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Established in 2020, the Law & Social Policy Legacy Award recognizes organizations defending and advocating for low-wage workers’ rights and increases knowledge of this work in the philanthropic community. The Public Welfare Foundation spent more than a decade supporting public policy and system reforms to improve the lives of low-wage working people in the United States. This prize will commemorate and build on Public Welfare Foundation’s support to the field and honor the critical role law and social policy organizations play in building an economy that works for all while increasing knowledge of this work in the philanthropic community.

Economic Opportunity Funders (EOF) is a network of national, regional and local funders working to advance economic equity and opportunity in the United States. A $10,000 award will be given by EOF with support from Public Welfare Foundation annually until 2030 as a part of their legacy investment into the Workers’ Rights field. There are no restrictions or limitations on the use of the $10,000 award. Awardees will be recognized at EOF’s Annual Budget and Tax Briefing for grantmakers in March, in front of dozens of funders. EOF will create a short video about the winner’s work to share during the recognition event and with members and partners.

• Any 501(c)(3) organization (or fiscally sponsored project) working in the field of law and social policy to advance low-wage workers’ rights in the United States is eligible. For the purposes of this award, social policy is defined as public sector (and not private sector) policy.
• Organizations must be based in the United States.
• Size and budget do not matter—we are looking for organizations whose work is impactful, regardless of the resources available to them.
• This is not a lifetime achievement award. There is no specific time span required; the work may be just starting or have occurred over years.
• Individuals are NOT eligible.
• Previous Law & Social Policy Legacy Award nominees are eligible to be nominated again in subsequent years. Previous winners cannot be nominated again.

All nominations must be submitted via our online application form. See the nomination questions below. Download a copy of the instructions and form here.

1. Briefly describe how the nominee uses both law and policy to advance low-wage workers’ rights in the United States. What are their key strategies and activities?
2. How has the nominee’s work made a difference in the lives of low-wage workers and advanced structural and systems change?
3. How does the nominee engage with and center the voices of low-wage workers in their work?
4. How does the nominee’s work stand out among their peers?
5. Are there specific challenges or opportunities that the recognition from this award will help the nominee capitalize on?

Anyone can make a nomination.

Nominators may make one nomination per year.

Self-nominations are allowed (limited to one self-nomination per organization).

There is no nomination fee.

DISCLAIMER: Award recipients are not selected based on the volume of nominations received. A single nomination will place the organization in consideration for the award.

No, references are not required.

A selection committee will evaluate nominations and select the final winner. The 2025 Selection Committee include:

• Cassie Davis, Policy Analyst, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
• Stephanie Davison, Program Officer, Human Services, Kresge Foundation and EOF Steering Committee member
• Renée Schomp, Deputy Director, Justice Catalyst
• 2024 Award Winner: Sara Cullinlane, Make the Road New Jersey
• EOF Co-Directors Ami Nagle and Cema Siegel

Nominations will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• The nominee’s work has made a significant difference in the lives of low-wage workers and advances structural and systems change.
• The nominee employs a strong worker-engagement model and centers the voices of low-wage workers in their work.
• The nominee’s work stands out among their peers.

Preference will be given to nominations where recognition from the award will help the nominee capitalize on a specific challenge or opportunity. For example, 1) for a less well-known and under-resourced organization, recognition from this award will help increase visibility to new partners and funders; or 2) for a well-known and well-resourced organization, the recognition from this award will help amplify a new body of work focused on workers’ rights or a leadership transition.

EOF will notify the winner via phone and email on November 15, 2024.

The winner will receive $10,000 and be recognized at the EOF Annual Budget and Tax Briefing in March 2025. EOF will cover all related travel expenses for one staff person to participate in the recognition event at the Briefing. EOF will also create a short video about the winner’s work to share during the recognition ceremony and with our network and partners.

• Nominations open: September 5, 2024
• Nomination submission deadline: 11:59 PM ET on October 17, 2024
• Award winner notified: November 15, 2024
• Award winner recognized: EOF Annual Budget and Tax Briefing on March 25, 2025.