about the Circle Community

Business ownership for women is fraught with issues like access to funding, gender bias, lack of support and managing work-life priorities. Women business owners often say that loneliness is a big concern as well. It is estimated that 20% of new businesses close in their first year and roughly 50% of new businesses close within 5 years.

The Business Women’s Circle® (the “BWC”) is an organization that connects, builds communities and creates experiences for women to grow themselves and their businesses. Created in 2009 by women, for women, we believe that through the power of peers we are stronger together and created the organization to deal with the issues that women face as business owners and professionals.

To continue to provide accessibility and affordability to help women in business grow and contribute to the economy, we are creating The Circle Community. The Circle Community will give our area’s corporations, individuals and other foundations the opportunity to support BWC’s purpose through their charitable giving.

Additionally, The Circle Community will also provide funds for the following types of activities:

• Speakers for The BWC Annual Forum

• Content development for educational programs and tools for both members and the community

• Enhanced resources for BWC Circles

Funds raised will help us strengthen and grow our offerings to help women grow both their businesses and personally. We also know that as we invest in our members, they in turn invest in their communities through mentorship, employment, giving back and more.

The Circle Community is a 501(c)(3) supporting The Business Women’s Circle (The BWC).

Access
The Myrna Marofsky Scholarship Fund

The BWC is focused on supporting women and their growth – be that in business, leadership or life. There are often times though when it can be difficult to find the financial means to focus on that growth.

In honor of the Founder of The BWC the Myrna Marofsky Scholarship Fund financially assists women in paying for membership fees with The BWC. This will allow women who own small businesses but can’t yet afford the full membership fee the ability to take advantage of the peer coaching, support, community connections and education a Circle membership provides.

Education
The PEERpower Fund

Many new businesses close with the first 1 to 5 years of opening. Some of the top reasons businesses fail have to do with financial issues, competition or flawed business models.

These are all things that you can learn about and work on. Finding affordable, actionable education opportunities can be difficult or financially prohibitive.

The PEERpower Fund focuses on funding education in key topics for women in business. We work with local experts to create workshops and events to help make smarter business decisions and fuel growth.

Support
The Jackie Wurm Grant Program

With 42% of all companies in the US owned by women and 62% of them relying on their company as a main source of income, you understand that helping women business owners grow is important not only to women and their families, but also to the communities they live and work in.

The Jackie Wurm Grant Program is focused on creating grant opportunities for women who could use a small financial boost to take their business to the next level.

Along with financial assistance, each Grantee will also receive extra support in establishing how they will spend their award.