Awards & Recognition

Democracy Forward and our team members have been recognized by national organizations, industry leaders, and media organizations for our excellence in delivering visionary work on behalf of people and communities.

  • The American Bar Association named Democracy Forward a Human Rights Hero of Our Time in recognition of its efforts to protect the rule of law through pro bono legal representation.
  • The National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) honored Democracy Forward at its annual gala in recognition of our intervention on their behalf in Mid-America Milling Co. v. DOT, and efforts to ensure that the voices of minority- and women-owned businesses are heard in a case that directly threatened their opportunity to participate fairly in federally funded transportation work. Senior Counsel Brooke Menschel and President & CEO Skye Perryman accepted the award for Democracy Forward.
  • DC SAFE presented Legal Director Robin Thurston, Senior Counsel Kristin Bateman, and Skye Perryman with its Keep DC SAFE Mission Impact Award at their annual gala, celebrating our work to defend and uphold the Violence Against Women Act in Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. v. Bondi, et al.
  • American Public Health Association awarded Democracy Forward with the Presidential Citation for 2025 in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of public health or the public health profession.
  • Feminist Majority Foundation named Democracy Forward and Skye Perryman as the 2025 Resister-In-Law at their Global Women’s Rights Award.
  • Surfrider Foundation awarded Democracy Forward its Distinguished Legal Service Award for its work in Conservation Law Foundation v. William Barr et al. Legal Director Robin Thurston and former Senior Counsel Samara Spence accepted the award for Democracy Forward.
  • Power to Decide awarded the Sarah S. Brown Award for collective efforts to defend the federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program to Democracy Forward, Public Citizen, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
  • Time Magazine named Skye Perryman, Democracy Forward President & CEO, to the TIME 100: The 100 Most Influential People in the World of 2025 list.
  • NonProfit Times Power & Influence named Skye Perryman as Influencer of the Year, as well as to their P&I Top 50 list.