Our mission at Woodward is simple: Equip women to step into their financial power by growing their financial assets, knowing that when women do well, they reinvest in their communities, to the benefit of all. Women already overindex on philanthropic gifts—today's successful professional women have demonstrated time and again that their pockets are as deep as their hearts are big. But as a group, women are still leaving not millions, not billions, but trillions of uninvested dollars on the table. That's money that could benefit women themselves, providing generational wealth and financial freedom; and it's money that could exponentially expand the impact of those charitable gifts—changing society itself.
What's Holding Women Back?
Too many women lack the confidence, the financial education, or the necessary support system to fully realize their investing potential. The world of economics and investing has historically been dominated by men, not just by social convention, but by legal and structural restriction. Less than 50 years ago, women in the United States gained the right to hold credit in their own names. Not long before that, property owned by women reverted immediately to their husbands upon marriage. These laws have changed, and the dynamic for women in the worlds of economics and finance is steadily changing too—but with less than a generation under our bra straps since these codified restrictions were torn down, it's no wonder that we have yet to replace them with an equally rigorous support system. That's where the Woodward Foundation comes in.
The Power of Women in Investing: Why Women Matter
Studies show that women investors often prioritize long-term stability, risk management, and social impact, making their financial strategies uniquely effective. When women are given the tools and resources to invest, they achieve remarkable results. Over time, this means:
Improved Financial Security: Investing helps women build wealth for themselves and their families, ensuring greater financial independence and the ability to weather economic challenges—including the fact that women's life expectancy in the U.S. now outpaces men's by nearly six years. Having more money matters.
Closing the Wealth Gap: By actively participating in wealth accumulation, women can take an even more active role in addressing systemic inequalities in income and wealth, across both gender and race.
Enhanced Decision-Making: The research is clear, that inclusion of diverse perspectives contributes to more balanced and effective investment strategies, benefiting families, businesses, and communities alike. It's time for women to demand their place at the investment table. The stakes are too high to stay on the sidelines.
The Societal Ripple Effect When Women Invest
When women thrive financially, the impact is widespread:
Economic Growth: Empowering women as investors and entrepreneurs boosts GDP. Research by McKinsey Global Institute estimates that advancing gender equality could add $12 trillion to the global economy by 2025.
Social Investments: Women are more likely to invest in sectors that promote education, healthcare, and community well-being, driving positive social change.
Increased Stability: Financially empowered women are better positioned to support their families, reducing poverty and creating more stable communities.
Where Woodward Comes In
Our multi-layered approach will change outcomes for women as individuals—and by extension, will change communities and society for the better. How are we doing it, and how can you participate?
Join one of our financial education programs or events: Gain the financial skills, the critical confidence in your investing abilities, and become part of a supportive community network focused on seeing you succeed as an investor and community pillar. Our programs, workshops and events are specifically designed to help women skill up quickly, then gain access to the capital communities that will allow them to make immediate impact.
Support our accelerator: The Woodward Foundation applies philanthropic gifts from our donors to fund social and investment entrepreneurs who are creating new financial products that center or take direct action to benefit women. We provide advisors and startup accelerator programming that enable these organizations to get their products to market quicker, benefiting women who will invest in the future—and changing the marketplace itself.
Fund critical new research and celebrate success stories: Making real change means making the case for what works, what doesn't, and why increasing the investment field of women matters. Fund new Woodward research into what is breaking through for women investors, what trends are impacting the marketplace, and what is shaping the financial landscape of the future. Then help us amplify our messaging and spread the word.
Find community: Success begets success. And nothing hinders success more than isolation. Here at Woodward, find like-minded philanthropists and aspiring investors. Learn from each other. Support each other. Succeed together.
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