WomenStrong International

What WomenStrong International does

WomenStrong International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grantmaking organization founded in 2015 by Dr. Susan M. Blaustein, with a mailing address in New York, NY and operations spanning 17 countries in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. The organization supports 19 women-led partner organizations through a three-pillar model: (1) Trust-Based Grantmaking, which provides unrestricted multi-year funding with minimal application and reporting requirements; (2) Organizational Strengthening, which delivers tailored capacity-building support such as professional development, team-building retreats, and mental health services based on each partner's expressed needs; and (3) a peer-to-peer Learning Lab community of practice accessed through a private WordPress-based Partner Portal at portal.womenstrong.org.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its primary technology assets are standard operational tools — Classy.org and Stripe for donation processing, Mailchimp for email communications, Form Assembly for data collection, and Google Analytics for web analytics. Member organizations focus on women's health, girls' education, violence prevention, sexual and reproductive rights, climate justice, and economic opportunity for women and girls in urban and peri-urban communities.

WomenStrong International operates a community-led go-to-market approach: instead of accepting unsolicited proposals, the organization identifies potential grantee partners through upfront research and co-creates funding proposals with them, then provides unrestricted grants, capacity strengthening, and membership in its Learning Lab. Revenue is generated entirely through donations from individuals (via its website and Classy.org), corporate and organizational donors, and Donor Advised Fund (DAF) contributions. Leadership transitioned in 2024, with Dr. Chisina Kapungu appointed Executive Director and Sara Kriksciun hired as Chief Innovation Officer, while founder Dr. Susan M. Blaustein moved to Chair/President of the Board and Strategic Advisory Council.

Name

WomenStrong International

Legal name

WomenStrong International

Website

https://womenstrong.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WomenStrong International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grantmaking organization that provides unrestricted funding, organizational strengthening, and a peer-to-peer Learning Lab to 19 women-led partner organizations across 17 countries in Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Grantmaking Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Trust-based philanthropy
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Capacity strengthening
• Women-led organizations
• Community of practice

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations from Individuals: WomenStrong accepts donations from individual donors through its website and Classy.org platform. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN# 47-1707504), donations are tax-deductible within U.S. law guidelines.
2. Corporate and Organization Donations: WomenStrong accepts donations from organizations and companies through dedicated donation pages on their website.
3. Donor Advised Fund Contributions: The organization accepts donations from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), providing another avenue for philanthropists to support their work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WomenStrong International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports women-led organizations across 17 countries through three integrated pillars: trust-based, unrestricted grantmaking; tailored organizational strengthening support covering professional development, team-building, and mental health; and a peer-to-peer Learning Lab community of practice. The organization recruits partners through extensive research and co-creation rather than open solicitations, then provides multi-year unrestricted funding and capacity-building assistance to grassroots partners working on women's health, girls' education, violence prevention, and economic opportunity.

Product overview

WomenStrong International operates as a nonprofit grantmaking organization with a three-pillar approach: Trust-Based Grantmaking (providing unrestricted funding), Organizational Strengthening (tailored capacity support), and a Learning Lab (peer-to-peer community). The organization also maintains a Partner Portal - a WordPress-based platform that enables Learning Lab members to interact, share resources, and access content. WomenStrong does not offer software products or technology platforms; rather, it provides grantmaking and capacity-building services to women-led organizations globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trust-Based Grantmaking WomenStrong's core grantmaking approach that provides unrestricted, multi-year funding to vetted women-led grassroots partner organizations, allowing them to allocate resources based on their most pressing needs with minimal application and reporting requirements. Source materials describe this as a co-creation process through which WomenStrong identifies and recruits new partners through research and individual conversations.
• Organizational Strengthening Tailored capacity-building support delivered to women-led partner organizations based on each partner's expressed goals, including professional development, team-building retreats, and mental health support. The offering helps partners advance toward their organizational goals and, per outcome evaluation, has contributed to partners securing additional funding from other sources.
• Learning Lab A peer-to-peer learning community and global community of practice where WomenStrong partners from 16+ countries connect, learn, share resources, and collaborate on gender justice work. Participants report gaining knowledge or skills, with half applying learnings to their work and half crediting the Lab with helping secure additional funding.
• Partner Portal A private WordPress-based portal (portal.womenstrong.org) that enables Learning Lab members to interact, upload and download resources, and receive email updates on recently added content. Access is by invitation or approval for partner organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Partners report gaining knowledge or skills from the Learning Lab — and half have already applied these learnings to their work
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered current partner, founding partner and alumni partner.

• Action for Development (ACFODE)current partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerUganda-based partner that empowers cooperatives, supports gender-based violence survivors, and builds advocacy, leadership, and economic skills among women, youth, and officials.
• Alice Visionary Projectfounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenya-based founding partner that assists the most vulnerable in understanding and achieving their full potential through educating children and empowering women and girls.
• Amal Foundationcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBangladesh-based partner empowering vulnerable communities through integrated solutions in education, healthcare, climate resilience, and economic development.
• Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity (BCWS)current partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampions women's rights in the workplace, trains workers, and helps lead efforts for greater accountability from the world's largest garment manufacturers.
• Barranquilla+20current partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerA youth-led NGO in Colombia advancing climate action, biodiversity, and water initiatives through education, empowerment, and policy engagement.
• Black Girls Risingcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerA black-led, youth-focused organization based in Cape Town, South Africa that works to empower the next generation of young women climate-activist leaders.
• Black Women's Blueprintalumni partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA-based alumni partner that works to help Black women and survivors heal from trauma and violence through a holistic approach.
• Bread for the Citycurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington, D.C.-based partner that helps low-income residents develop the power to determine the future of their families and communities.
• Centro Mujerescurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexico-based partner that empowers women, youth, and migrants to advocate for their human rights and seeks to end sexual violence and forced sex with girls.
• Climalabcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to create solutions that promote opportunities to improve the quality of life of girls, boys, youth, and women to address the climate crisis.
• Copper Rose Zambiacurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerZambia-based partner focusing on youth and sexual and reproductive health, working to create a world in which every young person is happy, healthy, and living to their full potential.
• DHAN Foundationcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia-based partner that works to uplift the poor and disadvantaged segments of the community by promoting economic security and education, thereby empowering women and men.
• Firecracker Foundationcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to end child sexual abuse by building a community invested in the healing of every child's whole being.
• Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)current partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambodia-based partner addressing gender-based violence by promoting mutual respect between men and women and enabling policymakers to address gender inequality locally and nationally.
• Girls Empowerment Network (GENET)current partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalawi-based partner that improves the status and wellbeing of vulnerable, marginalized, and at-risk adolescent girls and empowers them to advocate for gender equality.
• Girl Up Initiative Ugandacurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerUganda-based partner that works to build a vibrant movement of girls and young women through transformative leadership, sexual and reproductive health education, and skills development.
• Green Girls Platformcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpowers girls and young women in Malawi, ages 8-35, to tackle climate challenges through inclusive, collaborative initiatives.
• Haiti Outreach Pwoje Espwacurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaiti-based partner that strives to meet community needs for healthcare, clean water, economic development, and education.
• Mali Healthcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMali-based partner that develops community-led solutions to improve maternal and child health in communities affected by poverty.
• Men Stopping Violencecurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to educate and develop the knowledge and skills of men from all walks of life to create a world free of violence against women and girls.
• Mujeres Aliadascurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexico-based partner that promotes sexual and reproductive rights and provides sexual and reproductive healthcare to women and adolescents through a holistic approach.
• Mujeres Transformandocurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEl Salvador-based partner that promotes the rights of women workers in garment factories, organizes in communities, trains local government, and assists survivors of workplace violence.
• Power Shift Nepalcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerA women-led organization in Nepal to mainstream female leadership to combat climate change and environmental issues. It is the first women-led organization working specifically on climate justice in Nepal.
• Projet Jeune Leadercurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadagascar-based partner that provides young people with comprehensive sexuality education and access to sexual and reproductive health resources to improve adolescent learning and wellbeing.
• Roots of Healthcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippines-based partner that addresses the lack of sexual and reproductive health knowledge among young people through education, service delivery, and systems-strengthening.
• Rwanda Women's Networkcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRwanda-based partner that works to end gender inequality by healing and empowering women and survivors of gender-based violence and transforming communities.
• Saharcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfghanistan-based partner that provides educational opportunities and safe learning spaces for women and girls, including through underground educational opportunities for girls denied education by the Taliban.
• Society for Labour and Developmentcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizes workers, provides legal representation, conducts research, strengthens leadership skills, and advances gender justice for those engaged in global supply chains.
• The Action Foundationcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to end exclusion, discrimination, and violence towards children, women, and girls with disabilities in marginalized communities, enabling them to build better lives.
• The Girls' Legacycurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerZimbabwe-based partner that builds the capacity of young women and girls through leadership development and mentoring to enable them to become role models and change agents.
• Visionaria Networkcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeru-based partner that delivers transformational learning experiences to young women and men that enable them to become social innovators in their own lives and communities.
• Women's Health to Wealthcurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGhana-based partner that advocates for and provides women's health education programs to help low-income women and girls overcome extreme poverty.
• Women's Justice Initiativecurrent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuatemala-based partner that improves the lives of indigenous women and girls through education, access to legal services, and gender-based violence prevention.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MADRE: Direct peer: an international women's human rights organization partnering with grassroots women-led groups and providing grants, training, and emergency response. Comparable partner-network model in the Global South, though MADRE also operates direct programs whereas WomenStrong is purely grantmaking.
• FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund: Direct peer: a youth-led fund providing flexible grants and capacity support to young feminist organizations globally. Highly comparable on the multi-country, women-led-grantee focus and trust-based, unrestricted grantmaking philosophy.
• Global Fund for Women: Direct peer: a public charity that provides flexible, multi-year grants and capacity-building support to women-led organizations across the Global South. Closely matches WomenStrong's grantmaking + organizational strengthening model and international partner-network footprint.
• Foundation for a Just Society: Direct peer: a private foundation supporting grassroots organizations working on gender justice, LGBTQI+ rights, and movement building internationally. Closely matches WomenStrong's grantmaking + capacity-strengthening model and international partner footprint.
• Mama Cash: Direct peer: Netherlands-based feminist grantmaker funding women's, girls', and trans people's rights organizations worldwide. Comparable grantmaking approach, international partner model, and emphasis on flexible, unrestricted funding for grassroots women-led groups.
• Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights: Direct peer: a rapid-response grantmaker for women human rights defenders facing security threats. Comparable international women's-rights grantmaking focus, but specialized in crisis/emergency funding rather than WomenStrong's multi-year organizational strengthening model.
• EMpower (The EMpower Foundation): Direct peer: an international funder supporting at-risk youth (especially girls and young women) in emerging economies. Comparable grantmaking + capacity-building model, similar partner network in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and shared target issues (gender-based violence, education, economic opportunity).
• The Equality Fund: Direct peer: a Canadian-based collaborative fund supporting feminist movements globally through pooled and re-granting capital. Comparable gender-lens grantmaking, partnership with women-led organizations in the Global South, and emphasis on long-term, flexible funding.
• Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice: Direct peer: a global grantmaker resourcing LGBTQI+, feminist, and women's rights movements. Matches the international grantmaking model, target issues (violence, economic justice, health), and partner-support orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Ms. Foundation for Women: Broader incumbent: a larger, longer-running U.S. women's foundation funding women and girls of color, with grantmaking and capacity-building programs. Same mission area but a more established institutional scale and broader domestic policy focus than WomenStrong.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/womenstrongintl
• Facebookfacebook.com/womenstrongintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womenstrong-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/womenstrongintl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 WomenStrong International