From addressing pay inequality to ensuring that women are equally represented in all levels of leadership, giving back to women’s and girls’ causes and nonprofits can lay the groundwork for fairness. Whether you’re looking for a way to volunteer during March, which is Women’s History Month, or any time of year, there are many groups that focus on the needs of women and girls in our society. Here are a few ideas and organizations to get you started.
Women have made great strides in gaining access to education, but there are still some areas, such as the tech and financial services sectors, in which women are underrepresented. Groups such as 500 Women Scientists, the American Association of University Women, and Women Who Code are just a few organizations that are focused on education and career access for women and girls. Black Girls Code, GirlStart, and STEM for Her all focus on empowering girls in STEM disciplines. The Center for Women & Enterprise and National Association of Women Business Owners each help women who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs or business leaders.
From improving maternal mortality rates to finding treatments and cures to women’s health issues like breast and ovarian cancers, there are many organizations that focus on improving women’s health. The National Breast Cancer Foundation and Foundation for Women’s Cancer are two organizations focused on raising funds for cancer treatment. Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Every Mother Counts work to improve maternal health for U.S. women. Girls on the Run helps young women be joyful, healthy, and confident through activity and programs.
Domestic violence is an issue that affects everyone, but women experience such violence at more than twice the rate of men, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Organizations like Women Helping Women, the Battered Women’s Justice Project, and the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center all focus on the safety of women.
There are also a number of organizations that empower women in different ways. If you have an interest in government or politics, organizations like She Should Run help women run for office. The National Women’s Law Center fights for equal rights for women. And Girls for a Change invites young women to lead social change programs.
There are many vibrant, effective organizations working to help women and girls all over the country and the world. To find more opportunities, visit www.createthegood.org.