Women's Center of Greater Lansing

What Women's Center of Greater Lansing does

Women's Center of Greater Lansing (WCGL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 and headquartered at 1710-1712 E Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Michigan, providing counseling, employment support, health resources, education, and advocacy for women and girls in the Greater Lansing and tri-county (Ingham, Eaton, Clinton) area. The organization operates a comprehensive service suite spanning individual and group mental health therapy (trauma, PTSD, grief, anxiety, DV/SA), employment services (resume and interview preparation, computer lab access), a Career Boutique providing free professional clothing, a Personal Needs Closet for hygiene supplies, support groups, the Bold Steps Business Lab for entrepreneurship, and educational programs including teen empowerment workshops on dating violence and consent. Since opening, WCGL reports serving more than 10,000 women cumulatively and reaching 8,000+ women annually across Mid Michigan.

WCGL's technology stack is standard nonprofit infrastructure: HIPAA-compliant online intake and registration forms (Jotform), a HIPAA-compliant client payment portal, telehealth platforms for remote counseling, and donor/case-management tools. The organization does not bill insurance and uses a sliding-scale fee model for counseling, deliberately removing both financial and insurance-status barriers to mental health care. Ancillary services (career coaching, support groups, Career Boutique, Personal Needs Closet) are provided at no cost.

Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations (one-time gifts and a tiered monthly GEM program from $20 Amethyst to $1,000+ Diamond), event fundraising (Capital City Dragon Boat Race, We Laugh Comedy Show, Fierce & Fearless 5K, Michele Fluck Award), grants and foundation support (including MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation for the Bold Steps Business Lab, Community Foundation 2024 Youth Grant, and an endowment managed by Capital Region Community Foundation), and modest program service fees from sliding-scale counseling. The 1-10 person staff includes an Executive Director, Director of HR and Clinical Operations, Bookkeeping Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, and LPC/LLMSW therapists, supplemented by approximately 30 volunteers and a volunteer board of directors.

Name

Women's Center of Greater Lansing

Legal name

Women's Center of Greater Lansing, Inc.

Website

https://lansingwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women's Center of Greater Lansing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that delivers counseling, employment services, hygiene and clothing assistance, education workshops, and advocacy to women and girls across Michigan's tri-county region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFAGAB

Community Health Centers (FQHCs & Look-Alikes)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Primary Care & Community Health Providers

Keywords

• Women's health services
• Mental health counseling
• Employment services
• Domestic violence support
• Community education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization receives monetary donations from individuals through one-time and monthly (GEM program) contributions, with various giving tiers from $10 to $1,000+ offering different recognition benefits.
2. Event Fundraising: Major annual events including the Capital City Dragon Boat Race, We Laugh Comedy Show, Fierce & Fearless 5K, and Michele Fluck Award ceremony generate proceeds through team registrations, sponsorships, ticket sales, and raffles.
3. Grants and Foundation Support: The nonprofit receives grant funding from organizations including the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation (for Bold Steps Business Lab), Community Foundation 2024 Youth Grant, and operates an endowment fund through Capital Region Community Foundation.
4. Program Service Fees: Counseling services are provided on a sliding-scale fee system. The organization does not bill insurance, making services accessible to uninsured or underinsured women.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Women's Center of Greater Lansing provides mental health counseling (individual therapy and support groups), employment services (resume help, interview prep, computer lab), the Career Boutique (free professional clothing), and a Personal Needs Closet (free hygiene supplies) for women in the Greater Lansing area. It also runs the Bold Steps Business Lab for entrepreneurs, education and training programs, advocacy work on racial justice and reproductive rights, and resource navigation, all on a sliding-scale or free basis without insurance billing.

Product overview

The Women's Center of Greater Lansing is a private non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of social services for women in the Lansing area. The organization's core offerings include Mental Health Counseling (individual therapy and support groups), Employment Services (career coaching, resume assistance, computer lab access), and the Career Boutique (free professional clothing for interviews). Additional services include a Personal Needs Closet for hygiene supplies, Education & Training Programs (workplace workshops and teen empowerment), the Bold Steps Business Lab for entrepreneurship support, Fiduciary Sponsorship for emerging nonprofits, and Advocacy work on racial justice and reproductive rights. The organization operates on a sliding-scale fee model and does not bill insurance, removing financial barriers to mental health care. All services are designed to help women achieve financial independence and personal well-being.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mental Health Counseling Individual and group therapy services provided by LMSW therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, graduate student interns, and a dual-certified Nurse Practitioner. Services include trauma-informed treatment for PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, domestic violence, and sexual assault survivors. Available on a sliding-scale fee basis; insurance is not billed. Delivered in-person at the Lansing office and via telehealth.
• Employment Services Career counseling and job readiness services including resume and cover letter creation, interview preparation, job search assistance, budgeting sessions, application assistance, and skill building through computer lab access. Addresses barriers to employment for women including those who are formerly or currently homeless.
• Career Boutique Free professional clothing closet providing interview-appropriate attire including dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories for job seekers. All items are donated by community members and available to clients at no cost.
• Personal Needs Closet Hygiene supply pantry offering shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush/paste, lotion, deodorant, menstrual hygiene supplies, and more at no cost. Open to anyone and supported entirely by donations.
• Support Groups Various peer support groups including grief support (Coffee and Grief, Any Loss, Spouse and Partner Loss, Grief & Loss), domestic violence survivor support, sexual assault support, anxiety management, Women of Color support group, and the F.I.T. support group for families facing serious illness.
• Education & Training Programs Specialized training programs for community companies on workplace topics including gender dynamics, supporting women, workplace bullying, and leadership adaptation. Also includes teen empowerment workshops on consent, dating violence, and healthy relationships for youth aged 5-17.
• Bold Steps Business Lab Entrepreneurship support program providing customized curriculum, one-on-one coaching, mentorship, and guidance on funding opportunities for clients launching or growing businesses in the Lansing area. Made possible by MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.
• Social Programming Social interaction and community building activities including Coffee & Craft Hour on Mondays. Provides a safe social environment with coffee and varying activities weekly.
• Fiduciary Sponsorship Financial management and administrative support for up-and-coming nonprofits, helping new organizations with fund management and necessary paperwork. Ideal for organizations focused on women's health or domestic violence prevention.
• Advocacy Policy advocacy work at state and local levels addressing root causes of women's disadvantages. Includes racial justice, reproductive rights advocacy, voter registration, and state-level legislative initiatives.
• Resource Navigation Case management and referral services connecting clients to vital resources in the Greater Lansing Area including housing, food, legal assistance, and healthcare.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served more than 10,000 women since 2005
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sparrow Bereavement Support ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sparrow Hospital's grief support services providing multiple support groups including Coffee and Grief, Any Loss, Spouse and Partner Loss, and Grief & Loss groups. WCGL serves as venue and co-facilitator for these community grief services.
• Signature Solutions GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for WCGL events and programs, providing marketing and business solutions partnership.
• Gud MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner and sponsor for WCGL events including the We Laugh Comedy Show.
• CATA (Capital Area Transportation Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic transportation partner enabling client access to WCGL services via Route 1 bus service.
• East Lansing City GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on housing solutions for homeless individuals. WCGL is part of coalition exploring longer-term housing solutions with city officials and other nonprofits.
• Addis EnterprisesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebsite development partner that redesigned WCGL's website in 2023. Also a sponsor for Dragon Boat Race events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Sparrow Health System: Lansing-based health system that is both a referral source for WCGL clients and an active partner in co-located grief/illness support groups; relevant as a healthcare ecosystem peer and partner.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: National network of YWCAs delivering counseling, advocacy, housing, and employment services for women; provides a broader umbrella against which WCGL's community-based model can be benchmarked.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence: National advocacy and capacity-building network for domestic violence programs; provides policy and best-practice infrastructure comparable to WCGL's advocacy work.
• Zonta International: Global service organization of professionals advancing women's empowerment through advocacy, scholarships, and service projects; comparable mission and volunteer-driven delivery model.

Regional players

• Michigan Women's Foundation: Michigan-focused foundation advancing economic self-sufficiency for women and girls through grants and programs; comparable mission and donor-advised funding model.
• Capital Area United Way: Regional United Way covering the Lansing area that funds many of the same social services and community-based health programs as WCGL; competes for overlapping donor dollars and corporate partnerships.
• Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence: Statewide coalition supporting member programs that deliver domestic violence and sexual assault services, including direct overlap with WCGL's advocacy and survivor support groups.
• HAVEN (Michigan domestic violence and sexual assault services): Michigan-based nonprofit providing counseling, advocacy, and shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; directly comparable clinical and advocacy services.

Direct peers

• Dress for Success: National nonprofit providing professional clothing, career development, and employment support for women; directly comparable to WCGL's Career Boutique and employment services programs.
• YWCA Greater Lansing: Local YWCA affiliate providing women's empowerment, domestic violence services, and supportive programming in the Lansing area; directly comparable in mission and service mix to WCGL.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/womenscenterGL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzJ7
• Facebookfacebook.com/WomensCenterGL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womens-center-of-greater-lansing
• Instagraminstagram.com/womenscenterGL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Center of Greater Lansing