The Leading Advocate for Workingwomen

The members of BPW/MI support the mission of BPW/USA through the following legislative priorities:

Work-life
Workplace Equity
Civil Rights

Policy & Action Conference
Each year, workingwomen representing every state in the union converge in Washington, D.C. with a common goal: a shared interest in making a difference. During Policy & Action you will have the opportunity to network with BPW/USA leaders, attend exciting workshops on timely legislative issues, and find out how you can help create change when you return home.

Legislative Hotline
BPW/USA's Legislative Hotline is updated each week and provides current information concerning our legislative priorities. The Legislative Hotline can also be accessed by calling (202) 293-1100 ext. 159. To subscribe click here.

Contact Congress and Voting Chart
Access the voting records of your Members of Congress on BPW/USA's 
legislative priorities, learn the Senate and House vote and committee hearing daily schedules, write your Members of Congress about BPW's legislative priorities, access updated current legislation information and Capitol Hill basics, obtain contact information for Members of Congress, and view BPW/USA's voting chart. For more information about women's participation in politics and government, click here for the Center for Women and Politics at Rutgers University

Equal Pay Day
Equal Pay Day symbolizes the additional time that women must work to make up for the 24% gender wage gap. Over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American woman an estimated $500,000 in lost wages.

Red Purse Society
Join the Red Purse Society and support Equal Pay Day events. Money raised will be used for pay equity forums, speakers, and Equal Pay Day paraphernalia, including stickers, buttons, bumper stickers, pins, brochures, public service announcements and ads.

The United States Women's Chamber of Commerce

BPW members are association members of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce™. The USWCC is the pre-eminent national women's chamber of commerce network whose mission is to develop leaders, accelerate economic growth and provide a community voice for women. The USWCC, a not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization founded in 2001, is growing through regional affiliates, councils and strategic alliances across the U.S. Creating and representing the next generation of leadership for women, the USWCC is women’s connection to influence, education, opportunity and advancement.

Political Action Committee - BPW/MI PAC

Michigan Business and Professional Women’s Political Action Committee is organized to solicit and receive voluntary political contributions from members of Michigan Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. It’s purpose is to give contributions to candidates for elected office in the state of Michigan and to state-wide ballot issues that agree with our Legislative Platform. BPW/MI PAC is registered with Michigan Department of State- Bureau of Elections as an Independent PAC and adheres to all Bureau of Elections regulations. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, unincorporated association which is not affiliated with any political party or other political action committee or person. Donations to the PAC are not tax deductible.

The PAC committee has at least five members. The Chairperson is appointed by the BPW/MI President and approved by the Executive Committee. The balance of the committee is appointed by the Chairperson. All committee members must be BPW/MI members and a U.S. Citizen. The committee reviews applications for funding. No contributions can be distributed until after the primary elections. Endorsements can also be given which are a non-financial show of support. Most of the time, both are given.

The BPW Foundation – Women Helping Women Achieve Success

The BPW Foundation's mission is to empower workingwomen to achieve their full potential and to partner with employers to build successful workplaces. The BPW Foundation was established in 1956 to promote equity for workingwomen through education, information, research and financial assistance as well as to serve as a resource on issues affecting women in the workplace.

The BPW Foundation is supported by foundations, corporations, BPW/USA members and other individuals who share a common belief in equity for workingwomen. The BPW Foundation, a 501(c) 3 tax deductible organization, has awarded more than $6 million in loans, scholarships and grants to over 8,000 women seeking to improve their lives.

The BPW Foundation’s programs and publications include:

Career Advancement Scholarships Central to the BPW Foundation’s mission is the belief that support for women at crucial points in their lives enables them to help themselves. The BPW Foundation established the Career Advancement Scholarship Program in 1969 to provide financial assistance to disadvantaged women seeking to further their education. Scholarships are provided to women, 25 years of age or older, who wish to advance in their career, or are soon to enter or re-enter the workforce.

• The average recipient is a 37 year-old single mother of two children.

• Twenty-five percent of the recipients received public assistance at one time or another.

• Forty percent of the recipients are the first in their immediate family to earn a college degree.

Workingwomen Speak Out
Between fall 2003 and spring 2004, the BPW Foundation conducted a survey, Workingwomen Speak Out, of American workingwomen asking about their workplace, security and quality of life concerns. The 7,377 respondents represented a broad cross-section of workingwomen from every region of the United States, every income level and every demographic. The responses were analyzed by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). According to the survey results, domestic issues are far more important to workingwomen than terrorism and international issues. The survey provides clear information on the interests and needs of workingwomen for both employers and policy makers.

WOMENomics
WOMENomics is a grassroots program designed to bring together local business, government, educational institutions and civic organizations in the community to identify, act on, and resolve the everyday issues that challenge workingwomen. WOMENomics is an opportunity to build a better future for workingwomen in every community. The Annie E. Casey Foundation helped make this program possible through its grant for the four pilot WOMENomics Forums. Between the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2004, the program moved into its second phase as WOMENomics were held in 50 communities across the country in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of National Business Women’s Week. This program expansion was supported by IBM and the Fannie Mae Foundation.

101 Facts on the Status of Workingwomen
This publication is a helpful resource that compiles up-to-date statistics on the status of workingwomen in America. One of the Foundation’s most popular publications, 101 Facts, contains information on women in the labor force, women entrepreneurs, the wage gap, women’s health and retirement, women in the Fortune 500, workingwomen and their families and other workingwomen’s issues.