SEATTLE WOMEN IN BUSINESS FOR GOOD
Seattle Women in Business for Good is a community where women connect, grow, and give back. Through networking events, volunteer opportunities, and quarterly giving cycles, they foster professional relationships, educate members on local nonprofits, and empower collective philanthropy. Since 2022, their 230+ members have raised nearly $70,000 to support causes like environmental projects, transitional housing, and education. Together, they amplify impact, strengthen our community, and shape a more resilient Seattle.
As an organization dedicated to community leadership, how do you cultivate mentorship and support for emerging women leaders? What lessons, approaches, or initiatives does your group prioritize to ensure leadership, empowerment, and inclusivity endure beyond the current members?
We take a grassroots approach, creating space for women to feel empowered—both individually and as a community—to drive positive change.
If you had to choose a single word that captures your group’s collective approach to leadership, what would it be and why? Share a brief anecdote or turning point this past year that illustrates why this word resonates with your organization.
Connection! We are a giving circle—a group of people with shared values who give their time and money to create positive change—so collaboration is at our core.
Seattle Women in Business for Good is about coming together to support each other and uplift our community. We are 100% volunteer-run and started in 2022. In just a few years, we’ve supported 11 local nonprofits with over $90K in giving circle funds while also creating meaningful connections among our 230+ members.
We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished so far—and we’re just getting started!
Reflecting on the last year, what new quote, book, or piece of advice has most influenced your group’s mission and leadership approach? Why did it resonate with your members, and how has it been applied in your work within the community?
As a leadership team, we’ve been working with Deepa Iyer’s Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection to gain clarity on our impact and approach. Through this process, we’ve identified ourselves as Storytellers and Builders, which is shaping how we move forward.
As a new group with a big vision, having this kind of foundation is essential. As Storytellers, our goal this year is to amplify nonprofits and their messages. As Builders, we’re focused on strengthening relationships—both within our group and with the organizations we support—to create something bigger than ourselves.
How has your group continued (or adapted) its efforts to give back to the community over the past year?
We continue to gather quarterly to learn about nonprofits and select grant recipients through a collective voting process. We’re also expanding volunteer and networking opportunities, supporting nominated nonprofits through volunteer efforts, and creating space for members to connect with organizations and offer their specialized support and resources.
What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for women leaders in your field or community over the next year, and how is your group preparing to meet them? If your organization could offer one piece of advice to women stepping into leadership roles today, what would it be?
Many nonprofits face an uncertain financial future as partisan shifts and economic pressures at the federal and state levels make funding harder to access. That’s why it’s more important than ever for our group to provide unrestricted funds to these organizations.
We aim to grow our membership—which will increase our donated funds—while also deepening engagement, so the women in our group feel a stronger connection to their community.
Our advice? Organize at the local level—it’s easier, more fun, and more impactful than you might imagine.