The Women's Venture Fund

[http://www.womensventurefund.org The Women's Venture Fund] (WVF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women of diverse backgrounds to establish thriving businesses in urban communities from New York and New Jersey.

The Women’s Venture Fund offers training, small business loans, and a network of business advisors to help women reach their business goals.

History

In 1994, Maria Otero, WVF's Founder and President, quit practicing law to create WVF.

In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. [cite web| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/06/nyregion/06donate.html?ex=1278302400&en=93a1beabd4ede5b8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss| title=New York Times: City Groups Get Bloomberg Gift of $20 Million Retrieved on August 29, 2007]

Locations

The Women’s Venture Fund (WVF) has two offices: The New York office first opened in 1997 which has provided technical assistance services to more than 10,000 women entrepreneurs and over [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/jobs/12homefront.html?ex=1186718400&en=3e23bc724ecf4246&ei=5070 $1.5 million in funding] to 150 women owned businesses. The New Jersey office opened in October 2006. This new center continues offering WVF’s programs that addresses the business needs of minority and low-income women from the Skylands, Gateway and Atlantic City regions.

References

External links

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/jobs/12homefront.html?ex=1186718400&en=3e23bc724ecf4246&ei=5070 New York Times: From a Small Loan, a Jewelry Business Grows]
* [http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/BUSINESS/706170418 Daily Record: Women Taking the Plunge]
* [http://www.carnegie.org Carnegie Corporation]