FAQs

General Information

Sponsorship

Donations

How Can I Help?

My Account

Financial Information

Referrals

2009 Tax Receipts

General Information

Contact Information

By email: general@womenforwomen.org
By phone: (202) 737-7705
By fax: (202) 737-7709
By mail:
Women for Women International
4455 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20008

If you are already a supporter and have questions about your account please contact Supporter Services at (202) 521-0016 or 1(888) 504-3247 or choose one of the following email addresses:

For billing questions – finance@womenforwomen.org
For questions about your sponsorship – sponsorship@womenforwomen.org. The sponsor provides monthly financial support that provides direct financial aid, training and other services to women participants.
To send a letter to your sponsored sister, visit our Online Login Area.

Mission Statement

Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.

Vision Statement

Women for Women International envisions a world where no one is abused, poor, illiterate or marginalized; where members of communities have full and equal participation in the processes that ensure their health, well-being and economic independence; and where everyone has the freedom to define the scope of their life, their future and strive to achieve their full potential.

Our Core Values and Beliefs

Equality: All people are free and equal in dignity and rights: civil, political, social, economic and cultural.

Empowerment: The women who we assist are the leaders in their own lives. Tools are provided for each woman to rebuild her life.

Respect: The women we support choose their own value system. Options are presented to each woman but she is responsible for her own choice.

Diversity: Women are not simply refugees or victims of war but are survivors and individuals. No two women require the same support to heal, and no two societies can be rebuilt in the same way. Communication among women of varied backgrounds, national origins, race, and religion – both those who need assistance and those who offer it – must honor each other's differences.

Investment: The one-on-one approach deals with macro issues through micro solutions. By strengthening local chapters we attempt to build or strengthen civil society in the countries where we work.

In which countries does Women for Women International operate?

Women for Women International currently operates in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Sudan. Women for Women International also has worked in Bangladesh, Croatia and Pakistan.

Are women put at risk by participating in Women for Women International's programs?

In order to best serve our participants, Women for Women International works to ensure the safety of its overseas staff and its participants by closely monitoring security situations in the communities, regions and countries where it works on a day-to-day basis. Each office is staffed with its own security officer who helps evaluate the situation and can accompany staff into the field if necessary. The organization will work with participants to ensure they are able to safely participate in the program and will help them find resources to address any personal safety issues.

Before establishing our programs in a community, Women for Women International staff conducts outreach to local political, religious and civil society leaders to explain the benefits of the program. The organization also holds public meetings to answer questions any community member may have. This community outreach lets citizens know that Women for Women International will be invested in their community and will help the community as a whole. This cooperation is an important step in establishing safe, effective offices overseas.

How does Women for Women International decide where to expand its programs and services?

Women for Women International utilizes four criteria when determining how and when to expand its programs to new areas of operation. The organization seeks to work: 1) in conflict or post-conflict countries or regions; 2) where women are disproportionately affected by war and violence; 3) where these women's needs are not being met and the organization's programs can fill a critical gap in services; and 4) when the organization has the resources to launch and sustain a program that can grow and expand over time to meet the long-term needs of women survivors of war.

How effective are Women for Women International's programs?

Women for Women International's strategy promotes rights-based development by supporting women as they take control in rebuilding their lives and generating economic sustainability in their communities. Its multi-phase approach incorporates direct aid, emotional support, skills training, rights education, leadership training, microenterprise and small business development. Underlying all program activities is the idea that women will advance from victim to survivor to becoming active, self-assured members of their communities. With support from individuals like you, we were able to reach these notable achievements:

  • Linked more than 145,000 women survivors of war with sponsors worldwide.
  • Facilitated the translation and exchange of thousands of letters of support between sponsors and sponsored women.
  • Enrolled and graduated more than 93,000 women in the organization's Renewing Life Skills for Women (ReneWLS leadership and rights awareness education training program.
  • Helped thousands of women secure employment and establish their own income-generating businesses.
  • Distributed more than $78.8 million in direct aid and microcedit loans, maintaining a 99% repayment rate on all loans.
  • Facilitated hundreds of group therapy sessions for war survivors by providing a venue for women to share their experiences and feelings and build bridges between women survivors of different ethnic backgrounds.
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Sponsorship

What is the Sponsorship Program and how does it work?

The Sponsorship Program is a direct, personal and hands-on approach to supporting women survivors of war as they move from victims to survivors to active citizens engaged in rebuilding their lives and communities. Sponsorship offers a constructive, dignified way for a woman to regain control of her life. This program helps bridge isolation and alleviates the suffering often experienced by survivors of war and violence.

As a sponsor, you pledge to contribute a monthly fee to support one individual woman in our year long program of vocational and technical skills training, rights awareness and leadership education. Your support will provide the tools and resources your sister needs to rebuild her life after war. Your monthly contributions will also help your sister to obtain basic necessities for her family, like food, clean water, and medicine; to pay school-related expenses for her children; to use the funds as seed capital to start an income-generating project. Perhaps more importantly, your letters will provide an emotional lifeline to a woman who may have otherwise lost everything.

For more information about the Sponsorship Program please see the Sponsorship Community.

In what countries is sponsorship offered?

Sponsorship is currently offered in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan.

How do I sponsor a woman?

The Sponsorship Program links women from all over the world with women in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan, who have survived war and violence. Individual sponsorships are a direct, personal, hands-on way for women in the US and elsewhere to help marginalized women in post-conflict countries. The sponsor provides monthly financial support that provides direct financial aid, training and other services to women survivors of war. In addition, the sponsor and the woman exchange letters. For a woman who may have lost everything or who feels isolated from the world, letters of support and encouragement help renew her hope for a better future. For more information on how to sponsor today, click here.

How do I send a letter to my sister?

For information about sending letters to your sister, click here.

Why haven't I received a letter from my sister?

In some cases, your sponsored sister may choose not to write. As you know, the women in the Sponsorship Program are dealing with multiple hardships that may not allow them the time or energy to write to you. Some are suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Your sister may be unable to write for these or other reasons. Please do not stop writing. Your letters do help, and in time, your sister may write back. Remember that even if you are not getting letters, your sponsored sister receives your letters and contributions, which our representatives deliver every month. For more information on letters, please see the letters section of the Sponsorship Community. Also, please explore our letters blog.

How do I write a letter to my sister?

The easiest way to send letters is through our Online Login Area - your sister's information will be automatically filled in for you. You can attach photos, write captions, and even save draft letters to come back to. Get started here!

For more information about sending letters to your sister, click here.

I forgot my sister details – how can I get them?

The details of your sponsored sister are on the welcome kit that you received when you were first matched with her. If you cannot locate your sister details, email us at sponsorship@womenforwomen.org, Subject: Sister Details, and we will send you the information.  Or you can call (202) 521-0016 or 1 (888) 504-3247.

Can I sponsor a woman if I live outside of the United States?

If you live outside the U.S., we welcome your sponsorship of a woman, however we don't currently have the ability to accept payment in currency other than US Dollars.  You can use any Visa or MasterCard to sign up online.

I want to support women directly, but do not want to write letters. How can I help?

You can also support women by making a general donation in any dollar amount. Your support allows us to provide women with rights awareness training, access to leadership development seminars, obtain vocational skills training and engage in community-based income-generating projects. In Afghanistan, for example, these donations helped start a bakery to provide training and income-generating opportunities to women in Kabul. Your support provides women entrepreneurs with the necessary seed funding to start their own businesses. Support these programs and more, visit our Donate Now page.

How much of my sponsorship contribution does my sister receive?

A portion of your contribution will provide direct financial assistance to your sister. The remaining funds will offset the provisioning of rights awareness training, leadership education and job skills training so your sister can continue to support her family in the future.

How do I end my participation in sponsorship?

After you receive your Sponsorship Welcome Kit, your sponsorship will continue until 30 days notice is given to end program participation. This will allow us enough time to match your sister with another sponsor so we can continue to provide uninterrupted support to her.

If you pay by credit card, we will continue to charge your credit card until notice is given to end program participation.

To end your sponsorship, please email us at sponsorship@womenforwomen.org or call us at  (202) 521-0016 or 1 (888) 504-3247.

Why has the price of sponsorship changed? 

Based on discussions with our country directors and careful consideration of how our program impacts women’s lives, we’ve come to believe that our “sisters” around the world will benefit significantly from additional business and life skills training. To cover the cost of these new investments, we are compelled to increase our monthly sponsorship fee. If you would like to learn more about this change, please click here

How does the price change affect my existing sponsorship? 

The price of your existing sponsorship will remain unchanged for the duration of your current sister’s time in the program.  However, when your current sister graduates, and you are re-matched with a new sister, your sponsorship will begin to be billed at the new level.

I really can't afford the price increase; what can I do? 

We know that these are economically challenging times and appreciate the sacrifices you already make to support your sisters through Women for Women. If you are unable to afford the new sponsorship rate, you have the option to continue sponsoring at the amount you are currently paying. Before you are re-matched with a new sister at the new sponsorship price, we will send you official notification of the fee change and give you a method for opting out of it at that time. 

Does the price change mean that my sister is receiving more money?

The amount of cash aid your sister directly receives remains unchanged. However, the additional funds you provide will enable your sister to benefit from new and expanded programs that are already garnering exciting results, including an increase in income and participation in community decision-making.  To learn more about our expanded program offerings, please click here

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Donations

How do I make a donation?

Your contribution will help Women for Women International continue its life-saving work with women survivors of conflict around the world. Send your donation to: Women for Women International, 4455 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington DC, 20008. Or make an online donation today!

How are my contributions spent?

We are committed to ensuring that every woman we work with receives the most from your contributions. For more information on Women for Women International's financial information, please click here.

If you are a sponsor, you will be asked to provide a direct monthly contribution to Women for Women International in the amount specified in your enrollment. A portion of these funds are given directly to your sister so she can provide her family with basic necessities. The remaining funds are used to provide her with rights awareness and leadership education and vocational skills training so she can continue to support her family after she graduates from the program.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Contributions made to Women for Women International currently may be tax-deductible in the United States. Women for Women International's U.S. tax Identification number is : 52-1838756. Please consult your tax advisor for more information. All sponsors will receive a tax receipt for the current year’s total donations in the beginning of the following year.

Can I contribute through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)?

Yes, you can designate Women for Women International as a charity for your workplace campaign if your workplace participates in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Our CFC number is #11311. However, this number is only valid for the Federal Campaign and may vary for state campaigns. You can find our local state campaign number through your workplace's CFC guide.

Do you accept employer matching gifts?

Women for Women International does accept employer matching gifts and encourages you to increase your donation by taking advantage of your employer's matching gift program. Matching gifts cannot be applied to your sponsorship but will be used to strengthen and expand programs in the field.

You can direct any applications or additional paperwork for matching gifts, to our Financial Coordinator at 4455 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington DC, 20008, or call (202) 737-7705.

Do you accept gifts of stock?

Women for Women International can also accept gifts of stock. It is usually beneficial to give appreciated securities since you bypass any capital gains tax due had you sold them – and you receive a charitable deduction for their fair market value.

Wire Transfer
If the securities are being held in "street name" at your brokerage firm, you may instruct your broker to have them wire transferred to us, in care of our broker, Wachovia Securities, at:

DTC Clearing 0141
Account Name: Women for Women International
Account Number: 4929-9454
Tax ID #52-1838756

When your broker makes the transfer, please download the "Notification of Transfer" form. Print the form out and mail it, or fax it, to our office so we can ensure that the securities have been received. You can mail the form to: Women for Women International, Global Support Center, PO Box 9224, Central Islip, NY 11722-9224

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How Can I Help?

Sponsorship

The Sponsorship Program links women in the US with women in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan, who have survived war and conflict. Individual sponsorships are a direct, personal, hands-on way for women in the US and elsewhere to help marginalized women in post-conflict countries. The sponsor provides monthly financial support that provides direct financial aid, training and other services to women participants. In addition, the sponsor and the woman exchange letters. For a woman who may have lost everything or who feels isolated from the world, letters of support and encouragement help renew her hope for a better future. For more information on how to sponsor today, click here.

Donations

Your contribution will help Women for Women International continue its life-saving work with women survivors of violence around the world. Send your donation to: Women for Women International, 4455 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington DC, 20008. Or, contribute online today or call (202) 521-0161 or 1 (888) 504-3247!

Volunteer

As a non-profit organization, Women for Women International depends upon volunteer efforts to make our programs a success and to allow us to direct more money to program participants.

Women for Women International always needs general office volunteers for our Washington, DC headquarters office. If you live in the metro-DC area we would love to have you help out in our offices (daytime and evening slots available) Click here to learn more.

If you live outside of the metro-DC area, please visit our Get Involved page to learn move about how you can get involved, by hosting an event or spreading the word!

We have recently restructured our overseas volunteer program so that only persons already staying in the host country are eligible to participate. For those already in the host country, we will provide contact information for our local office, and you may arrange the details with the local staff. We regret that we are unable to provide more comprehensive opportunities at this time.

If you are fluent in Bosnian, Albanian, Farsi or Arabic and would like to volunteer your translation services to help sponsors communicate with their sisters after they have completed our program, please send an email with your resume and qualifications.

Other Ways You Can Help

Click here for general information on Hosting an Event!

  • Refer us to people who would benefit from our newsletters and mailings.
  • Distribute brochures about Women for Women International in your local community.
  • Organize a fundraiser and make Women for Women International the beneficiary. For fundraiser ideas, please see the "Make a Difference Today" section of our website.
  • Host an information session in your home: we will provide materials.
  • Make a gift to our general program fund in honor of a friend's or relative's birthday or wedding anniversary, or to mark a religious holiday.
  • If you are a member or alumna of an organization or attend a school that publishes a newsletter or regular bulletin, ask about including a prepared piece on Women for Women International or women survivors of violence.
  • Educate others about the trials that women face worldwide.
  • Find out if your employer will match contributions or ask your employer about setting up a matching gift program.
  • Be creative at the office. Some employers will let employees trade a personal or vacation day for a charitable donation.
  • Designate Women for Women International as a beneficiary if your employer participates in a work-place giving program such as the United Way or Combined Federal Campaign.

To receive Women for Women International materials, please sending an email or contact us at (202) 737-7705. For more fundraising ideas, see the Get Involved section of our website.

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My Account

Why has my credit card been charged or why have I received a monthly commitment statement, but haven't received information about my new sister?

Between the 5th and 10th days of the month we match all new sponsors with their sisters and charge their credit cards or send out statements, accordingly. Because we more than doubled our sponsorship base in January 2005, it takes approximately a month to generate the letters with your sister's biographical information. If you notice that your credit card has been charged by Women for Women International, or if you receive a statement from us, please count on receiving your new sponsor packet—complete with a letter about your sister, a sponsorship handbook, and information about your sister's country—before the end of that same month. If you should not receive this information, please contact us at sponsorship@womenforwomen.org or (202) 521-0016 or 1 (888) 504-3247.

Why do I keep receiving statements when I have paid in advance?

All sponsors who pay by check will receive a monthly statement whether they have paid in advance or not. Your statement will indicate if a contribution is due, as well as the due date.

I sent in a payment that's not reflected on my statement. Do I owe money?

Payments received after the first of the month may not appear on your current statement. You can simply subtract that amount from your total due.

How do I change my credit card information?

You can easily change all of your billing information, including credit card number, address, phone numbers by calling (202) 521-0016 or 1(888) 504-3247.  You can also email finance@womenforwomen.org but please do not email your credit card information. You can also fax your updated information to (202) 355-7584. You can print and mail or fax this form.

Can I see my account information online?

Right now we do not have a safe way of showing you your account information on our website, but we are working on it and hope to have that capability within a few months.  If you need any information about your account, please email sponsorship@womenforwomen.org or call (202) 521-0016 or 1 (888) 504-3247.  

I pay by credit card. Will I receive a statement?

In order to direct the most funds to women in need, Women for Women International does not send a commitment statement to each sponsor who pays automatically via credit card each month. You will be notified by email each month when your card has been charged, or if we are having difficulty applying payments to your account. If you pay by credit card, but do not have a valid email address, you will receive a commitment statement in the mail. To stop payments to your credit card please contact us at finance@womenforwomen.org or (202) 521-00161 or 1 (888) 504-3247.

How do I switch to making payments by credit card?

If you would like to start making payments by credit card, please fill in the credit card information on the top third of your statement. Still have questions? Please call us at (202) 521-0016 or 1 (888)504-3247 or email finance@womenforwomen.org.  Note: Please do not email your payment information.

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Financial Information

How much of the money I donate goes to the women in the program?

We are committed to ensuring that every woman we work with receives the most from your contributions. For more information on Women for Women International's financial information, please see our Annual Report.

If you are a sponsor, you will be asked to provide a direct monthly contribution to Women for Women International in the amount specified upon your enrollment. It is also possible to make this contribution in annual or semi-annual lump payments, an option that reduces processing fees so that more funds can be sent directly to your sister's program.  Regardless of your payment method, a fixed portion of these funds is channeled straight to your sister so she can provide her family with basic necessities. The remaining amount is used to provide your sister with the rights awareness, leadership education, and vocational skills training that will allow her to support herself and her family after she graduates from the program.

If you wish to update your billing plan, simply send an email to finance@womenforwomen.org or call 202-521-0016.

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Referrals

Where can I find help for victims of violence in the U.S.?

If you are a survivor of violence, or know someone who is, and you live in the United States, you can contact:
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233
National Victim Center 800-FYI-CALL (394-2255)
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE

Research

  • For information about global gender and women's issues visit the News from the Front section of our website.
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2010 Tax Receipts

How do I get a tax receipt for my 2010 donations?

To access information about your account, including your 2010 Donation Summary to use for tax purposes please follow visit https://supporters.womenforwomen.org. You will be able to view it as many times as you would like, print it if needed, or email it to yourself. In addition to being convenient for you – this will save paper, postage, and resources – and will allow us to use more money directly for our programs and the women we support. In the coming months we will add more information to help you manage your sponsorship and donations more easily.

I am having problems registering on the Supporter Login Features. What should I do?

If you are having problems registering or using the Supporter Login Area please send an email to onlinesupport@womenforwomen.org or call (888) 504-3247 or (202) 521-0016. Please include the nature of the problem and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

What if I still want to receive a tax receipt by mail?

Please consider using our Supporter Login Area it is convenient for you and will save paper, postage, resources and will allow us to use more money directly for our programs and the women we support. 
If you would still like to receive a tax receipt via mail please note that they will be sent mid to late February. To request a receipt be sent by mail please email a request to taxreceipt@womenforwomen.org.

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