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Center for Women & Enterprise helps women build their small businesses. Here’s how

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Center for Women & Enterprise helps women build their small businesses. Here’s how

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The Providence Journal and United Way of Rhode Island have partnered to highlight the state’s nonprofits. Each week, a nonprofit identified by United Way will be spotlighted in the Providence Sunday Journal, and United Way will share how they support that organization.

This week, we feature The Center for Women & Enterprise, which helps “women launch and grow their businesses by connecting them with the resources to succeed.”

We asked Rhode Island director Lindsey Ramirez to tell us more about the organization.

What is your mission and vision?

The Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is dedicated to creating a more equitable world by empowering women through entrepreneurship. For more than 24 years, the CWE Rhode Island Women’s Business Center, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, has supported aspiring women entrepreneurs and business owners. CWE provides essential resources, tools and support to help women launch, build and grow their businesses.

CWE is committed to increasing outreach and accessibility for historically underserved individuals and communities. The Rhode Island Women’s Business Center offers free or low-cost consulting, educational programs and networking events. CWE’s purpose is to “lift up the women who lift up the world,” fostering a community of thriving women business owners across Rhode Island. With 95% of Rhode Island businesses being small and more than 51% women-led, CWE ensures that women know they are not alone in their entrepreneurial journey.

How do you measure success?

We measure success through our clients’ milestones, such as business launches, growth and capital infusions. We also track the number of unique clients served, encompassing anyone who has interacted with our center.

Client feedback, gathered through surveys and focus groups, directly shapes our programs. We are proud to monitor the growing diversity of our clients, including women of color, LGBTQ+ women, women with disabilities and women from underserved communities.

Since 2022, we’ve seen a 200% increase in clients served, reflecting both our impact and the rising demand for our services. Beyond tracking metrics such as capital infusion, we rely on client success stories to ensure we’re helping women entrepreneurs achieve meaningful, tangible results.

What are your biggest challenges currently?

Securing funding for women entrepreneurs, especially pre-seed and seed capital, remains a significant challenge both locally and nationally. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date records for over 4,000 active participants can be difficult as clients’ needs evolve.

To address these issues, we’ve developed a Client Outreach Committee to connect with clients quarterly. We’ve also partnered with our Impact & Learning department to streamline and enhance feedback processes.

Federal funding for Women’s Business Centers has remained stagnant since 1989, limiting our ability to expand services. Advocacy for increased funding is a top priority to help us better serve our communities.

How can volunteers or donors get involved?

Since 2000, CWE Rhode Island has championed women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, helping over 18,900 aspiring and small business owners launch and grow their ventures. This success is fueled by the generous contributions of donors and the dedicated efforts of volunteers.

Volunteers can make a significant impact by joining our Client Outreach Committee, assisting with events like vendor markets, or supporting community workshops. These activities provide valuable assistance and allow volunteers to engage directly with the community.

Donors can support CWE Rhode Island by visiting cweonline.org and clicking on the “Donate Now” button. They can also sponsor events or program cohorts or collaborate on other initiatives. Every contribution – whether time, expertise, or funding – directly supports women entrepreneurs across Rhode Island.

We invite interested supporters to contact us to discuss tailored partnership opportunities that align with their interests and goals. Through donations to CWE, we can continue to foster an environment where women entrepreneurs thrive, driving economic growth and community development.

What are some recent accomplishments or projects you’re proud of?

The Rhode Island Women’s Business Center is proud to highlight two innovative initiatives with national scaling potential.

EmpowerHerTech: This workshop series bridges the digital divide for women entrepreneurs, teaching essential skills such as software use, business strategy pivots, website creation and social media management. It empowers women to navigate technology and solve challenges independently.

Women’s Justice-Involved Alliance: In November 2024, we completed the second round of this entrepreneurship training program for incarcerated women. With 15 participants ready to launch ventures upon release, this initiative showcases our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by supporting women from all backgrounds.

Since May 2022, we have expanded our consultant network by adding 45 new experts, including successful alumni who now serve as instructors. Additionally, we have achieved a 200% increase in clients served, underscoring our growing community impact.

These initiatives reflect our dedication to empowering women and fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial environment.

To contact the Center for Women & Enterprise email Info.rhodeisland@cweonline.org.

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