Causes: Community & Neighborhood Development, Community Foundations, Economic Development, Philanthropy

Mission: The Washington Area Women's Foundation was founded in 1997 by a diverse and committed group of women who came together to improve the lives of women and girls in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Realizing that the well-being of this country is directly related to the condition of its women and girls, the Washington Area Women's Foundation (WAWF) supports local organizations working to help women and girls achieve economic independence and fulfilled lives. The Foundation also focuses on women as change makers and philanthropists in their community and conducts research on the lives of women and girls in the Washington D. C. Metropolitan Area.

Programs: Catalyze investment: increase the investment in and effectiveness of organizations dedicated to increasing the economic security of women and girls through grantmaking, and encourage others to invest with a gender lens. Grantmaking focuses on key areas of: asset building, jobs, and early care and education.

educate: generate and communicate information about the needs of women and girls in the region and the strategies that are being employed to address those needs.

advocate: influence public policies that enable and support economic security.