What We Do
Education
WIL sponsors several educational events each year. Visit Upcoming Programs to learn more or read about our Past Programs.
Socialization
We encourage our members to get to know one another and share common interests. Members often get together outside of WIL sponsored events to participate in events supporting women locally and globally. WIL also provides two social events each year including a holiday social and end of year social event.
Microbanking through TIAW
Support of microbanking is at the core of WIL's mission.
Through our affiliation with The International Alliance for Women (TIAW), WIL has funded a total of five banks to date in Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, South Africa and Ghana. The total cost of each bank is $5,000. TIAW's role is to identify, qualify and manage the selection and reporting of results from the NGO's operation, such as Friendship Bridge in Guatemala. Read about our Village Bank in Guatemala
A benefit of your WIL membership is membership in TIAW. Through TIAW, learn more about Women on Boards, Micro-Enterprise, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Women's Leadership Network and more.
Travel
Many of our members enjoy traveling to visit women leaders in other countries and have taken trips as part of their membership with WIL. Members have also met other like minded members and have made friends and new traveling companions.
Our most recent trip WIL trip was to Guatemala in April of 2010 to visit one of the WIL Village Banks. Read Terri Gelberg's article about this trip that was recently published by TIAW.
Annual Empowerment Grants
As an integral part of its mission to empower women as leaders globally, WIL of Greater Philadelphia has historically focused the majority of its fund-raising activities in the area of microfinance. We recognize, however, that there are many organizations throughout the world who support our mission, and are known by our members. We established the Annual Empowerment Grants to provide an additional means of providing financial support for these nonprofits and NGOs working in developing countries. A portion of total income from membership dues will be allocated to support these grants each year by the WIL Executive Committee.
Applications are due by March 31, 2012 and may be emailed to either Martha Moore or Anne VanLant, finance committee co-chairs. Please contact Martha or Anne with questions.
- Print Grant Application
- Print Grant Guidelines
Selections for final grants will be made by the Microfinance Committee and announced prior to the end of June, 2012.
WIL of Greater Philadelphia
empowering women leaders globally
