Women's Leadership Foundation

What Women's Leadership Foundation does

Women's Leadership Foundation was a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operated a portfolio of board readiness and board placement programs under the "Boardbound by Women's Leadership Foundation" brand. Formed in 2002 by the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce and reconstituted in 2011 around the Boardbound program launched in 2012, the foundation delivered four primary programs: Corporate Boardbound (a year-long intensive cohort for C-level and executive women featuring workshops and mentor matching), Nonprofit Boardbound (a certificate-based program for nonprofit, civic, and educational board service), Boardconnect (a no-fee matching service connecting board-ready talent to corporate clients and search firms), and the CEOs for Women on Boards CEO-advocacy initiative. The organization also published the biannual "State of Women on Boards" research tracking gender composition on Colorado public-company boards.

The foundation's business model was not commercial: programs were delivered to participants at no charge, Boardconnect operated as a free introduction service with donations requested post-placement, and the organization monetized only selectively through event fees (e.g., $50 non-member tickets for some Women on Boards events). Revenue was generated through charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, and event fees, with no disclosed revenue figures. Funding was sourced from "Visionary" tier supporters (Caruso Foundation, Arrow, Century Communities, CoBank, Evolution Petroleum), Champions for Change tier (Delta Dental, IMA Financial, InBank, Intrepid, KPMG, Vectra Bank), an Alumnae Fund, and individual donors. The organization was volunteer-governed for over a decade before transitioning to standalone operation in 2017; the first Executive Director was hired in 2020.

In September 2023, the foundation designated 2023 as its capstone year and wound down direct operations, transferring each program function to a designated partner organization (Him for Her for private-company board placement, Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation, Spark the Change for Nonprofit Boardbound legacy, The Leaderboard for Boardconnect, Colorado Women's Chamber Foundation for the State of Women on Boards research, and NACD Colorado for governance training). At the time of closure, cumulative outcomes credited to the foundation included 125+ Corporate Boardbound participants, 65+ Nonprofit Boardbound participants, a 60% placement rate for Corporate Boardbound graduates with at least two years of alumni status, and an increase in women-held positions on Colorado public-company boards from 7% in 2011 to 24% by 2022; 101 corporate board positions attained by Corporate Boardbound participants as of 2025 (up from 75 in 2023) are reported post-handoff.

Name

Women's Leadership Foundation

Legal name

Women's Leadership Foundation

Website

https://womensleadershipfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women's Leadership Foundation was a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prepared executive and civic women for board service through its Corporate Boardbound, Nonprofit Boardbound, and Boardconnect programs, advancing women's representation on Colorado public-company boards from 7% in 2011 to 24% by 2022 before winding down in 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Leadership Development and Board Diversity Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coaching Leadership & Mentoring Skills (EDABAAAG), Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams) (EDABANAF), Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA)

Keywords

• Board readiness training
• Women's leadership development
• Corporate governance programs
• Nonprofit board training
• Board diversity advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Revenue generated through charitable donations from supporters, corporate sponsors, and individual benefactors. The organization made financial contributions to partner organizations in 2023 as part of its capstone transition.
2. Event Fees: Some events such as the Women on Boards annual event charged guest fees ($50 for non-members), and 50/50 Women on Boards Denver Conversation events cost $150.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Women's Leadership Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering board readiness training programs, mentorship matching, and candidate placement services to increase the representation of women on corporate, nonprofit, and government boards. Its flagship offerings are Corporate Boardbound (a one-year intensive program for executive women with workshops and mentor matching), Nonprofit Boardbound (a certificate-based program for nonprofit and public board service), and Boardconnect (a matching service connecting board-ready women with organizations seeking diverse candidates).

Product overview

Women's Leadership Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as 'Boardbound' that offers a portfolio of board readiness and placement programs. The core offerings include: Corporate Boardbound (a one-year intensive program for executive women with workshops and mentor matching), Nonprofit Boardbound (a certificate-based program for nonprofit/government board service), and Boardconnect (a matching service connecting board-ready talent with organizations). Supporting programs include CEOs for Women on Boards (CEO engagement initiative) and State of Women on Boards (research and reporting). All programs concluded in 2023 as the organization's capstone year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Corporate Boardbound: One-year board readiness program for C-level and executive women, including workshops and matching with mentors who serve on corporate boards
• Nonprofit Boardbound
• Boardconnect
• CEOs for Women on Boards

Products and services

• Corporate Boardbound A one-year intensive board readiness program for C-level and executive women that includes workshops and matching with mentors who serve on corporate boards. The program equips talented women to skillfully step into board service and has historically delivered a 60% placement rate among graduates two years post-program, with 101 corporate board positions attained by participants as of 2025.
• Nonprofit Boardbound

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% placement rate: 60% of Corporate Boardbound participants who graduated at least two years ago have attained a corporate board position
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Him for HercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Focuses on private companies whose boards have half the gender diversity of public companies. Named as a partner organization to continue the Boardbound mission legacy.
• Latino Corporate Directors Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Focuses on advancing Latinos onto corporate boards as they are the least represented racial/ethnic group. Partner to continue Boardbound mission.
• Spark the ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Will continue the legacy of Nonprofit Boardbound program. Partner organization for mission continuation.
• The LeaderboardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Previously branded as ION; advances women on boards through regional organizations. Boardbound passed Boardconnect to The Leaderboard in 2023.
• Colorado Women's Chamber FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Will continue research on women on Colorado public company boards. Key partner for ongoing state-level board diversity tracking.
• NACD ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023National Association of Corporate Directors Colorado chapter focuses on board governance education and best practices. Partner for governance training.
• 50/50 Women on BoardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization offering board workshops and co-hosting Denver Conversations on board diversity. Referenced as alternative board training program.
• NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational organization for board governance; Directorship Certified program referenced. Alternative training program for board-bound women.
• DeloitteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColorado Deloitte Board Readiness Program mentioned as alternative board training option. Referenced for Chris Schmidt presenting at Boardbound events.
• Athena AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard training organization referenced as alternative program for women seeking board service.
• Women in the BoardroomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard training organization referenced as alternative program option for women seeking board positions.
• Private Directors AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers Certificate in Private Company Governance; referenced as alternative board training organization.
• Women Corporate DirectorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal organization for women corporate directors; mentioned alongside NACD Directorship Certified program.
• ION WomenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional organization network advancing women on boards; hosted national meetings with Boardbound. Now rebranded as The Leaderboard.
• Him for HerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferral source for Boardconnect program; provides candidates from their network for companies seeking women directors.
• Thirty Percent CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization that sends candidate referrals to Boardconnect program.
• Colorado Women'S Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal parent organization that founded Women's Leadership Foundation in 2002. Foundation became standalone in 2017.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womens-leadership-foundation
• Xx.com/WL_Foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/WomensLeadershipFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Women's Leadership Foundation