Women's Congressional Policy Institute

What Women's Congressional Policy Institute does

The Women's Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) public policy organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Originally incorporated as Women's Policy, Inc., it rebranded to its current name in 2017 to reflect its Capitol Hill-centric positioning. Its mission is to bring women policymakers together across party lines by serving as the operational partner of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues (the Women's Caucus), a 47-year-old congressional caucus. WCPI's primary audiences are women Members of Congress, graduate-level women interested in public policy careers, young women and girls, women veterans, and individual donors who support the mission.

WCPI's core program portfolio centers on the Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy — the only graduate-level fellowship on Capitol Hill focused on women, which has produced 300+ alumni since 1980 and places cohorts of fellows in congressional offices each January-through-July cycle. The organization also runs congressional briefings on issues including child care, women veterans' health, STEM, and period poverty; the Women Chiefs of Staff Program (Joint Session); annual events such as the Annual Congressional Gala (200-440 attendees), STEAM Fair, Women Veterans' Annual Event, and Take Our Daughters to Congress Day; and publications including the Weekly Legislative Update (formerly The Source on Women's Issues in Congress) and the WCPI Monthly Dispatch. WCPI does not operate a technology platform, software product, or AI system — its deliverables are programmatic convenings, policy research, fellowships, and content publications.

The institute is funded entirely through philanthropic and earned-event revenue, with no product sales or fees for service. Revenue streams include individual donations via the Capitol Circle tiered giving society (from under $1,000 to $5,000+), corporate sponsorships (Gala tiers from $5,000 Bronze to $100,000 Sapphire), foundation grants, planned giving through the WCPI Legacy Society, and federal-employee giving via the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #34102). Operations are lean at 1-10 employees, and the organization completed its 30th anniversary in 2025 alongside a presidential transition from Cindy Hall (26-year tenure) to Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat.

Name

Women's Congressional Policy Institute

Legal name

Women's Congressional Policy Institute

Website

https://wcpinst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Women's Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization that convenes bipartisan women policymakers on Capitol Hill through fellowships, congressional briefings, and annual events, serving women Members of Congress, graduate students, women veterans, and girls.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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. Individual Donations: Capitol Circle individual giving society with tiered levels: Capitol Visionary ($5,000+), Bipartisan Leader ($2,500+), Policy Partner ($1,000+), and Friends of WCPI (under $1,000). Monthly giving options available.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support the Annual Congressional Gala and other events. Gala sponsors range from Sapphire ($100,000) to Bronze ($5,000) tiers.
3. Planned Giving: Bequests, retirement assets, life insurance, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts. Members of the WCPI Legacy Society include planned giving donors.
4. Foundation Grants: Foundation partners and grant funding support specific programs such as the fellowship program and briefings.
5. Combined Federal Campaign: Federal employees can donate through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC Number: 34102).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

WCPI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization that works closely with the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues to advance policy issues affecting women and their families. It delivers its mission through the Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy, Capitol Hill briefings, annual signature events (Annual Congressional Gala, STEAM Fair, Women Veterans' Annual Event, Take Our Daughters to Congress Day), the Women Chiefs of Staff Program, and publications including the Weekly Legislative Report and WCPI Monthly Dispatch.

Product overview

Women's Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization that offers a portfolio of programs, events, and publications rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include the Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy (the only graduate-level fellowship on Capitol Hill focused on women), Weekly Legislative Report publication, congressional briefings on women's issues, the Joint Session women chiefs of staff program, and signature annual events including the Congressional Gala, STEAM Fair, Women Veterans' Annual Event, and Take Our Daughters to Congress Day. The organization also produces the WCPI Monthly Dispatch and Digital Gallery content series. WCPI does not offer a technology product, API, or AI-powered services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy A graduate-level fellowship that places fellows in U.S. congressional offices as legislative assistants working on policy issues affecting women; fellows work 40 hours weekly from January through July and participate in issue seminars. More than 300 fellows have participated since 1980.
• Congressional Briefings Capitol Hill briefings hosted in House and Senate office buildings covering women's health, international issues, workforce development, child care, STEM, period poverty, women veterans' issues, and other topics affecting women; offered free of charge to congressional staff and Members.
• Women Chiefs of Staff Program (Joint Session)

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 300 Fellows have come to Congress since 1980, with the majority working in teaching, law, medicine, or policy careers on Capitol Hill
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First Five Years FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2025Co-hosted the 'Child Care Means Business' Capitol Hill briefing on September 9, 2025, in cooperation with the Bipartisan Women's Caucus and Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus. This partnership focuses on advancing child care policy.
• DAV (Disabled American Veterans)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2024Sponsored the Women Veterans' Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Intimate Partner Violence briefing in November 2024. DAV has been a longstanding partner for WCPI's women veterans programming.
• Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 November 2024Provided grant funding for the 2024 Women Veterans' Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Intimate Partner Violence briefing.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 February 2024Provided grant funding for the STEM Gap briefing on February 15, 2024, addressing challenges to women's full participation in STEM fields.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2023Co-sponsored the 2023 Women Veterans' Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Military Sexual Trauma briefing, focusing on women veteran mental health issues.
• Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 November 2023Provided support for the 2023 Women Veterans' Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Military Sexual Trauma briefing.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 November 2021Provided grant for the Impact of the Pandemic on Caregiving and Working Women briefing, with SHRM researchers presenting on caregiving data.
• AARPminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 November 2021Co-sponsored the Impact of the Pandemic on Caregiving and Working Women briefing with AARP's senior legislative representative presenting on elder care.
• AbbVieminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 November 2021Sponsored the Women Veterans and Migraine briefing addressing health issues specific to women veterans.
• Lundbeck LLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 November 2021Sponsored the Women Veterans and Migraine briefing addressing health issues specific to women veterans.
• QualcommminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2021Provided grant funding for the Women and Patents briefing focused on increasing diversity in the innovation ecosystem.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 May 2021Provided grant through Always brand for the Ending Period Poverty for Women and Girls briefing, with P&G's Feminine Care president moderating the discussion.
• AlwaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 May 2021Co-funded with Procter & Gamble the Ending Period Poverty for Women and Girls briefing focused on menstrual equity.
• Girls Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2017Partnered for nearly 20 years to host Take Our Daughters to Congress Day, an annual event recognizing the importance of role models in shaping girls' lives.
• NovartisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate donor supporting the Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy program.
• PepsiCominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate donor and 2026 Sapphire-level gala sponsor supporting WCPI's mission and fellowship program.
• SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for fellowship program and provided grant for the Women in the Workforce economic briefing series.
• North American Taiwanese Women's Association (NATWA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate donor supporting the Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy.
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for the annual STEAM Fair, providing exhibits showcasing STEAM programs targeting women and girls.
• National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women's HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for STEAM Fair and various health-related briefings on Capitol Hill.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for STEAM Fair promoting science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics programs for women.
• Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner including Center for Minority Veterans, Center for Women Veterans, and Veteran Employment Services Office for women veterans programming.
• Society of Women EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for STEAM Fair showcasing efforts to encourage girls to pursue STEAM careers and young women to remain in STEAM fields.
• Girl Scouts of the USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for STEAM Fair and Take Our Daughters to Congress Day, promoting leadership opportunities for girls.
• Girls Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding nonprofit partner for Take Our Daughters to Congress Day, inspiring girls to see themselves as future leaders.
• American Association of University Women (AAUW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for STEAM Fair promoting educational and professional equity for women.
• IntelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector partner for the Fourth Annual STEM Fair, supporting efforts to encourage girls in STEM careers.
• CiscominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector partner for STEM Fair, supporting technology education for women and girls.
• L'Oréal USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector partner for multiple STEAM Fairs, supporting women's advancement in STEAM fields.
• IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLabor union partner for STEAM Fair, promoting trades and technical careers for women.
• QualcommminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector partner for STEAM Fair, supporting technology and innovation programs for women.
• Facebook/MetaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate sector partner for STEAM Fair supporting women's participation in technology fields.
• AstellasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical partner supporting STEAM Fair and healthcare-focused events.
• MylanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical company partner for STEAM Fair and women's health programming.
• Invent TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for the Women and Patents briefing, working to increase diversity in the innovation ecosystem.
• AbbVieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor for women veterans health briefings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• EMILY's List: EMILY's List supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates. While larger and partisan (versus WCPI's bipartisan posture), it shares the women-in-government mission and convenes donors, candidates, and officeholders.

Broad incumbents

• National Women's Law Center (NWLC): NWLC is a major women's rights legal and policy advocacy organization. It is comparable as a women-focused nonprofit operating in the D.C. policy ecosystem with corporate and foundation funding, though its advocacy scope (legal, economic, reproductive) is far wider than WCPI's Hill-centric mission.
• Center for American Progress (CAP): CAP is a large progressive think tank with substantial women's policy and economic program work. While much broader in ideological scope and policy domain, its women-focused initiatives and Hill engagement offer a scaled-up reference for WCPI's policy work.

Direct peers

• Running Start: Running Start brings young women into politics through fellowships, training programs, and the Young Women Political Leaders program. Like WCPI's fellowship and Take Our Daughters to Congress Day, it invests in the pipeline of women political leaders.
• Women's Research and Education Institute (WREI): WREI is the direct peer: it originally ran the Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy from 1980 until Susan Scanlan transferred the program to WCPI in 2014. Both organizations train women for policy careers on Capitol Hill, making them the closest comparable.
• Higher Heights Leadership Fund: Higher Heights builds the political power and leadership of Black women from the ballot box to elected office. It is comparable to WCPI as a women-in-politics pipeline nonprofit, though focused specifically on Black women.
• Barbara Lee Family Foundation: Barbara Lee Family Foundation focuses on electing and supporting women candidates and advancing women in political leadership. Its mission aligns tightly with WCPI's pipeline-building for women in Congress, though it concentrates on candidacies rather than Hill staff.

Others

• American Association of University Women (AAUW): AAUW advances equity for women in education and the workforce and is an active WCPI partner for the STEAM Fair. Comparable as a women-focused advocacy nonprofit with membership/donor funding, though broader in scope.
• Vital Voices Global Partnership: Vital Voices invests in women leaders globally with corporate and government partners. It shares WCPI's women-leader pipeline orientation but operates internationally rather than within the U.S. Congress.

Regional players

• Close Up Foundation: Close Up Foundation runs youth civic education programs in Washington, D.C., including fellowship-style placements on Capitol Hill. Its youth-Hill immersion model parallels WCPI's fellowship and Take Our Daughters programs, but it is broader in age range and civics focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WCPInst
• Facebookfacebook.com/WCPInst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women's Congressional Policy Institute