About The DVF Awards
The DVF Awards were founded in 2010 by Diane von Furstenberg and The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation to recognize and support extraordinary women who are dedicated to transforming the lives of other women; women who have had the courage to fight, the strength to survive, and the leadership to inspire.
Each year, the awards are bestowed upon women who have demonstrated leadership, strength, and courage in their commitment to women’s causes. The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation grants each honoree $50,000 for their non-profit organization in order to further their important work.
Award Categories
- The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
- The Inspiration DVF Award
- The International DVF Award
Announcing the 2020
DVF Awards Honorees
The following extraordinary women were honored at the 11th annual DVF Awards in Washington, D.C. on February 19, 2020.
Past Awards

2019 Honorees
Anita F. Hill, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Katy Perry, The Inspiration DVF Award
Nadia Murad, The International DVF Award
Hadeel Mustafa Anabtawi, The International DVF Award
Susan Burton, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2018 Honorees
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Misty Copeland, The Inspiration DVF Award
Ariela Suster, The International DVF Award (El Salvador)
Jaha Dukureh, The International DVF Award (The Gambia)
Luma Mufleh, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2017 Honorees
Dr. Jane Goodall, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Karlie Kloss, The Inspiration DVF Award
Yoani Sánchez, The International DVF Award (Cuba)
Baljeet Sandhu, The International DVF Award (United Kingdom)
Louise Dubé, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2016 Honorees
Dr. Martine Rothblatt, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Sarah Jones, The Inspiration DVF Award
Maria Pacheco, The International DVF Award (Guatemala)
Agnes Igoye, The International DVF Award (Uganda)
Emily Greener, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2015 Honorees
Melanne Verveer, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Gabrielle Giffords, The Inspiration DVF Award
Adimaimalaga Tafuna’i, The International DVF Award (Samoa)
Samar Minallah Khan, The International DVF Award (Pakistan)
Becky Straw & Jody Landers, The Adventure Project, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2014 Honorees
Gloria Steinem, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Alicia Keys, The Inspiration DVF Award
Kah Walla, The International DVF Award (Cameroon)
Liron Peleg-Hadomi & Noha Khatieb, The International DVF Award (Israel)
Veronika Scott, Empowerment Plan, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2013 Honorees
Robin Roberts, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Natalia Vodianova, The Inspiration DVF Award
Andeisha Farid, The International DVF Award (Afghanistan)
Sunitha Krishnan, The International DVF Award (India)
Tammy Tibbetts, She’s the First, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2012 Honorees
Oprah Winfrey, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Jaycee Dugard, The Inspiration DVF Award
Panmela Castro, The International DVF Award (Brazil)
Chouchou Namegabe, The International DVF Award (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Layli Miller-Muro, Tahirih Justice Center, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2011 Honorees
Hillary Rodham Clinton, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Elizabeth Smart, The Inspiration DVF Award
Sohini Chakraborty, The International DVF Award (India)
Kakenya Ntaiya, The International DVF Award (Kenya)
Taryn Davis, American Widow Project, The People’s Voice DVF Award

2010 Honorees
Ingrid Betancourt, The Lifetime Leadership DVF Award
Danielle Saint-Lot, The International DVF Award (Haiti)
Sadiqa Basiri Saleem, The International DVF Award (Afghanistan)
Katherine Chon, Polaris Project, The People’s Voice DVF Award