Founded By Women Award Winner: Why Our Community Drives Impact

- Forthright Advising received the Founded by Women Social Impact Award, honoring campaigns shaped in close partnership with community leaders.
- Co-created client wins include securing a $960 million funding increase for Early Head Start, putting child poverty into presidential debate questions and reaching over 13.7 million families.
- Lasting policy change in education and child advocacy requires genuine community trust rather than one-way PR announcements.

I love waking up to good news!

Last week, before I had even eaten my breakfast, I spotted an email in my inbox that shone brightly.

What award did Forthright Advising win?

It revealed that Forthright was awarded the Founded By Women Social Impact Award!

Founded By Women is a nonprofit that supports female founders across the US. The award recognizes businesses creating meaningful positive change.

What an honor and a joy to be recognized for not just our work, but our impact.

The thing about being honored for our impact is that we simply cannot achieve impact alone.

Without you, our community, there’s no ripple effect. We’re just shouting PR advice into the empty void.

Why did Forthright Advising win the Founded By Women Social Impact Award?

YOU are the force multiplier that makes our work matter.

Through our partnerships with you, we’ve achieved wins such as…

The clipart image includes three women celebrating an award. One woman is wearing a blue blazer, the second a purple dress, and the third a red blouse.

Landed a question about child poverty in a presidential debate.
Garnered $960 million funding increase for Early Head Start.
Helped Park and Rec leaders recruit more kids to play youth sports.
Prevented harmful suspensions and expulsions for our littlest learners.
Won a millage for Career and Technical Education, ensuring students learn essential skills.
So. Much. More!

That doesn’t even include the countless websites we’ve coded, annual reports we’ve written, social media channels we’ve managed and leaders we’ve coached.

What does the Founded by Women Social Impact Award for Forthright Advising mean?

We’ve served more than 70 clients and counting, and reached more than 13.27 MILLION children and families.

But we did that with and because of YOU.

So. This award? It’s for you, our sweet village.

To all our current, former and future clients - thank you for trusting us with your work.

When you choose to work with Forthright, you’re supporting my small business, helping us live out our dream, and — as this award shows – empowering our boutique team to make a big impact for children and families across our nation when they need it now more than ever.

You allow us to do what we love to do, what we’re good at, and allow us to live out our why.

Thanks for your support, and for being here with us!

Katie Test Davis
Katie is the founder of Forthright Advising, bringing more than two decades of hands-on communications leadership to child- and family-focused advocacy. She partners with school districts, foundations and community organizations to build public support, shape state and national policy, and secure essential funding — including a historic $960 million boost for Early Head Start. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: lasting change happens only when communications center the voices of the communities being served.

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About ForthrightKatie Test DavisOctober 30, 2026nonprofit communications strategy, social impact PR, early childhood education advocacy, mission-driven public relations, child poverty policy campaigns, school district communications, community-centered advocacy, Early Head Start funding, female founder nonprofit awards, public education millage campaigns, family advocacy messaging, strategic communications case studies

What award did Forthright Advising win?

Why did Forthright Advising win the Founded By Women Social Impact Award?

What does the Founded by Women Social Impact Award for Forthright Advising mean?

About Forthright

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who we work with:

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Founded By Women Award Winner: Why Our Community Drives Impact

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What award did Forthright Advising win?

Why did Forthright Advising win the Founded By Women Social Impact Award?

What does the Founded by Women Social Impact Award for Forthright Advising mean?

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