directwomen

What directwomen does

DirectWomen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in La Grange, Illinois, whose mission is to increase the representation of women lawyers on U.S. corporate boards. The organization identifies and develops leading women lawyers — including General Counsels of Fortune 500 companies, partners at top law firms, and senior lawyers from government and academia — and serves as a resource for companies seeking qualified women board director candidates. Its primary audiences are two-sided: senior women attorneys seeking board placement and corporate boards, search firms, and CEOs seeking vetted women director candidates.

The core product portfolio centers on the annual Board Institute, a highly selective program positioning roughly 16-18 board-ready women lawyers for corporate board service each year, supplemented by the annual Sandra Day O'Connor Board Excellence Award Luncheon in New York City, an annual International Boards Program (held in London in 2023, at the US Embassy in 2024, and at the London Stock Exchange in 2025), quarterly webinars, an on-demand educational library, and a searchable Alumnae Directory of 300+ vetted women lawyers filterable by area of expertise, industry, board committee, geography, and sector. The underlying technology is a content-and-database website platform (directwomen.org) hosting program information, the alumnae directory, applications, donation processing, and webinar content; no proprietary AI, API, or SDK capabilities are disclosed.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than commercial. DirectWomen is registered as a 501(c)(3) under EIN 83-3461885 and is funded by individual donations from supporters and alumnae (ticket sizes from under $1,000 to $10,000+ annually) and by corporate sponsorships at multi-tier levels (Diamond, Platinum Ambassador, Platinum, Gold, Silver). The 2026 Diamond sponsor cohort includes Baker Botts, Broadridge Financial, Paul Weiss, and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, with Platinum Ambassador sponsors including Covington & Burling, Cozen O'Connor, Freshfields, and Squire Patton Boggs, and Gold sponsors including Arnold & Porter, Bayer, and Cardinal Health. A small professional staff of roughly three full-time roles (Executive Director, Director of Programs and Operations, Administrative and Events Specialist) operates the organization under a Board of Directors chaired by Lily Yan Hughes. DirectWomen reports that nearly 40% of its 300+ Board Institute alumnae have been elected to serve on at least one corporate board, collectively filling 220+ board seats since 2007.

Name

directwomen

Legal name

DirectWomen

Website

https://directwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DirectWomen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that develops and connects women lawyers for corporate board service through its flagship Board Institute, award luncheons, international programming, and a searchable alumnae directory of 300+ vetted director candidates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Governance Programs

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Legal & Compliance Direct Hire (BPACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Corporate board service
• Board readiness programs
• Director placement services
• Board governance education
• Women leadership nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

La Grange

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: DirectWomen is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 83-3461885) that relies on individual donations from its community of supporters, alumnae, and allies. Donation levels range from under $1,000 to $10,000+ per year.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide financial support at multiple tiers (Diamond, Platinum Ambassador, Platinum, Gold, Silver) to fund DirectWomens programs that position women lawyers for corporate board service. Sponsors include major law firms, corporations, and financial services companies.
3. Sponsorship (In-Kind Support): Law firms and corporations sponsor DirectWomen events and programs, with sponsorship tiers that provide visibility and alignment with board diversity initiatives. Diamond sponsors include Baker Botts, Broadridge Financial, Paul Weiss, and Wachtell Lipton.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DirectWomen operates programs that identify, develop, and position leading women lawyers for corporate board service, with its flagship annual Board Institute serving as a selective cohort program. The organization maintains a searchable Alumnae Directory of 300+ vetted women attorneys that serves as a resource for companies seeking qualified board director candidates, and it convenes industry stakeholders through award luncheons, international programming, and webinars.

Product overview

DirectWomen is a national nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs designed to increase the representation of women lawyers on corporate boards. The core offering is the annual Board Institute, a highly-selective program that positions board-ready women lawyers for corporate board service. Supporting programs include the Sandra Day O'Connor Board Excellence Award Luncheon (an annual awards ceremony), the International Boards Program (programming for global board opportunities), quarterly webinars on board-related topics, and an On-Demand Programs library. DirectWomen also maintains an Alumnae Directory of over 300 women lawyers who have completed the Board Institute, serving as a resource for companies seeking qualified board candidates. The organization has facilitated over 220 corporate board seats since its founding in 2007.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Board Institute DirectWomen's flagship annual selective program that identifies and positions board-ready women lawyers for corporate board service. The highly-selective program connects participants with CEOs, C-suite executives, search firm executives, and directors of public companies. It is designed for senior-level attorneys including General Counsel of Fortune 500 companies and partners at top law firms.
• Sandra Day O'Connor Board Excellence Award Luncheon Annual in-person luncheon in New York City honoring women lawyers who have served with distinction as independent directors of public companies. The event features networking with CEOs, board directors, search firm executives, and alumnae, and serves as both a recognition event and a fundraising touchpoint for DirectWomen.
• International Boards Program Annual international programming focused on board opportunities outside the United States. Held in London, England (US Embassy in 2024, London Stock Exchange in 2025), the program connects women lawyers with global board opportunities and provides networking with international executives and board directors.
• Alumnae Directory A searchable database of over 300 women lawyers who have completed DirectWomen's Board Institute. The directory is searchable by area of expertise (including AI, ESG, M&A, cybersecurity, and risk management), industry experience (financial services, healthcare, technology, etc.), board committee experience (Audit, Compensation, Nom & Gov, ESG), geography, and sector. It serves as a resource for corporations seeking qualified board director candidates.
• Quarterly Webinars Quarterly educational webinar programs on topics related to corporate board service, featuring panels of CEOs, directors, and search firm executives. The webinars address relevant and challenging issues facing corporate directors and are accessible via the DirectWomen website.
• On-Demand Programs A library of recorded webinars and educational content covering board-related topics such as VC/PE boards, personal branding, board-ready networking, crisis management, international board service, and private company board service. Accessible on-demand via the DirectWomen website for prospective candidates and companies seeking information.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 40% of DirectWomen alumnae have been elected to serve on at least one corporate board.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.

• Baker BottsflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Baker Botts is an international law firm with offices across the US and internationally. As a Diamond sponsor, Baker Botts provides the highest level of financial support to DirectWomens programs that position women lawyers for corporate board service.
• Broadridge FinancialflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor and recipient of the 2026 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Corporate Board Award. Broadridge Financial is a global technology leader helping clients in the financial services industry. The company has demonstrated strong commitment to board diversity with 50% women directors on its board.
• Paul WeissflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Paul Weiss is a global law firm providing significant financial support to DirectWomens mission and programs.
• Wachtell Lipton Rosen & KatzflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz is a prominent New York-based law firm providing top-tier sponsorship support.
• Covington & BurlingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Ambassador sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Covington & Burling is an international law firm and champion of board diversity whose sustained support helps DirectWomen expand its reach.
• Cozen O'ConnorcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Ambassador sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Cozen O'Connor provides leadership-level support for DirectWomens programs.
• FreshfieldscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Ambassador sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is an international law firm supporting DirectWomens board diversity mission.
• Squire Patton BoggscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Ambassador sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Squire Patton Boggs provides sustained support for DirectWomens expansion and programming.
• Gibson DunncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is an international law firm providing recent support for DirectWomens programs.
• Ropes & GraycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Ropes & Gray is a leading law firm providing significant sponsorship support.
• Arnold & PortersecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Arnold & Porter is an international law firm supporting DirectWomens work to create pathways for women lawyers to serve on corporate boards.
• BayersecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Bayer supports DirectWomens mission as part of its commitment to board diversity and corporate governance.
• Cardinal HealthsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor of DirectWomen in 2026. Cardinal Health is a healthcare services and products company that has demonstrated support for board diversity.
• London Stock Exchange GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Host venue for DirectWomens 2025 International Boards Program held at the London Stock Exchange, providing a prestigious setting for networking between women lawyers and international board opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Athena Alliance: Athena Alliance is a nonprofit focused on preparing senior executive women for corporate board service, with comparable pipeline, education, and networking programs targeting women for board roles.
• WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD): WCD is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to increase the representation of women on corporate boards, paralleling DirectWomen's pipeline approach but with broader inclusion of all senior executive women (not limited to lawyers).

Emerging players

• TheBoardlist: TheBoardlist is a digital platform connecting companies with qualified women board candidates, directly competing with DirectWomen's alumnae directory as a sourcing channel for women director talent.

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is a leading global executive search firm with a dedicated Board Practice that places directors at major corporations; it serves the same director-sourcing market as DirectWomen but as a commercial search firm rather than a nonprofit pipeline.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles operates a major global board and CEO executive search practice, comparable to DirectWomen in serving companies seeking board director candidates but delivered via commercial placement.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit advancing women in leadership, with adjacent mission elements to DirectWomen's board-readiness work but operating at much broader scale and thematic scope.
• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm with a substantial Board & CEO Search practice; it competes for board placement mandates and works with similar corporate clients as DirectWomen's sponsor network.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): NACD is the leading membership organization for corporate directors, providing education, certification, and peer networking; while broader than DirectWomen's mission, both serve the corporate governance ecosystem and overlap in director education.

Others

• Corporate Board Member (NIRI): Corporate Board Member is a publication and conference business serving corporate directors and governance professionals; it parallels DirectWomen's role in providing board-readiness content, education, and networking touchpoints.
• IIC Partners (International Companies, Inc.): IIC Partners is an international network of executive search firms with a board practice; it serves the same corporate director-sourcing market as DirectWomen through a global commercial search network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/directwomen

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 directwomen