Business and Professional Women's Foundation

BPW Foundation creates successful workplaces by focusing on issues that impact women, families and employees. Through ground breaking research, BPW Foundation is redefining today's workplace.

Why do we exist?

Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation was the first foundation dedicated to conducting research and providing information solely about workingwomen. In the 21st Century, BPW Foundation is striving to transform workplaces by focusing on issues that impact working women, their families and their employers. Everyday, BPW Foundation aims to fulfill its mission to empower workingwomen to achieve their full potential by partnering with organizations in both the public and private sector to help them recognize and create work environments where the skills and contributions of workingwomen are recognized and advanced.  Successful workplaces, as defined by BPW Foundation, allow for a balance between work and life and provide equity and diversity. 

Over the past 50 years, women in large numbers have sought equity in the work place.  They now receive the majority of college degrees, have started their own business, moved into nontraditional fields, and mentored and were mentored, yet the wage gap between men and women persists. 

Research shows that  as women break the glass ceiling by becoming senior-level managers, the wage gap for all women employees, decreases in that organization.  The work of BPW Foundation to engage the public and key stakeholders to create systemic change in the workplace and to expand the options workingwomen have for more equitable, flexible workplaces is essential to the future of all working women.

What have you accomplished?

Successful workplaces, as defined by BPW Foundation, model work-life effectiveness, workplace equity and diversity.  Here is a sampling of our work:

Research
BPW Foundation conducts primary research on untapped populations such as women veterans, young careerists and women-friendly employers as well as uncharted issues such as work-life effectiveness, career transitions and successful workplaces. We were the first foundation to survey women veterans transitioning from military to civilian careers about workplace, security and quality of life issues.  Based on that research we have released research based issue briefs on Building Strong Programs and Policies to Support Women Veterans, Understanding the Complexities of Women Veteran’s Career Transitions, and Ten Top Recommendations to Support Women Veterans.  This information has been useful to both employers and women veterans as they work together to create workplaces that meet the needs of this growing number of women.

The research was also used to enhance and improve the Women Joining Forces – Closing Ranks, Opening Doors (WJF) program for women veterans sponsored by Business and Professional Women/ USA (BPW Foundation’s sister organization.)  WJF supports women veterans as they transition from military to civilian life. The program offers a dues waiver for an introductory, e-membership to women exiting military service and discounted membership to other women veterans and provides valuable resources, educational programs and networking opportunities for women veterans.

BPW Foundation is also looking at what is necessary to create effective multigenerational workplaces.  As the Young Careerist enters the work place, employers and existing employees need to know what motivates this new worker and what is needed to retain their skills.  BPW Foundation has issued a briefing paper on this topic and created a special website for Young Careerists to help them navigate today’s job market and workplace.

Education
BPW Foundation programs enable workingwomen, employers and policymakers to exchange ideas, develop and improve career skills and cultivate leadership qualities.
• National Employer Summits: Three National Employer Summits have been held bringing together private and public sector employers to share and discuss leading edge programs to create successful and profitable workplaces. 
• Publications: Successful Workplaces Digest was launched at the 2008 Employer Summit. The Digest is a practical, easy-to-use publication showcasing inventive ideas, effective programs and applied research that can be implemented by employers and employees.  Contributors include AARP, Accenture, Ernst & Young, The New York Times Company, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Crowell & Morning LLP, Kansas City Power and Light, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Sprint, Weyerhaeuser and Verizon, among others. 
• Professional Development Programming:  Ongoing projects, workshops, webinars, presentations and panel discussions that cover the evolving world of workingwomen and their employers, on such topics as leadership development, finances and retirement and career transitions.  Women veterans can take courses at a discounted rate through a scholarship program.    

Knowledge
The Rawalt Online Resource Center provides, free of charge, the latest data and relevant articles on issues impacting workingwomen, employers and policymakers.  This is also where BPW Foundation’s historical documents and past research is housed.   Researchers and employers across the country access this clearinghouse of information.

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