2025: Empowered Women Empower Women
This League embodies the mission of AJLI. Last year, they sought to create a meaningful experience that enables each member to grow individually and to work alongside other women to make a tremendous impact in their community. Through intentional programs, initiatives and collaborations, they continue to break down barriers and build a stronger, more inclusive and engaged League. Their commitment to empowerment, both within their League and in the broader community, reflects their dedication to excellence and their unwavering belief that when women come together, they have the power to make lasting change. Their impact can be seen in the lives of their members, who amplify the work through their professional careers, philanthropic involvement, elected offices, board positions, entrepreneurial endeavors, leadership roles, and personal giving. This League is committed to offering year-round training and educational opportunities for members. Their Leadership Development Initiative has transformed the League’s ability to equip its members with the skills, confidence and resources to excel as leaders in both their professional and personal lives. They offer Leadership Bootcamp, an intensive program focused on strategic thinking, effective communication, conflict resolution, and team management. Members also gain experiential training through the various programs and fundraisers they execute. Through multiple large scale fundraisers, to introducing Annual Giving Circles and the 1934 Society for planned giving, this League is offering hands on training to its members while securing the Leagues financial sustainability for the future, raising over $115,00 in Grants, over $220,00 in corporate contributions, over $203,000 in individual contributions, and over $1.2 million (net) through their signature events. They also run various signature community impact program which led to them receiving the Association of Fundraising Professional Foundation/Organization of the Year. Based on feedback from their membership, they recently introduced a Communication Matrix in order to choose the right channel and timing for information to go out. They reinvested in their recruiting efforts to increase diversity, resulting in a 28 % increase in their leadership class in the last year. As you have already heard, their sustainers are fully integrated into their membership experience, providing essential mentorship and partnership to the League. This year’s Excellence Award goes to The Junior League of Austin!