Once upon a time, we held an annual in-person Meet the Finalists event. The finalists did live pitches onstage, sharing why they should receive an Impact Award. Many Girlfriends loved this event, until the finalists told us it made them feel like they were performing and it wasn’t equitable. Gulp. We took this learning and changed how we did things. We began paying for finalists to make pitch videos so they could use those videos for our event and other purposes. Once again, we didn’t have it quite right. We had chosen an amazing professional to work with them, but it wasn’t necessarily how they wanted to work or when it worked for them. Once again, we adjusted based on what we’d learned.

Fast forward to now: We ask finalists to create videos that follow certain guidelines (amount of time, a few prompts they can consider) and submit it to us by the deadline. Then we take these videos and put them together in a watch list. Girlfriends volunteer to host you in their homes to watch the videos together. This is Meet the Finalists 2025.

FAQs about the event:

Q: Can I just watch the videos on my own?

A: Absolutely. The watch parties enable you to connect with your Girlfriends but the videos are the same whether you watch them alone or together.

Q: How do I get the link?

A: The link will be emailed and texted to everyone a few days before the watch parties.

Q: Do I have to watch the videos to know how to vote?

A: No. Our voter’s guide gives you information from the organizations and grant review teams, and if you prefer that to the videos, you can vote based on the guide. We encourage you to watch the videos to hear directly from the finalists why they think you should choose them..

Q: Can I watch the videos more than once?

A: Definitely. They are available for you to watch as many times as you like.

Q: Can I reach out to the finalists with questions?

A: Please don’t. Use the resources we have shared with you to make your decisions.