About The Nevada International Women's Forum Carolyn M. Sparks Founder's Award

Carolyn M. Sparks is the co-founder of the Nevada Chapter of the International Women’s Forum (NVIWF).  The NVIWF membership, in honor of Carolyn Sparks’ legacy of leadership, established the Founder's Award in her name on November 9, 2010 and granted the first award in 2011.

One of the goals of the International Women’s Forum is to establish and foster a mentorship culture among women.  The Carolyn M. Sparks Founder's Award (The Award) is designed to provide mentoring opportunities for women on the rise in our state. To accomplish this goal, The Award includes an expenses-paid grant to two business/professional women to attend The IWF World Leadership Conference in North America. 

The NVIWF seeks Award candidates who are business/professional women and who:

• are mid-level in their careers
• have approximately 10+ years of continuing professional activity
• demonstrate high potential for advancement
• have established themselves in their sphere of interest, and
• have significant non-work-related involvement in their community.

Award candidates must:

• show substantive professional/work experience and significant specific accomplishments
• show substantive non-work-related community involvement
• be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Nevada.
• not be recent college graduates or recent graduates of advanced degree programs.
• be available to travel to and attend the World Leadership Conference in the year awarded (expenses paid by The Award)

The Award includes funding for transportation, hotel accommodation, meals, and registration for the World Leadership Conference.  A member of NVIWF will accompany them to the conference to ensure they maximize the leadership development opportunities available.