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ICF Awards

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) has annually recognized individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advancing the art, science and practice of professional coaching in their communities and beyond.

Since we offered our first award in 2005, coaching and ICF have evolved. To reflect this, we are evolving our awards program to better recognize the many diverse impacts of coaching worldwide. The ICF Coaching Impact Awards will celebrate the best of coaching and ICF through a variety of categories that reflect the different facets of the profession, bringing together our various recognitions into one program. 

To learn more about the ICF Coaching Impact Awards, explore the information on this page or review the full press release in our Press Room. Additionally, you may sign up to receive more information via email about the 2023 ICF Coaching Impact Awards, including when the next nomination period will open. 

Evolution of ICF Awards Programs

Since ICF’s first award in 2005, ICF has continued to grow and evolve alongside the professional coaching industry. Explore more about each of our award programs throughout the years below. 

  • Coaching Impact Awards

    The ICF Coaching Impact Awards will celebrate the best of coaching and ICF through a variety of categories that reflect the different facets of the profession. By bringing our various recognitions together into one system, the ICF Coaching Impact Awards will create a more unified experience and review process for each of the categories, ensuring a more impactful, recognizable award in coaching.

    2023 ICF Coaching Impact Awards Categories

    The Professional Coaches category will honor individual coach practitioners who are making an impact in the profession and at ICF. This award is an evolution of the ICF Circle of Distinction and Young Leader awards. 

    The Organizations category will celebrate businesses and organizations that have built strong coaching cultures and demonstrate the positive effects of coaching. This award is an evolution of the ICF Prism Award. 

    The Coaching Education category will recognize coach educators and ICF accredited providers who are leading and innovating coaching education. This award is a new recognition. 

    2023 Awards Timeline

    February 22 — Nominations open for the 2023 ICF Coaching Impact Awards

    April 21 at 11:59 p.m. (New York) — 2023 nominations close

    End of June — Award winners notified of their status

    August — Winners of the 2023 ICF Impact Awards will be publicly announced during a special ceremony at ICF Converge 2023, which is taking place August 23-26 in Orlando, Florida, USA. They will also participate in a panel session at Converge 23.

  • Prism

    The ICF International Prism Award (2005-2022) celebrates businesses and organizations that have built strong coaching cultures to demonstrate the positive effects of coaching. This award sets an organization apart from others and differentiates the quality of its achievements, performance and results.  

  • Circle of Distinction

    The ICF Circle of Distinction (2018-2022) celebrates the best of the coaching profession and ICF. Circle of Distinction honorees are experienced coach practitioners who have made important contributions to ICF, the coaching profession, and society as a whole.

  • Young Leader

    The ICF Young Leader Award (2018-2022) celebrates coach practitioners aged 40 and under who are poised to lead ICF and the coaching profession into the future. Honorees embody the core values of ICF and represent a diverse community of emerging thought leaders. 

  • Chair's Award

    The ICF Global Board Chair’s Award (2007-2017) celebrates an individual or group in recognition of their work to advance ICF’s mission and vision. 

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