New Women New Yorkers

What New Women New Yorkers does

New Women New Yorkers (NWNY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 by Arielle Kandel and headquartered in New York City, dedicated to empowering immigrant women from underserved communities through workforce development and community-building programs. Its primary service population is adult immigrant women (18+) in NYC and the tri-state area seeking meaningful employment or higher education, spanning participants from Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, and West Africa. NWNY reports having served over 2,000 immigrant women since inception across 66 LEAD cohorts, 17 Bridge to LEAD cohorts, and a wide network of 50+ collaborating organizations.

The organization's core product suite consists of four sequentially tiered workforce programs (LEAD for intermediate English learners as the flagship, We Speak We LEAD co-developed with the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, Bridge to LEAD for Spanish-speaking beginners, and the NYSERDA-funded Clean Energy Program targeting heat pump/HVAC/R, offshore wind, solar, and bioenergy pathways), complemented by Community Education workshops and a storytelling division (Real People. Real Lives. podcast, Climate Chronicles podcast/exhibit, The Moth partnership, Writing the Self memoir series). All programs are 100% free for participants, delivered hybrid via Zoom and in-person at NYC public library branches (NYPL, BPL, QPL) and employer sites. NWNY has no proprietary technology beyond Zoom and JotForm; its underlying assets are a decade of curriculum and a human facilitator model that includes paid Work-Based Learner alumni.

NWNY's revenue model is grant-funded rather than transactional: individual donations, corporate and foundation grants (Capital One as flagship LEAD funder, Hispanic Federation and Knisely Family Foundation for Bridge to LEAD, Con Edison for Climate Chronicles), and government support (NYSERDA for the Queens & Staten Island Clean Energy Hub, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYSCA/LMCC). A small core staff of fewer than 10 people operates the organization, with the 2024 opening of a Manhattan Community Hub and the 2025-2026 Governors Island arts residency marking its most recent physical expansions.

Name

New Women New Yorkers

Legal name

New Women New Yorkers

Website

https://nywomenimmigrants.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Women New Yorkers is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that delivers free workforce development, English-language, clean energy, and storytelling programs to immigrant women seeking meaningful employment or higher education in New York City.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workplace & Career Integration for Immigrants (Credentialing, Job Readiness) (EDAAADAE), ESL Literacy & Foundational English (Pre-beginner/Alphabetics) (EDAAACAB), Academic English & College Readiness for Adults (EDAAACAF), Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• Immigrant women empowerment
• Job readiness training
• Professional English learning
• Community education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donations from supporters who believe in the mission of empowering immigrant women. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making all donations tax-deductible.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations and corporations including Capital One (LEAD program), Hispanic Federation (Bridge to LEAD), Knisely Family Foundation (Bridge to LEAD), Con Edison (Climate Chronicles), and various other funders.
3. Government Funding: Support from government entities including NYSERDA (Queens & Staten Island Clean Energy Hub) and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (Climate Chronicles).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Women New Yorkers delivers free workforce development, professional English, and storytelling programs to immigrant women in New York City. Core programs include the LEAD job readiness workshop series for intermediate English learners, We Speak We LEAD for elementary/intermediate learners, Bridge to LEAD for Spanish-speaking beginner English learners, the Clean Energy Program, and community education and storytelling initiatives. All programs are free to participants and delivered in-person at partner libraries and virtually via Zoom.

Product overview

New Women New Yorkers operates as a nonprofit offering workforce development and storytelling programs for immigrant women in NYC. The core programs include LEAD (flagship job readiness for intermediate English learners), We Speak We LEAD (for elementary/intermediate English learners, in partnership with NYC Mayor's Office), Bridge to LEAD (Spanish-English bilingual program for beginners), and the Clean Energy Program (pathways into clean energy careers). Supporting programs include Community Education and Support workshops, and the Storytelling division encompasses Real People. Real Lives. podcast series, Climate Chronicles podcast and exhibit, The Moth storytelling partnership, and Writing the Self memoir program. All programs are free for participants and combine professional skills development with community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LEAD LEAD is the flagship workforce development program for immigrant women with intermediate English skills, offering eight job readiness workshops covering US job search processes, workplace culture, networking, resume building, cover letter writing, interview skills, and professional action planning. The program is delivered in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual via Zoom) and includes company practice sessions, career fairs, and individualized support.
• We Speak We LEAD We Speak We LEAD is a free workforce development and professional English learning program for immigrant women who are elementary or intermediate English learners, facilitated entirely in English. Developed in partnership with We Speak NYC at the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, it offers 16 job readiness workshops combined with career exploration, civic-focused education, and community building.
• Bridge to LEAD Bridge to LEAD is a foundational workforce development program designed for Spanish-speaking immigrant women who are beginner English learners with a high school diploma or less. Offered in both English and Spanish, it provides five training modules covering career exploration, goal setting, time management, networking, job search, interviews, and workers' rights.
• Clean Energy Program The Clean Energy Program is a workforce development initiative creating pathways into the clean energy sector for immigrant women. It includes career exploration workshops, company networking sessions, individual support, and employer partnership programs focused on industries such as heat pump/HVAC/R, offshore wind, green buildings, solar, and bioenergy.
• Community Education and Community Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of participants report increased confidence navigating the US job market
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and secondary.

• We Speak NYC / Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014We Speak We LEAD program was initially developed through collaboration between NWNY and We Speak NYC at the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. This partnership combines career exploration, job readiness, civic-focused education, English learning, and community building.
• Capital OneflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor funder and program partner supporting the LEAD workforce development program. Capital One employees participate as mentors, resume reviewers, and facilitate company sessions with program participants.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of QueensflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization of the Queens & Staten Island Clean Energy Hub. NWNY is one of seven community organizations collaborating on this initiative to build an inclusive clean energy economy.
• Pratt Center for Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with NWNY to develop the Regional Assessment and Barriers Analysis (RABA) report identifying gaps and opportunities in clean energy outreach in Queens and Staten Island.
• RiseBoro Community PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner providing employment opportunities in housing, education, social services, health, finance and administration. Partnership supports NWNY's mission to empower immigrant women to obtain meaningful employment.
• LinkedIncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCompany session partner providing networking support and professional development opportunities for program participants.
• MastercardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCompany session partner hosting networking events and career development sessions for NWNY participants.
• Guardian LifecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCompany session partner participating in career fairs and providing interview opportunities for program participants.
• The Rockefeller FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCompany session partner supporting workforce development through professional networking opportunities.
• ZScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConsulting firm providing company sessions, panel discussions, and professional development support for participants.
• QBE North AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance company partner offering career development opportunities through company sessions and networking.
• Faryl RobincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCompany session partner providing professional development and networking opportunities.
• The MothcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for the Immigrant Women Storytelling Group program. The Moth facilitates intensive storytelling workshops and participants perform at community and public events.
• NYPL Stavros Niarchos Foundation LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for LEAD program workshops in Manhattan.
• BPL Central LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for LEAD program workshops in Brooklyn.
• Queens Public Library (Woodside)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for LEAD program workshops in Queens.
• Business Outreach Center of New YorksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Queens & Staten Island Clean Energy Hub, enhancing economic opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs.
• Kinetic Communities ConsultingsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Queens & Staten Island Clean Energy Hub, championing energy equity.
• Neighborhoods For A Sustainable FuturesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Queens & Staten Island Clean Energy Hub, focusing on affordable housing and clean energy sustainability.
• Youth Wins CoalitionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Queens & Staten Island Clean Energy Hub, providing career readiness resources for young adults.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Upwardly Global: National nonprofit focused on helping immigrants and refugees with professional experience restart their careers in the U.S. Closely comparable to NWNY in workforce development for immigrants, though serving a broader demographic beyond women.
• Henry Street Settlement: NYC-based nonprofit providing workforce development, ESL, and immigrant integration services on the Lower East Side. Comparable in geography, target population, and educational service mix.
• Make the Road New York: NYC immigrant-led organization offering workforce training, adult education, and immigrant rights services. Comparable in immigrant-serving mission, NYC geography, and combination of education plus advocacy.
• Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC): NYC-based nonprofit serving Asian-American immigrant communities with workforce development, ESL, job placement, and community education. Comparable in immigrant workforce integration focus and NYC footprint.
• CAMBA: Brooklyn-based nonprofit operating extensive workforce development, housing, and youth programs including immigrant-serving initiatives. Comparable in NYC-based workforce development services for underserved populations.
• Phipps Neighborhoods: NYC nonprofit providing workforce development, education, and housing services in the Bronx and upper Manhattan. Comparable in community-based workforce development and adult education for immigrant populations.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Large humanitarian organization with substantial U.S. programs delivering employment, ESL, and case-management services to refugees and immigrants. Comparable in mission area but operates at national/international scale and across many populations.
• Catholic Charities of New York: Large social-services umbrella organization offering immigration legal services, ESL, refugee resettlement, and workforce programs across NYC. Comparable in immigrant-services scope but operates as a much larger institutional incumbent.

Regional players

• Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights: NYC-based immigrant rights and integration organization providing ESOL, citizenship preparation, and workforce readiness. Comparable in NYC immigrant-services mission though with stronger emphasis on legal/rights work.

Others

• The Moth: Storytelling nonprofit that runs workshops, performances, and education programs. Partnered with NWNY on the Immigrant Women Storytelling Group; adjacent as an enabling/programmatic collaborator rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/newwomenny
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCChyiEHj9ZZnpp-w6wuUiaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewWomenNY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-new-women-new-yorkers-nwny-
• Instagraminstagram.com/newwomenny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Women New Yorkers