With Every Dollar Invested, $30 are Generated for the Bay Area and Lives are Changed Forever

An Opportunity to Grow Assets

• Annual household income for participants entering the business training program is just $22,000. One year after training, it leaps to nearly $35,000.
• In 2007, our graduates reported an average of $40,100 annual gross revenue from their businesses.
• The women who participated in our training last year will bring in an estimated $18.8 million in 2011. Over the next five years, gross receipts for the class of 2010 will total an estimated $125.4 million.
• Civic Economics studies have shown that locally owned businesses have a greater impact on the local economy than national chains because they create more jobs for locals, buy more locally, and give more to local charities.
• Every dollar invested in Women’s Initiative results in a return of $30 for the local economy by women starting and growing local businesses, creating jobs for themselves and others, and fueling demand for local goods and services.

Creating Quality Jobs

• One year after training 90% of graduates reported being employed or self-employed.
• More than 10% of graduates provided jobs for others through their businesses one year after training.
• Five years after training graduates each provided an average of 2.5 jobs for others through their businesses.
• In 2011, recent graduates (classes of 2006-2010) will create an estimated 3,818 jobs.
• The average Women's Initiative graduate business pays $16.45 an hour in wages, over double the minimum wage in California. This wage is especially impressive given that many graduate businesses operate in sectors such as housekeeping and food service that traditionally pay close to minimum wage.

Building Community
Women microentrepreneurs not only create thriving businesses, but also support their communities as mentors, volunteers, patrons and civic leaders. As business owners, women are choosing to redefine success by serving people and the planet while building wealth.

• 57% of Women’s Initiative graduates have “green” businesses and sell products and services that are non-polluting and leave a small carbon footprint. 
• 69% of graduates volunteer and average of 174 hours per year, far more than the average American.
• 79% of graduates donate an average of $1,020 annually to local charities.
• 54% of graduates mentor other women entrepreneurs providing encouragement, advice, and startup up assistance to help them launch their businesses. 

Since inception Women's Initiative has served more than 22,000 women in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Financial Results