Since 1988, Women's Initiative has:

• Assisted clients in starting or developing over 1,600 businesses from photography studios to catering companies and mechanic shops
• Disbursed loans totaling over $800,000
• Facilitated clients in leveraging an additional $1,800,000 in capital from other lending sources
• Helped over 120 women build assets through Individual Development Accounts (IDA or matched savings accounts)

1988 Women’s Initiative launched its services and was incorporated.

1990 established the Women's Initiative Revolving Loan Fund to provide small business loans to lower-income women entrepreneurs. To date, the fund has disbursed hundreds of loans while maintaining an excellent default rate under 10%.

1990 created the Alternativas para Latinas en Autosuficiencia program (ALAS) to provide services in Spanish in San Francisco’s predominantly Latina Mission district. ALAS is the first program of its kind in Northern California.

1993 established the Women's Initiative Oakland Project, offering entrepreneurial training and technical assistance services downtown Oakland.

1995 established the Women Mean Business Project serving welfare recipients and other women in poverty.

1995 decided to focus exclusively on serving low-income (60% or less of regional median income) and disadvantaged women, including women in poverty and those making the transition from welfare to work. Today 99% of Women’s Initiative clients are low-income, one-third are women in poverty, and 10% are current or former TANF recipients.

1997 initiates the Individual Development Accounts (IDA) program through the Bay Area IDA collaborative

2000 established a bi-lingual Women’s Business Center with the support of a second grant from the U.S. SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO). This center enables us to provide both English and Spanish-language services from our downtown Oakland Project site.

2001 awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Microenterprise Development. The award was made by First Lady (now Senator) Hillary Rodham Clinton at a ceremony at the White House on January 16, 2001.

2001 completed the first Women’s Initiative Outcome Evaluation, tracking 83 clients served in English for up to 18 months after graduation from core training, with support from the Aspen Institute, the San Francisco Foundation, and the C.S. Mott Foundation. Key findings included that the median income of participants nearly doubled (an average income increase of $13,226) within 18 months of completing Women’s Initiative’s comprehensive business management training.

2002 honored by Equal Rights Advocates for sharing their commitment to break down barriers that obstruct women’s economic empowerment.

2003 launched the Alameda County Advisory Council to build visibility and leadership in the east bay. This pilot council is the framework for all future leadership and expansion in the agency.

2003 Women’s Initiative hosts its first gala honoring the agency founders and Mary Huss, Publisher of the SF Business Times. This key business event in the city boasts up to 500 in attendance and is a must-attend event for women business leaders every year.

2004 Women’s Initiative says goodbye to its founder Paulette Meyer as a member of the board of directors and welcomes in a new board of directors who take on broad ownership and responsibility for the organization.

2004 Women’s Initiative launched a new site in the Fruitvale neighborhood as part of a neighborhood investment effort to build the community. It is currently the second highest retail base in the east bay.

2004 Women’s Initiative Measures Up report includes findings on a social investment return of $21 for each $1 invested during the three year period of 1999 through 2002.

2005 Women’s Initiative integrates technology into the classroom ensuring that every participant has technology integrated into their business.

2005 launched the Graduate Leadership Council to build the skills and involvement of Women’s Initiative graduates in defining the organization’s future.

2005 held its first-ever graduate business conference at the Oakland Marriot and brought together over 200 graduates with hundreds of successful women in business to build connections and share knowledge.

2005 Women’s Initiative graduates and volunteers launch the Private Collection which creates a market place and training ground for graduates with high end retail products. A percentage of proceeds support Women’s Initiative operations.

2005 launched the graduate membership program SuccessLink to connect women to more success and successful women.

2006 Women’s Initiative loan pool is doubled with an investment from Comerica Bank. Women’s Initiative becomes one of the largest training-led micro-lenders in the country.

2007 Founder Paulette Meyer wins the local hero Jefferson Award.

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