DBusiness Magazine
Courtesy of Michigan Women Forward
Formerly called the Michigan Women’s Foundation, Michigan Women Forward is a foundation devoted to the economic and personal well-being of women and girls in the state. It has offices in Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. The organization was started in 1986 when Mary Jo Pulte gathered a group of 30 Michigan women to discuss philanthropy and the imbalance in donations to women’s programs only 3 percent of philanthropic dollars at the time went to programming for women in the U.S. MWF is the only statewide, public foundation working for the betterment of adult and young women. MWF offers microloans from $2,500 to $50,000 for small businesses legally established and registered within the state. The organization also runs programs such as UGOSTEMGirls, which brings science, technology, engineering, and math education to Michigan girls, and UGOGirlsforChange, which helps high school-aged females find causes they are passionat
There s little doubt that the pandemic has hit women-owned businesses harder. Women are more likely to own an operation in the harder-hit service sector and bear the burden of increased child care. There are only so many hours in a day. So do the math that s less time to put toward their business, says Jill Sasso, vice president of human resources and governance programs at the Women s Business Enterprise National Council, a nonprofit for certification, resources, and advocacy for women-owned businesses.
Sasso was one of a group of seasoned entrepreneurs and experts who came together Thursday to discuss opportunities for women-owned businesses in an Inc. National Small Business Town Hall stream event. The panel was moderated by