OUR STORY
Women's Empire didn't start as a funding organization; it started with a need for community.
In 2016, our founder, Anika Joseph, set out to create spaces where women could connect, grow, and feel supported. What began as events across New York City grew into a trusted community of women committed to showing up for themselves and each other. Connection alone was not enough; women needed access to resources, opportunities, and most importantly, capital.
Today, Women's Empire is a New York City–based 501(c)(3) organization building a community-powered funding ecosystem that moves capital directly to women and girls. We support those leading community initiatives. We are still rooted in community, but now we are building something more, an ecosystem that does not just connect women but invests in them.
OUR MODEL
Mobilize Capital
We build a network of women and partners committed to investing in other women — pooling resources to create a sustainable source of funding for communities across New York City.
Distribute Funding
Through our grant programs, we move capital directly to women leading community initiatives and building early-stage ventures across all five New York City boroughs.
Strengthen Communities
When women are funded, the impact extends beyond individuals — families, neighborhoods, and entire communities grow stronger.
OUR PRINCIPLES
01
Capital belongs in the hands of the women doing the work.
We prioritize direct funding to women leading real impact in their communities.
02
Community is the foundation, not the outcome.
Everything we build starts with connection, trust, and shared investment.
03
Access should not depend on proximity to power.
Funding should be accessible to women regardless of networks, institutions, or formal credentials.
04
Collective investment drives deeper impact.
When women pool resources, we create stronger, more sustainable pathways for change.
05
When women are resourced, communities thrive.
Investing in women creates ripple effects that extend far beyond the individual.