Forward Recognized in The 21st Annual American Business Awards®

May 1, 2023 | Company News

April 27, 2023 – Forward Financing was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion and a Bronze Stevie® Award in Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility in The 21st Annual American Business Awards®.

The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, large and small. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories.

In the past year, Forward has taken many steps to further embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in everything they do. The organization strives for all employees to feel like they belong, that their voices are heard and valued, and that they consider Forward a safe and inclusive place to work. A few of their DEI initiatives from the past year include: DEI Engagement Workshops, where the goal is to expand employees’ perspectives, provide tangible action items to put into practice, and emphasize the importance of continuous learning in the DEI space. Additionally, the team launched a DEI Employee Resource Group (ERG), a group centered around open and safe discussion on a variety of DEI-related topics. The goal of the ERG is to build awareness and education, and take that foundation and turn it into action. Finally, Forward focused on further developing their hiring process to ensure that every single candidate for every position feels the process is transparent, fair, and inclusive.

Additionally, as part of Forward’s efforts to Drive the Mission, their team is committed to supporting local and underserved communities. Each employee is given two paid volunteer days per year and $25 to donate to an organization of their choice. Throughout the year, there are countless volunteer opportunities and organized ways for the team to give back, including a donation match, in which Forward matches up to $1,000, per employee per year. In 2022, through their giving and match program, the team volunteered over 732 hours and donated more than $141,000 to 63 organizations.

“We’re thrilled and honored to be recognized for our efforts around Diversity & Inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility,” said Shannon Braley, Chief People Officer. “Our approach is to view every action and project through a DEI lens. We prioritize dedicating time and resources to support our employees and community, and to drive a culture of inclusion and belonging. There will always be additional opportunities to improve our efforts, but I could not be prouder of our team.”

More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.

“It is very gratifying for us to be able to recognize the achievements of such a wide variety of organizations, teams, and individuals in the 21st ABAs, and we look forward to bringing them together in New York on June 13 to celebrate with them,” said Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards.

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2023 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About Forward Financing

Forward Financing is a Boston-based financial technology company that provides fast, flexible capital to small businesses nationwide that have been long underserved by traditional financing options. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward Financing is able to deliver approvals within minutes and funding within hours — giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward Financing has expanded Main Street’s access to capital by providing over $2 billion in funding to more than 47,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, with an Excellent / 4.9 stars rating on Trustpilot.com. Forward Financing has been recognized as a Best Place to Work by the Boston Business Journal and Built In Boston and is certified as a Great Place to Work®. Forward Financing is committed to helping their people and the small businesses they serve to achieve their full potential.

About The Stevie Awards

The Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.