Investing in EMERGING LEADERS

The Dottie Lamm Leadership Award

About Dottie Lamm

Former First Lady of Colorado Dottie Lamm is a legendary leader and activist. She was also a founding mother of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, making her mark as the first board chair. In 1987, we created the Dottie Lamm Leadership Award to honor her commitment to advancing opportunities for women throughout the state of Colorado.

The first Dottie Lamm Leadership Award was granted in 1988 and has been awarded annually to up-and-coming Colorado community leaders.

2025 Award Applications  

Thank you to everyone who applied for or shared the 2024 Dottie Lamm Leadership Award! We are grateful for your support and enthusiasm. Stay tuned for the 2025 Dottie Lamm Leadership Award applications, which will open in spring 2025. We look forward to recognizing more inspiring women who embody the mission and vision of The Women's Foundation of Colorado.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, candidates must:

• Be aged 16 -21 years old
• Live in Colorado
• Identify as a woman
• Demonstrate leadership in the community
• Be available to give an in-person speech to approximately 2,000 people at our Annual Luncheon held at The Colorado Convention Center
• Provide a valid social security number or taxpayer I.D. to accept the $2,500 award (if selected)

Questions?

If you have questions about the Dottie Lamm Leadership Award or volunteering as an application reviewer, please contact Elva Escobedo, events manager, at elvae@wfco.org. 

Meet Our 2024 Dottie Lamm Leadership Award Winner

Meet Gitanjali! 

Every year the Dottie Lamm Leadership Award honors a young woman’s commitment to advancing and accelerating opportunities for women across the state. We celebrate her resilience and leadership on her own path to economic security.

We are thrilled that Gitanjali Rao from Lone Tree is the recipient of the 2024 Dottie Lamm Leadership Award! Recognized as one of Forbes' "30 Under 30 in Science" and TIME Magazine's 2020 "Kid of The Year," Gitanjali embodies the spirit of innovation and leadership that the Dottie Lamm Leadership Award celebrates.

Her dedication to advancing opportunities for women and girls across Colorado is truly inspiring. As Gitanjali said in her acceptance speech, "I firmly believe that those of us who have more need to give more." We couldn't agree more, and we applaud her unwavering determination, outstanding leadership, and perseverance.

Congratulations, Gitanjali!