Women’s Nonprofits Based in Philadelphia
In honor of Women’s History Month, here is a look at some of the many local organizations advancing women’s rights!
Women’s Way
Women’s Way is Philadelphia’s leading nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of women, girls, and gender and racial equity. Their mission is to “inspire and mobilize the community to invest in organizations and leaders that will advance the rights of and opportunities for women and girls, and achieve gender equity for all.”
Women’s Way is proudly trans-inclusive, and their website notes, “When we refer to women, we mean cis and trans women and femme-identified people (which includes anyone who is not a cis or trans woman but who identifies as feminine), and also those who identify as gender-expansive, nonbinary, and/or gender-nonconforming” (womensway.org).
Impact100
Source: @Impact100Philly on Twitter
Since 2008, Impact100 has worked to fund “high-impact grants that address unmet needs in the Philadelphia region and raise the profile of smaller nonprofit organizations” (impactphilly.org). The organization has gifted $4 million to advance four areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Family, and Health & Wellness.
Evoluer House
Source: EvoluerHouse.org
Evoluer House offers personal and workforce development programs to “girls of color in Philadelphia aged 13 to 18, who are experiencing a unique set of social and emotional challenges and barriers to success” (evoluerhouse.org). They also host a popular podcast called “Girl Truth: What Lens Are You Looking Through?” which is now in its fourth season.
Learn more about Evoluer House’s volunteer opportunities on their website.
Daughters of the Diaspora
Source: dodiaspora.org/about-us
Daughters of the Diaspora partners with local universities to “teach self-esteem and reproductive health to adolescent young women throughout the African Diaspora” (dodiaspora.org/about-us). The organization also offers a Med School Mavens Program that provides mentorship, career coaching, webinars, and clerkship advice to medical students.
Women’s Law Project
Source: philabarfoundation.org
Since 1974, the Women’s Law Project has advanced public interest and fought to defend the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania and beyond. They are currently litigating abortion rights at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Learn about the organization’s internship, fellowship, and employment opportunities on their website.
Women in Transition
Source: helpwomen.org/our-leadership
Women in Transition offers rehabilitative services “for people of any gender identity and sexual orientation, ages 14 and older” to help them move forward from domestic violence and substance abuse (helpwomen.org). They offer counseling, support groups, trainings, and self-defense classes to the community, free of charge.
Learn more about Women in Transition’s volunteer opportunities on their website.
Philadelphia Justice Project
The incarceration rate of women in Pennsylvania exceeds every other nation on earth. The Philadelphia Justice Project provides direct assistance, research & public policy advocacy, and education to combat the mass incarceration of women.
Learn about the Philadelphia Justice Project’s internship oppotunities on their website.
Dawn’s Place
Source: ahomefordawn.org
Dawn’s Place is a home for women who are survivors of sex trafficking. The organization addresses intersecting complications such as substance abuse, mental health disorders, legal and educational concerns, future occupation, housing, and family relationships. They have supported 110 women since their founding in 2009.
