Awards

Honorable Mention Award, for “Who Am I?” in annual Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest, 2025

Editor’s Choice Award, for “Sara Mae” in annual Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest, 2024

Honorable Mention Award, for “I Was Raised on Love” in annual Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest, 2021

Pushcart Nomination, Marin Poetry Anthology, 2019, for " Long Distance"

Leah Maines, Publisher of Finishing Line Press nominated Donna's new full-length book, "The Place of Our Meeting," for a California Book Award, February, 2018.

Trio Award 2018, Finalist: Donna's first full length book, "The Place of Our Meeting," was selected as a Finalist for the Trio Award, 2018 by Trio House Press.

Editor’s Choice Award, for “Shining Brown Hair” in annual Allen Ginsberg Poetry Content, 2017

Essay Finalist, 24th Annual Tom Howard/John H Reid Fiction and Essay Contest, for, "White Peaches," October, 2016.

Honorable Mention, for “First Day of Kindergarten and Eleven Years Later” in annual Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest, 2015

Quarterly Illuminations Winning Poem, March, 2015, Healdsburg Literary Guild: “Beside Salmon Creek”

Persimmon Tree: One of 5 regional winners, “West Coast Poetry, 2014”

Poem: “Edna’s Baked Goods”

Pushcart Nomination, Gemini Magazine, 2013, for “Before AIDS was a Word”

Gemini Magazine “Best of the Net,” 2012

Redwood Writers Second Prize, 2010 “Following Hay”

Naugatuck River Review Semifinalist, 2010 “Following Hay”

Nomination for California Book Award, 2009, chapbook,“Body Rhymes”

California State Poetry Society, “Best of the Best” award for December, 2008

Tiny Lights, A Journal of Personal Narrative, Flash prizes:

Second prize, 2007 “The Orchard”
First prize, 2010, “Pressed Pants, Grosgrain Ribbons”

Labyrinth Society, 2nd prize, 2005, “Unexpected Meditation”