Our Vision
Every woman. Every girl. Realizing their full potential.
Our Mission
We create, empower, mobilize and actualize initiatives
to advance the rights of women and girls around the world.
What We Believe
When a woman becomes the fullest expression of who she is, she can change the world.
Unleashing the contribution of women is a critical catalyst
to solving the pressing global challenges of our time.
Men and women coming together as a collective is the strongest force we have
to change the lives of women and girls.
When you invest in yourself or your organization through any of our programs, a portion will be allocated to the Women Igniting Change® Foundation, which supports global women’s initiatives in 9 Key Areas.
Focus Areas
Advocacy
Women and girls make up more than half the world’s population and yet in the majority of the world, their voices are not being heard. Influencing public policy and eliminating discrimination and biases through education and awareness is essential for women and girls to realize their full potential and contribute to their communities and countries in a meaningful way.
Education
Over 60 million girls around the world are denied the right to an education. Many are required to work, forced into an early marriage or face unimaginable violence. When girls receive a quality education, it not only changes their life, but also positively impacts their families, their communities and their country. (Malala.org) Our world needs their gifts and talents.
Empowerment
When you empower women and girls, they become catalysts for change. They realize what they can become, believe in the power of their own voice and are no longer willing to be defined by the rules that others place on them. Empowering women and girls with more choices and more freedoms is imperative to achieving a better future for us all. (undp.org)
Entrepreneurship
In societies with rigid views of traditionally male and female roles, frequently reinforced by cultural and religious beliefs, women’s opportunities for engaging in paid work or starting up enterprises are often limited. Women need equal access to credit to invest and expand their business ventures, equal access to markets to sell and develop their products, and equal
opportunities to acquire skills, knowledge and technology. (unido.org)
Gender Equality
We imagine a world where women and girls are able to participate fully in economic, legal, political, and educational policy making. Where health care for women is a priority, girls and women are seen and treated as equals by everyone in the world and no girl ever feels at a disadvantage for being born female. (Chime for Change) It’s time.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a modern day form of slavery. Those who commit this horrific crime believe that the lives of women and girls are expendable. Women and girls account for 80% of all human trafficking victims who are forced into slave labor and sexual exploitation. We all have a role to play in raising awareness, protecting the victims and bringing the criminals to justice.
Leadership
It’s time for women to be represented at the highest levels of our society. Currently, women comprise only 20 of the Fortune 500 CEO positions, 17.9% of director seats of the Fortune 1000 companies and 20% of the U.S. Congress. Globally, only 22 Heads of State are women. Our global challenges demand that we include the voices of women leaders into the decision-making process.
Reproductive Rights
Over 225 million women in developing countries lack access to quality reproductive health and voluntary family planning services impacting the number of children they have, and their ability to feed, clothe and educate them. Access to these services saves the lives of women and children, reduces poverty, and allows women to pursue educational and income-generating opportunities (unfoundation.org) Every woman deserves this fundamental right.
Violence Against Women
Violence against women is a global pandemic and includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. At least 119 countries have passed laws on domestic violence, 125 have laws on sexual harassment and 52 have laws on marital rape. (unwomen.org) However, even when laws exist, they are not always compliant with international standards and recommendations nor are they implemented. More must be done.
Making an Impact
One of the ways we ignite change is through charitable giving. Each year at our IGNITE Live event, we present our Spark Award Honorees with funds to support charities of their choice that serve women and girls.