Get Women's Initiative Up and Running in New York City!

Women's Initiative for Self-Employment is one of the largest microenterprise training and funding organizations in the country. For more than 23 years, we have been providing low-income high-potential women with the training, funding, and support they need to launch successful businesses and become financially independent.

Women’s Initiative’s expansion to New York City will serve more than 2,700 women each year and in the process will: launch 750 businesses annually; create 2,600 new jobs; and generate $112 million in economic growth. Over the next three years, we plan to replicate our unique model by establishing two permanent sites and four satellite offices in the New York City metropolitan area. Neighborhood-based centers will be customized to be accessible and culturally competent.

Here's how Women's Initiative will benefit New York City:

Economic Security
Women’s Initiative graduates increase their income an average of $10,000 within 12 months of training.

Job Creation
One year after training, 90% of Women’s Initiative graduates are employed or self-employed. Five years after training, Women’s Initiative graduates provide an average of 2 jobs to others through their businesses.

Business Growth
Five years after training, 70% of Women’s Initiative graduates are still in business and making regular sales, far exceeding the national average.

Economic Development
For every $1 invested in Women’s Initiative, $30 are returned to the local economy as a result of women paying taxes, hiring others, and leaving the welfare system.

Community
Women’s Initiative graduates donate an average of more than $1,000 to charitable organizations and volunteer more than 170 hours of their time to local organizations annually.