Apply for the Catalyst Award

Organizations from around the world self-nominate for the Catalyst Award, submitting discrete or comprehensive initiatives undertaken to advance women.

Focusing on diversity and inclusion (D&I) is a strategic imperative for global organizations. Catalyst research has shown that corporations that invest in women gain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. The Catalyst Award annually honors innovative organizational approaches with proven, measurable results that address the recruitment, development, and advancement of all women, including diverse women. By applying for the Catalyst Award, your company or firm will:

Benefit from an external perspective on your organization’s D&I efforts.
Highlight your internal strategies, talent, and progress.
Gain insights into your organization’s culture.
Learn how to continuously improve your efforts.
Show your commitment as an employer of choice.

Process and Criteria

The Catalyst Award Evaluation Committee assesses initiatives through screening and telephone interviews and determines a select number to examine during intensive, on-site visits. Through interviews and focus groups with executives, senior women, human resources professionals, and other employees at the sites, the Committee gauges each initiative’s effectiveness and how it permeates the organization. The Committee then determines the winners.

Note that organizations selected for site visits receive more than 500 hours of review and may request a meeting during which Committee members assess strengths and opportunities for improvement.

The Catalyst Award Evaluation Committee measures each nominated initiative on its own merit and against previous Award winners, the current pool of nominees, and the following seven criteria:

Business Rationale: There must be an explicit connection between the initiative and the business strategy.
Senior Leadership Support: Upper management must demonstrate commitment to the initiative.
Accountability: Formal monitoring mechanisms must support the initiative, measure its impact, and hold individuals accountable for results.
Communication: There must be procedures for engaging and informing employees of the initiative and its business rationale.
Employee Engagement: Support and involvement from employees at various levels must be demonstrated, as well as ways in which the initiative has changed employee attitudes.
Innovation: Initiatives must include new and different approaches, particularly with regard to industry and/or cultural context, as well as provide new knowledge to the business community.
Measurable Results: A minimum of three years of documented evidence must be provided to demonstrate the impact of the initiative since its inception, and data must show improvement since the start of the initiative.

Timeline

Applications due and preliminary review (June).
Evaluations, including telephone interviews and additional data requests (June–August).
Selection for site visits (August–September).
Site visits (September–October).
Winner selection (December–January).
Public announcement of winners (January).
Awards Conference and Dinner (March/April).

Application

Catalyst welcomes your nomination. As you are preparing your submission materials, you may find it useful to review the Suggested Reading List and descriptions of previous Catalyst Award Winners.

The following forms comprise a completed application packet. The Catalyst Award Application (not to exceed 35 pages) must be signed by the primary contact, address all questions in the order in which they appear, and be submitted by both mail and email. In addition, the CEO or Managing Partner/Director Attendance Verification Form, with original signatures, as well as the Nomination Fee Form, must both be submitted by mail. Applications for the 2012 Catalyst Award are due June 10, 2011.

Download the 2012 Catalyst Award Application:

Download the Attendance Verification Form:

Download the Nomination Fee Form: