Business & Professional Women
District of Columbia Federation

History

The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's (BPW) Clubs was founded in July 1919, for the purpose of promoting the interest of business and professional women. It is an independent organization, nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian, self-supporting and self-governing. BPW has 2000 local organizations in 54 State Federations (includes the 50 States, America Samoa, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island), and has a Local Organization (LO) in every voting district in the United States.

The District of Columbia (DC) has been affiliated with the National Federation of BPW Clubs, Inc. (BPW/USA) since 1927. Until 1950, there was one large local organization in D.C. During 1960, three new LOs were chartered, and, today, there are 6 (LOs) in the D.C. Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. (DC/BPW). These LOs meet in various sections of the District. Each LO has a monthly meeting from September through June and has a program plus a business meeting. The programs are varied, but are always of interest and benefit to working individuals. These programs provide a wide variety of educational, cultural and career oriented subjects. Because BPW is legislation oriented, many of the programs of the DC/BPW LOs are directed to items on the D.C. Legislative Platform.

BPW established the BPW Foundation in 1956 for the purpose of "women helping women." The Foundation gives scholarships and loans to women who want to reenter the job market or who want to further their education. The Foundation also conducts research on issues pertinent to working women. Some of the LOs in the DC/BPW have their own scholarship programs and give aid to those who are in need of financial aid.

Young Career Woman Program

In 1963, to get opinions and point of view of younger business women, the Young Career Woman (YCW) Program (for young women age 21 through 35) was established to honor successful young career women while introducing them to the ideals and standards of the National Federation. The program involves the selection of Young Career Women at the LO level, who competes at State level to represent the State Federation at National Conference. At National Conference, the YCW participates in programs, meetings, seminars, and/or workshops developed for her, as well as attending business sessions of the conference. The State YCW is available to speak to any of the LOs to tell of her experience and to help with their YCW programs.