AWBC Membership
AWBC Membership Eligibility
Application: As specified in AWBC’s bylaws, membership in AWBC is available by application; therefore effective for the calendar year 2025, all members must submit a membership application. The Membership Committee or designee shall review the application according to eligibility guidelines and determine an acceptance decision pending the receipt of dues, as determined by the annual membership dues rate table. The application shall collect contact information, entity profile information as well as performance for the most recent available performance year(s) in counseling, technical assistance or other development activity. Acceptance to AWBC’s membership is contingent on providing a completed application.
Eligibility Criteria: As defined in AWBC’s bylaws, eligibility for membership shall be limited to entities that are committed to the mission and purpose of AWBC and actively involved in activities such as counseling, lending, public policy, training, technical assistance, capacity building, organizational development or related activities that further AWBC’s mission.
a) Classes of Membership. Member Organizations and Affiliates (other classes may be added by a vote of the AWBC Board of Directors).
i) Member Organizations will have one vote per entity.
ii) Affiliates will have no vote.
b) Qualification of a Member Organization vs. an Affiliate
i) Women’s Business Centers. Whether presently funded by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), formerly funded by SBA or not funded by SBA, women’s business centers (see definition of a Women’s Business Center) are the only entity that may be granted membership and the associated voting rights.
ii) Other organizations may include, but will not be limited to the following: enterprise support organizations, technical assistance providers and consultants, national organizations and trade associations, public agencies, banks and funding institutions, and self-employed individuals may be considered Affiliates and need not submit a membership application.
Dues: Dues are collected annually and shall be adjusted from time to time by the Board of Directors. The annual membership dues are $400, and have been this rate since 2018. The 2025 annual membership dues shall be: $400. Membership may request a hardship waiver for one year to waive payment of their dues, pending approval of the Membership Committee.
Membership Benefits: [currently on website]
The full roster of membership benefits are dynamic as many are dependent on offerings of vendors and corporations who may offer new programs or discontinue programs at their own discretion. Benefits that are intrinsic to the association with AWBC are as follows:
- An opportunity to learn and grow from shared knowledge with other Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) and Affiliates
- A unified voice in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the interests of your Women’s Business Center(s) and the clients you serve. AWBC engages a government relations firm to guide us in our efforts to ensure that elected officials and stakeholders recognize and support the important and growing role of women-owned businesses in our economy and to sustain federal funding targeted specifically to women’s needs
- Share resources like organizational and program development tools to expand your WBC’s capacity and effectiveness
- A path to improved SBA processes and procedures to help WBCs operate more efficiently and effectively
- Access to the full portfolio of value-added benefits.
- Shared resources like organizational and program development tools to expand your WBC’s capacity and effectiveness
- WBC locator on AWBC website to help small businesses find centers near them
- Member-only educational events and roundtables help WBC staff access capital for their clients, manage grant reporting tasks, develop their centers’ curricula, refine fundraising skills, and more.
- Funding and sub-grant opportunities
Definition of a Women’s Business Center
A Women’s Business Center (WBC) is a counseling and training program for women seeking to start or grow a business. Each WBC is unique; they connect their clients with capital (funding) and other resources specific to their local community. WBCs offer a variety of services tailored to the needs of the communities they serve, including training in finance, management and marketing.
AWBC Members not only enjoy voting rights at the annual membership meeting, but have access to an array of exclusive benefits from partnership-based discounts, sub-grant opportunities, incentives, and more.
The online resource directory provides WBCs with tools and resources to support your WBC and clients.
Categories include:
- Consultant Services
- General Services
- Technology
- WBC Programming
Member Education
AWBC’s online courses library includes a comprehensive offering of expert subject matter content in English and Spanish. The library is updated regularly, and accessible to all members and their clients.
Featured Topics & Content:
- Accounting Basics
- Advocacy Training
- Annual Leadership Conference Content
- Business Operations Management
- Financial Tips and Tools
- Grant Reporting
- Marketing and Communications
- Mentorship
- Technology Solutions
- Time Management
Monthly and annual events provide members with on-going peer support, networking opportunities, educational resources and of course – fun! Stay up to date with upcoming events at awbc.org/events.
Ongoing:
- Educational training webinars for WBCs and clients
- Schedule meetings with the AWBC staff for one-on-one support
Quarterly & Monthly:
- AWBC Member Orientation
- WBC Connect Open Forum
- Rural Coalition
Annual:
- Leadership Conference (Discount for Members)
- Membership Meeting
Advocate, Connect, and Engage (ACE)
AWBC offers an innovate demonstration program called Advocate, Connect, Engage (A.C.E). A.C.E. aimed to empower women-owned small business to advocate for programs and policies that address the unique challenges faced by women and minority owned enterprises. The program was a train-the trainer model for WBCs to received training that was then delivered to small businesses in their communities.
National WBC of Excellence
The primary objective of the National Women’s Business Center of Excellence Designation is to recognize organizations that demonstrate commitment and efficacy of the mission, vision, and values of their Women’s Business Center thereby achieving the greatest outcomes for women owned businesses.
It is expected that the pursuit and attainment of designation will identify gaps and opportunities for the WBC to improve in a variety of areas, including strategic goal-setting, service delivery, continuous improvement and/or peer relationships. In order to fulfill these objectives, AWBC recognizes the value of the organization’s volunteers, leadership team and funders which is reflected in the involvement of these stakeholders in the final stages of the designation attainment.
Women’s Business Center Locator
The WBC locator is a tool on the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) website that helps you find the Women’s Business Center (WBC) closest to you.
You can also find a WBC on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website at sba.gov/wbc.
Updating Information for Accuracy
It is important to audit and review your WBC on the AWBC locator to ensure accurate information is published. National resource providers, congressional staff, legislators and small business owners use the WBC Locator to find a center to refer clients or access resources.
Issue Tracker
AWBC is making it easier to ask for help when you need it most.
Utilize the issue tracker to report issues, concerns, and opportunities including regulatory concerns (SBA), legislative concerns (Congress).
Use the form to track actionable issues (this is not a complaint forum) that you need AWBC’s help with.
What to know:
- Forms are submitted directly to AWBC and will remain confidential.
- Option to remain anonymous during resolution of your issue.
- Surface issues AND identify opportunities to improve the program