L’Oréal Paris has announced that nominations for its 2026 Women of Worth cohort are now open.
To date, this initiative (which was created in 2006) has honoured more than 200 nonprofit leaders tackling issues such as food insecurity, youth incarceration, disability inclusion, refugee resettlement and access to mental healthcare. In partnership with Points of Light, the programme identifies women whose work addresses systemic challenges while remaining rooted in local communities.
Laura Branik, President of L’Oréal Paris USA, described the award as more than symbolic recognition. “When women have funding, visibility and a platform, entire communities move forward,” she said. “Recognising a woman’s worth unlocks her power to transform the world around her.”
Celebrity endorsement, too, has played a role. Actor Helen Mirren, a long-time global ambassador for the brand, said the programme spotlights women who are “inspiring all of us to think bigger, act bolder and reimagine what’s possible”.
Nominations for worthy changemakers can be put forward until 8 March – International Women’s Day. Ten women will then be chosen to receive a $25,000 grant, professional mentorship and national visibility through the brand’s platform.
WOMEN OF WORTH
What distinguishes Women of Worth from one-off corporate prizes is its alumni network. Honourees join an active community that continues to collaborate long after the ceremony ends. One alumna each year is selected for the Karen T. Fondu Impact Award, a $10,000 grant recognising sustained excellence and expanded influence.
This year’s recipient is Maimah Karmo, founder of the Tigerlily Foundation. A breast cancer survivor, Karmo established the organisation to address disparities in women’s health, particularly among young and BIPOC women. Since being named a Woman of Worth in 2009, she has scaled Tigerlily from a volunteer-led operation into a global health equity advocate, reaching more than five million women, caregivers and community members through education, advocacy and policy reform.
Her trajectory illustrates the programme’s underlying thesis: that small infusions of capital, paired with strategic visibility, can help grassroots organisations move from survival mode to structural change.
WOMEN OF WORTH: 2025‘S WINNERS
Last year’s Women of Worth honourees reflect the breadth of issues facing communities across the US. They include:
- Yasmine Arrington Brooks, founder of ScholarCHIPS, supporting children of incarcerated parents through scholarships and mental health services.
- Amy Bowers Cordalis, co-founder of Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, protecting Indigenous land and water.
- Mizpah Brown-Rich, co-founder of Joshua’s Gift, fostering inclusion for families affected by autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Keely Cat-Wells, founder of Making Space, advancing career pathways for disabled professionals.
- Sloane Davidson, founder of Hello Neighbor, supporting refugees and immigrants through mentorship and resettlement programmes.
- Lynne B Hughes, founder of Comfort Zone Camp, providing bereavement camps for grieving children.
- Dr Anita Ravi, founder of PurpLE Health Foundation, pioneering care for survivors of gender-based violence.
- Cristina Rodriguez, co-founder of Mind&Melody, using music to support older adults with neurological conditions.
- Gloria Umanah, founder of Hope Booth, delivering 24/7 accessible mental health support.
- Olivia Zhang, founder of Cancer Kids First, mobilising young people to support paediatric cancer patients.
Collectively, they represent a model of leadership grounded not in rhetoric but in service – women who saw a gap and built something to fill it. You can learn more about the last year’s winners here.
WOMEN OF WORTH 2026
As public funding becomes more precarious and nonprofit leaders face burnout at record levels, initiatives such as Women of Worth highlight the role private companies can play in sustaining civic infrastructure. The $25,000 grant may not overhaul broken systems. But for early-stage or community-rooted organisations, it can mean hiring a staff member, expanding a pilot programme or securing critical resources.
Know a woman changing her community? Then nominate her by March 8 to join the 2026 Women of Worth class and receive a $25,000 grant to advance her nonprofit work by clicking here.
RELATED ARTICLES
L’Oréal Paris USA has revealed this year’s Women of Worth honoured for tackling some of society’s most pressing issues.
Global beauty brand L’Oréal Paris USA has announced 2023’s L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth.
Beauty giant L’Oréal Paris has launched its annual search for Women of Worth who are changemakers and addressing some of the most pressing issues in the US.
L’Oréal USA has announced the recipients of its 2020 For Women in Science Fellowship.
Sign up for our newsletter
