Business and Professional Women’s Foundation (BPW Foundation) was the first foundation dedicated to conducting research and providing information solely about working women. Since then, we have partnered with employers to create successful workplaces that embrace and practice diversity, equity and work-life balance convening employers, working women and policymakers to promote systemic workplace change.
Areas of research include women and non traditional jobs, Gen Y women and women’s use and access to the internet. In 2007 BPW Foundation conducted the first research on women veteran’s transition to civilian careers and in 2010, hosted a National Summit, Joining Forces for Women Veterans to identify the challenges women veterans face. Through information gathered at the summit, the need for mentors was identified and in 2012 BPW Foundation launched Joining Forces for Women Veterans and Military Spouses Mentoring Plus a program recognized by the White House Joining Forces Military Family initiative. The mentoring program is built on our legacy of working women helping women work.
BPW/USA Foundation Information and Officers
Chair: Roslyn Ridgeway
Vice Chair: Diane Polangin
Treasurer: Velma R. Hart, CAE
Secretary: Venita Garvin
Trustee: Leslie Wilkins
CEO: Deborah L. Frett
Business and Professional Women’s Foundation USA
1718 M Street NW, Suite 148 Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202-293-1100
bpwfoundation.org
Rawalt Online Resource Center
An online clearinghouse and the hub of BPW Foundation’s knowledge-sharing activities. Entering into the 21st Century, BPW Foundation knows that information is not enough; it is knowledge that drives change. BPW Foundation has expanded the scope of the resource center to meet the need for on-demand knowledge. Users can access a growing archive of current and historical documents and articles on issues affecting workingwomen and their employers including dissertations, issue papers, bibliographies, conference presentations and recordings of the foundation’s audio conference series.
Issues
Business and Professional Women’s Foundation is transforming the workplace with women and employers. Our role is to convene employees and employers to create solutions that improve the workplace for today’s workforce. The work of BPW Foundation focuses on two issues: Successful Workplaces and Empowered Workforce.
Successful Workplaces
BPW Foundation began the Successful Workplaces Movement to collaborate with employers to transform and redefine today’s workplace. It combines research, policy, resources and programming in order to create systemic change. Such change is necessary to build supportive and successful workplaces; and to break down the final barriers to the full participation of women in the workplace. Creating systemic, sustainable change requires the collaboration of employees, employers and policy makers.
Empowered Workforce
In order to create Successful Workplaces, the U.S. workforce must be productive, strong and skilled. To that end, the work of BPW Foundation supports workforce development. Specifically, BPW Foundation conducts research and produces programming that empowers the workforce.
BPW Foundation’s research provides insight to employers and policy makers on the needs and challenges of key groups of working women with a variety of skills and educational attainment. BPW Foundation also provides programming to employers and employees in order to encourage discussion, improve productivity and create solutions, such as events, publications and online resources.