50/50 Women on Boards

What 50/50 Women on Boards does

50/50 Women on Boards is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles and incorporated in Massachusetts, founded in 2010 by Malli Gero and Stephanie Sonnabend (originally as 2020 Women on Boards, rebranded in 2025) to advance gender balance on corporate boards. Its core research product is the Gender Diversity Index, which tracks the gender, racial, ethnic, and leadership composition of Russell 3000 corporate boards through quarterly and annual reports and an online directory; the underlying data is supplied via an exclusive partnership with Equilar. The organization operates a multi-product education and advocacy platform spanning board-readiness workshops (Board Fundamentals at $350, Get on Board at $1,000, Branding for Boards at $1,500), an annual 50 Women to Watch for Boards cohort campaign, a subscription-based Networking Hub at $102.27/year, regional City Conversations on Board Leadership across 20+ global markets, an annual Global Summit Week, and a Mentorship Program.

The organization generates revenue through a hybrid of individual fee-for-service programs (workshops, event tickets at $250), recurring subscriptions (Networking Hub, corporate sponsorships), and enterprise sales (Workshops for Corporate Groups, tiered $1,500–$25,000). Its two primary customer segments are individual women seeking board positions and corporate groups seeking to diversify their boards; named corporate partners include Costco, Dow, AMD, Nasdaq, SoFi, Edelman, S&P Global, and United Airlines. It holds Charity Navigator Three-Star and GuideStar Platinum Transparency ratings and states that 84% of funds are directed to research, educational programs, and public awareness campaigns. The leadership team is led by Co-Founder/Chair Stephanie Sonnabend, Co-Founder Malli Gero, President Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, Chief of Staff Sherry Whittemore, and Vice Chair Laura Zehm.

Name

50/50 Women on Boards

Legal name

50/50 Women on Boards, Inc.

Website

https://5050wob.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

50/50 Women on Boards is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the Gender Diversity Index research franchise on Russell 3000 boards and delivers board-readiness workshops, events, and a Networking Hub subscription for women seeking corporate directorships and corporate groups pursuing board diversity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Governance Education & Board Diversity Advocacy

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Board diversity education
• Corporate governance training
• Gender diversity research
• Board readiness workshops
• Nonprofit advocacy campaign

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Workshops: Fee-based educational programs including Board Fundamentals ($350), Get on Board ($1,000), and Branding for Boards ($1,500). Corporate group workshops range from $1,500 to $25,000.
2. Event Registrations: Individual ticket sales for the annual Global Summit and City Conversations events at $250 per ticket.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for corporate partners supporting the organization's mission and gaining access to diverse board talent.
4. Networking Hub Subscription: Annual subscription platform providing access to board-ready women networking community at $102.27/year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

50/50 Women on Boards is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sells board-readiness educational workshops, a subscription Networking Hub digital platform, regional and annual networking events, and customized corporate group training programs. It also produces and sells research through the proprietary Gender Diversity Index, which tracks gender, racial, ethnic, and leadership composition of Russell 3000 corporate boards and publishes quarterly and annual reports and a searchable online directory. The organization operates the trademarked "50 Women to Watch for Boards" annual candidate selection campaign.

Product overview

50/50 Women on Boards is a 501c3 nonprofit organization operating a multi-product platform focused on advancing gender balance in corporate governance. The core offerings include the Gender Diversity Index (GDI) research initiative that tracks and publishes data on women in Russell 3000 corporate boards, and the 50 Women to Watch for Boards annual selection campaign. The organization provides educational programs including workshops (Board Fundamentals, Get on Board, Branding for Boards) delivered virtually and in-person, the subscription-based Networking Hub digital platform for community and connections, and regional City Conversations on Board Leadership events across major markets. The 2026 Global Summit Week and Breakfast of Corporate Champions represent the flagship annual convenings. Workshops for Corporate Groups offer enterprise-tier customized programs for organizations developing female leadership talent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gender Diversity Index™: Research tracking gender, racial, ethnic, and leadership composition of Russell 3000 corporate boards.
• The Networking Hub
• 50 Women to Watch for Boards
• Breakfast of Corporate Champions
• Global Summit

Products and services

• Gender Diversity Index (GDI) Research initiative that tracks the gender, racial, ethnic, and leadership composition of Russell 3000 corporate boards, published through quarterly and annual reports and an online directory searchable by company, state, sector, and rating. Targeted at corporate governance leaders, investors, policy makers, and the public.
• 50 Women to Watch for Boards An annual campaign and selection program that identifies and spotlights 50 board-ready women for public company board service, with an elite selection committee choosing honorees from North American applicants. Targets aspiring female board candidates and the corporations seeking diverse directors.
• Networking Hub A subscription-based digital platform connecting alumni of workshops who are looking to support women in leadership and those seeking to advance to boards. Available for $102.27/year with automatic renewal via Stripe. Targets individual women professionals seeking board service and alumni of the organization's programs.
• Board Fundamentals Workshop An early- to mid-career workshop teaching the mechanics of boards, types of boards and committees, duties and commitments of board members, qualifications boards seek, and how to steer a career toward board service. Priced at $350 per participant. Targets women professionals in early- to mid-career stages exploring board service.
• Get on Board Workshop A senior-level career workshop teaching participants to develop board profiles, create impactful sound bites, craft effective search strategies, and hone presentation skills for board interviews. Priced at $1,000 per participant. Targets senior-level women professionals actively pursuing board appointments.
• Branding for Boards Workshop A three-part workshop program focused on elevating professional brand identity and optimizing LinkedIn presence to build strategic networking for board candidacy. Priced at $1,500 per participant. Targets women professionals seeking to strengthen their personal brand for board positioning.
• Global Summit Week Annual flagship event featuring the Breakfast of Corporate Champions, panel discussions on governance and AI oversight, and networking sessions promoting gender diversity in corporate boards. The 2026 Global Summit returns to NYC on September 17. Targets board-ready women, corporate directors, governance leaders, and corporate partners.
• City Conversations on Board Leadership Regional in-person strategic networking events held across multiple cities including Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Houston, Tampa Bay, Charlotte, Bay Area, and others, connecting aspiring board leaders with corporate directors through curated conversations and panel discussions. Individual tickets priced at $250. Targets aspiring board-ready women and corporate governance leaders.
• Workshops for Corporate Groups Customized corporate workshop programs designed to prepare female talent for board leadership, with packages for 5, 10, or up to 25 women including Board Fundamentals and Get on Board workshops, with each attendee receiving a year's subscription to the Networking Hub. Corporate packages range from $1,500 to $25,000. Targets corporate clients developing female leadership talent.
• Mentorship Program A mentorship program connecting corporate directors, executives, investors, and governance professionals to discuss board diversity trends and governance responsibilities. Targets board-ready women seeking mentorship and senior governance professionals offering guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tracks board diversity across Russell 3000 companies
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EquilarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive Data Partner providing research data for the Gender Diversity Index tracking Russell 3000 company boards. Equilar supplies board composition data that powers the organization's flagship benchmarking research.
• United AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Airline sponsor providing travel support for events and programs. United Airlines serves as a sponsor for the Global Summit and other organizational events.
• Costco WholesaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting board diversity initiatives through sponsorship and participation in programs.
• DowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner committed to board diversity through sponsorship and engagement with 50/50 Women on Boards programs.
• S&P GlobalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting gender diversity in corporate governance initiatives.
• AMDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner sponsoring board diversity programs and initiatives.
• NasdaqminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor engaged with board diversity and governance initiatives.
• EdelmanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic relations and communications firm partner supporting organizational marketing and communications.
• SoFiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services corporate sponsor supporting board diversity initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is a global executive search and board advisory firm with a long-standing board diversity practice. Comparable as a provider of board recruitment, governance advisory, and director education services to large corporations, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a premier executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep board practice expertise. Comparable as an incumbent provider of board advisory and diversity-focused executive search services to Fortune 500 clients.
• ISS (Institutional Shareholder Services): ISS is a leading provider of corporate governance and proxy advisory services to institutional investors. Comparable as a governance research and policy organization whose work influences board composition and diversity disclosure standards globally.

Direct peers

• Lean In Foundation: Lean In is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping women achieve their goals through circles, education, and research. Comparable as a nonprofit community-driven organization advancing women's leadership with similar educational content and corporate engagement programs.
• WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD): WCD is a membership-based organization and community of women corporate directors focused on advancing boardroom diversity through peer networking, education, and director placement. Directly comparable as it serves the same target audience of board-ready women and corporate governance leaders.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit focused on advancing women in the workplace, including research, advisory, and corporate partnerships for gender equity. Highly comparable mission and similar nonprofit funding model make it the closest direct peer to 50/50 Women on Boards.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): NACD is the leading membership organization for corporate directors, providing education, research, and peer-networking programs. Closely comparable in offering board education, events, and director resources, though broader in scope than gender-specific programming.

Emerging players

• Equilar: Equilar is a board and executive data provider that powers 50/50 Women on Boards' Gender Diversity Index. Comparable as a data/analytics infrastructure provider for corporate governance, though it operates as a for-profit B2B platform rather than an advocacy nonprofit.
• Parity.org: Parity.org is a nonprofit focused on advancing gender parity in corporate leadership through CEO pledges and accountability programs. Comparable as a nonprofit advocacy organization advancing women's representation in senior corporate roles, though narrower in scope.

Regional players

• International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN): ICGN is a global membership organization promoting effective corporate governance standards among investors and companies. Comparable as a governance-focused membership organization with international reach, though primarily investor- rather than director-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/5050Wob
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVmV2G4VDwP-qdPx_hMA8kw
• Facebookfacebook.com/5050WOB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5050-women-on-boards
• Instagraminstagram.com/5050wob

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 50/50 Women on Boards