简体中文
EnglishWhat Is the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC)?
Updated
GFWC is an international federation of women's volunteer clubs, founded in 1890, whose members work in their own communities to support the arts, preserve natural resources, advance education, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage civic involvement. It counts more than 63,000 members in affiliated clubs across every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and more than a dozen countries. It is the right starting point if you are looking for a local volunteer group to join, or if you want to understand the organization behind a community service project in your area.
How the Organization Is Structured
GFWC is a federation, not a single national office running programs directly. The work happens in local clubs, which are grouped under state federations and regional bodies, with an international leadership layer above them. The site describes 2,600 existing volunteer clubs across the globe and notes that state and DC presidents, region presidents, chairmen, and committee members gather for board of directors meetings.
That structure matters practically: if you want to volunteer, you join or contact a club near you rather than applying to a central program. The homepage's "Join Us!" section points visitors to "Find a local volunteer group near you" and a membership path.
What Members Actually Do
The homepage summarizes the issue areas members work on in their own communities:
- The arts
- Preserving natural resources
- Advancing education
- Promoting healthy lifestyles
- Encouraging civic involvement
- Domestic and sexual violence awareness and prevention
- Advocating for children
The site also highlights partnerships: "Community Connections" describes nonprofit partners, topic experts, and community organizations that help GFWC members extend their reach. Recent posts give a sense of the range in practice — a tree-planting anniversary project by the Woman's Club of Aruba ("90 Trees for 90 Years") and a Belize City Juniorettes project called "GFWC Juniorette Girls in Action!" focused on community improvement through service.
Scale and History at a Glance
| Measure | Figure on the site |
|---|---|
| Members in affiliated clubs | 63,000+ |
| Existing volunteer clubs worldwide | 2,600 |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Geographic reach | Every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and more than a dozen countries |
The site describes GFWC as having "over a century of history" and frames itself as "an international organization with global impact," with affiliated federations such as the National Federation of Women's Clubs of the Philippines featured in its posts.
Programs Worth Knowing About
Two items on the homepage point to specific offerings beyond club membership:
- GFWC Success for Survivors Scholarship — described as supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
- GFWC Learning Academy — training videos described as exclusive to GFWC members, under the heading "Experience Lifelong Learning."
The site does not publish scholarship amounts, eligibility rules, or application deadlines on the homepage, so check the linked pages for current details before planning around either one.
How to Get Involved
If your goal is to volunteer locally, the site's own path is: use the "Find a local volunteer group near you" link to locate a club, then follow "Become a Member." If you are researching the organization — for a school project, a partnership, or a news story — the "Who we are" and "Our impact" sections give the membership figures and issue areas, and the latest posts show current activity. The site does not state membership dues or any fees on the homepage, so confirm costs and meeting expectations directly with the club you contact.