ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL WOMENS ASSOCIATION INC

What ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL WOMENS ASSOCIATION INC does

Armenian International Women's Association Inc. (AIWA) is a US-based nonprofit organization incorporated in Massachusetts in March 1991 by Eva Medzorian, Barbara Merguerian, and Olga Proudian, headquartered at 65 Main Street, #3A, Watertown, MA. The organization serves women of Armenian descent globally, with a primary programmatic focus on education, economic empowerment, health and wellbeing, and arts. Its core offerings include the Scholarship Awards program (over $1 million distributed to 200+ female Armenian students since 1997), the Women's Entrepreneurship Program developed in partnership with the American University of Armenia Extension, the Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts (established 2017), and ongoing support for the Women's Support Center in Yerevan, which operates Armenia's only two domestic violence shelters. AIWA also hosts international conferences (9 since 1994 across London, Paris, Yerevan, Geneva, Buenos Aires, San Francisco, and Boston), maintains consultative status with the UN ECOSOC and DPI since 1996, and participates annually in the NGO Commission on the Status of Women. Its sub-brands include AIWA NextGen (young professionals), AIWA Thrive (member recognition), and AIWA Empower Path (support for displaced Artsakh women via Hub Artsakh).

AIWA operates through a network of 6 regional affiliates — Chicago, Los Angeles, New England, Greater New York, San Francisco, and Yerevan — that deliver local programming and member services. The technology stack is minimal: the Wild Apricot platform handles member registration, profile management, donations, bookstore purchases, and event registration. No proprietary technology, mobile app, API, or AI/ML capabilities are present. The organization is volunteer-governed by a Board of Directors with only 5 paid staff; the board includes senior professionals from investment management, accounting (RSM), healthcare (Tufts Medical Center), and legal/compliance roles.

The revenue model is a nonprofit blend of individual donations, annual membership dues, named endowed scholarships, conference registration fees ($595 regular rate, $150 reduced host-country rate for Armenia-based attendees), and partnership grants. AIWA has no parent company, no funding rounds, and no acquisitions. Notable cumulative impact metrics include $1M+ in scholarships, $278K+ for the Women's Support Center, $165K+ for economic empowerment, $48K in LKFA arts grants, 12 books published, and $1.3M+ mobilized for humanitarian medical supplies in 2020.

Name

ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL WOMENS ASSOCIATION INC

Legal name

Armenian International Women's Association, Inc.

Website

https://aiwainternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AIWA is a US-based nonprofit serving Armenian women globally through scholarships, entrepreneurship training, domestic violence support, arts grants, and international conferences, operating via 6 regional affiliates and a volunteer-run Board structure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Nonprofit Advocacy and Education Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Women's nonprofit services
• Scholarship fund management
• Arts grant administration
• International conference hosting
• Community advocacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

WATERTOWN, Massachusetts

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from members and supporters worldwide, including humanitarian appeals (e.g., $1.3M+ mobilized for 2020 medical supplies).
2. Membership dues: Annual membership fees collected through Wild Apricot platform.
3. Endowed scholarships and grants: Named scholarship endowments funded by donors to honor loved ones, providing financial assistance to female Armenian students globally.
4. Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts: Grants supporting young female artists in Armenian-American community, funded by LA affiliate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AIWA is a nonprofit organization that connects, inspires, and empowers Armenian women globally through a portfolio of programs including need- and merit-based scholarships for female Armenian students, the Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts grants, AIWA NextGen professional development, the Women's Entrepreneurship Program with American University of Armenia, biennial international conferences, and UN advocacy through CSW participation. The organization is supported by membership dues, individual donations, endowed scholarship funds, and conference registration fees, and is operated by volunteers under a Board of Directors.

Product overview

AIWA offers a portfolio of programs and services focused on connecting, inspiring, and empowering Armenian women globally. The core offerings include scholarship awards for female students of Armenian descent, the Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts grants, AIWA NextGen for young professionals, the Women's Entrepreneurship Program in partnership with AUA, international conferences, UN advocacy participation through CSW, and the Thrive recognition initiative. These programs work together to advance education, economic empowerment, health, and leadership among Armenian women worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AIWA NextGen: A program designed to connect ambitious young professionals with opportunities, mentorship, and network access for career growth and leadership development.
• AIWA Thrive
• AIWA Empower Path

Products and services

• AIWA Scholarship Awards
• Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts (LKFA)
• AIWA NextGen
• Women's Entrepreneurship Program (WEP)
• AIWA International Conferences
• UN Commission on Status of Women (CSW) Participation
• AIWA Empower Path Program focused on empowering Armenian women through education, health, and economic support, with special focus on displaced women from Artsakh. Includes the Hub Artsakh partnership providing virtual assistant training, professional development, and access to sustainable employment opportunities, plus the Homeland Development Initiative Foundation crafts program supporting income through traditional crocheting, knitting, sewing, and embroidery.
• AIWA Thrive Recognition initiative that spotlights exceptional AIWA members who exemplify leadership, achievement, and commitment to the Armenian community. Features member profiles on the AIWA blog and has highlighted 74 women through the program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million in scholarships awarded to 200+ Armenian women students since 1997
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Women's Support Center (WSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010AIWA co-founded WSC with Tufenkian Foundation and USAID funding. WSC offers the only two domestic violence shelters in Armenia, accommodating up to 24 women and children. AIWA helped purchase the second safe house in 2019.
• American University of ArmeniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Cooperation with AUA Extension Department to develop Women's Entrepreneurship Program (WEP), providing comprehensive entrepreneurship training for women in Armenia in both English and Armenian. Program administered in Yerevan and Gyumri, with grants/loans for WEP graduates who own small businesses.
• United Nations ECOSOCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992AIWA has held consultative status with UN ECOSOC and DPI since 1996. Participates annually in NGO Commission on the Status of Women sessions since 2007.
• Tufenkian FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded Women's Support Center with AIWA in 2010. Initial funding: $10,000 annually from each organization matched by $20,000 from USAID.
• Hub ArtsakhcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Empower Path program helping displaced women from Artsakh through virtual assistant training, professional development, and access to sustainable employment opportunities.
• Armenian Bar AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with AIWA Greater NY for UN CSW parallel panel 'Her Rights, Her Future: Advancing Access to Justice' (2026).
• Equality NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with AIWA Greater NY for UN CSW parallel panel 'Her Rights, Her Future: Advancing Access to Justice' (2026).
• Women's Bar Association of the State of New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with AIWA Greater NY for UN CSW parallel panel 'Her Rights, Her Future: Advancing Access to Justice' (2026).
• Homeland Development Initiative Foundation (HDIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIWA-supported initiative led by Sir Timothy Straight, providing income to hundreds of women across Armenia through traditional crafts (crocheting, knitting, sewing, embroidery). AIWA provides financial support of $5,000.
• AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint letter with AIWA and ARF to UN Secretary General on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (October 27, 2020).
• ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint letter with AIWA and AGBU to UN Secretary General on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (October 27, 2020).
• Wellesley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted founding symposium in December 1990 where AIWA was conceptualized and planning began for the organization's formation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UN Women: United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and empowerment of women globally. A broad incumbent whose CSW programming AIWA participates in annually; comparable through shared advocacy forum rather than direct competition.

Direct peers

• Armenian Relief Society (ARS): Armenian humanitarian and women's nonprofit operating across the diaspora with educational, social services, and disaster relief programs. Closest direct peer to AIWA in mission, constituency, and program mix (scholarships, women's support, community services).
• Equality Now: International human rights NGO advancing gender equality through legal advocacy, with UN consultative status. Comparable to AIWA in UN CSW parallel-panel programming and gender-rights advocacy at the international level.
• Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society: Armenian diaspora organization focused on education, cultural preservation, and youth programs across multiple countries. Comparable in operating model (affiliate-based, diaspora-funded, education-focused) and Armenian-community focus.
• Tufenkian Foundation: Armenian-American nonprofit funding humanitarian, social, and economic development projects in Armenia. Direct peer as a co-founding partner of AIWA's Women's Support Center with overlapping Armenia-focused program areas.
• Armenian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA): Armenian-focused women's organization providing social welfare and community support services. Comparable in mission to AIWA's social services and women's empowerment programs within the Armenian community.
• Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR): Armenian-American humanitarian and development nonprofit funding education, health, and economic programs in Armenia. Comparable in operating model, beneficiary population, and program categories (education, economic empowerment, humanitarian relief).
• Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA): Armenian-American advocacy organization focused on US policy, public affairs, and community organizing. Comparable in diaspora-wide Armenian advocacy and joint UN/government-facing initiatives.
• Women's Support Center (WSC) Armenia: Yerevan-based nonprofit addressing domestic violence in Armenia, co-founded with AIWA. Operates Armenia's only two DV shelters, directly comparable in women's-rights advocacy and on-the-ground service delivery.
• Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU): Largest Armenian diaspora nonprofit globally, operating education, cultural, and humanitarian programs. Highly comparable to AIWA in serving the Armenian diaspora through grants, scholarships, and cultural initiatives, though broader in mission scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/armenian-international-womens-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries8 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 ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL WOMENS ASSOCIATION INC