videos/Websites:

AHHAH ( Arts Holding Hands and Hearts) video / website / donate

Girls Can Do Anything video / website / donate

Her Wallet Media video / website / donate

Safe Haven Healing video / website / donate

True to You Mental Health Initiative video / website / donate

Unite For Her video / website / donate

2024 Semi-Finalist Pitch Videos/Websites:

Leah’s Dream video / website / donate

World Academy for the Future of Women video / website

These remarkable women leaders pitched their ideas for empowering women and girls. Innovators worldwide participated in our competition, and six finalists were selected by our judges to pitch. Giving Circle members selected the winner to receive a grand prize package that included a $10,000 cash award, access to a business mentor, and a comprehensive portfolio of business services. The total value of the grand prize package exceeded $25,000.

Our 2024 Remarkable Ideas winner, LaVante’ Dorsey, True to You Mental Health Initiative, was announced at our 15th Anniversary Celebration Events on Oct. 15 & Nov. 14.

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