About IWF-DC

Founded in 1982, IWF-DC is a local forum of the International Women's Forum (IWF).

At IWF-DC, we are committed to advancing women's leadership today and tomorrow. As an affiliate of IWF, we hold the distinction of being an organization of women leaders with more than five decades of consecutive growth. This non-partisan, non-profit organization is devoted to connecting, catalyzing and celebrating women's leadership locally and around the world. IWF has more than 8,400 diverse and accomplished women from 35 countries and 77 local Forums as members. We answer high-achieving women leaders' need for a community of diverse thinkers. We are shaping a future in which leadership has no gender and the next generation is inspired and equipped to transform the world.

History

IWF-DC brings together some of the most accomplished women in America's capital city who lead in diverse fields and who share a common purpose in engaging and promoting women in leadership. Founded in 1982, the Women's Forum of Washington DC was created when Alexandra Armstrong and Susan Davis brought together a group of 35 women who were pioneers at the top of their respective fields to connect, share success and failures, and have some well-deserved fun.

The Women's Forum of Washington D.C., now known as the International Women's Forum of Washington D.C. (IWF-DC), has grown to more than 250 leading women in politics, business, law, government, medicine, industry, academia, the arts and sciences, technology, philanthropy, and more. It is an affiliate of the International Women's Forum (IWF)--the only organization of this scale that builds significant relationships between C-suite level women across countries and careers.

From its early days, the DC women's forum has played a standout role in the development of the International Women's Forum. Susan Davis, one of the DC Forum's founding members, served as the first president of IWF from 1985 to 1987 and was the catalyst for taking the organization global when it was incorporated as the International Women's Forum in 1987. In 1993, IWF-DC members Carol Cox Wait, Lou Kerr and Carolyn Golding obtained a government grant of $500,000 that started the successful IWF Leadership Fellows Program which offers customized leadership training for high-achieving women leaders on their path to the C-suite. Today IWF includes 74 local forums in 33 nations, a network of 7,500+ women leaders, and a thriving leadership development program for rising women leaders.

More IWF History