16 Resources
The Commission at 1020 N Street in Sacramento advises the Governor and Legislature on policies affecting California's 20 million women and girls. Free public resources include the annual Pay Equity Report, women-owned-business data, and toolkits on workplace harassment. Mothers can use the Commission's research to advocate for school board, county supervisor, or workplace policy changes. Public meetings are streamed and open to comment.
(916) 651-5405 · 1020 N St Suite 560, Sacramento, CA 95814 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Women's Foundation California at 340 Pine in the SF Financial District funds grassroots groups led by women of color across the state and runs the Women's Policy Institute, a free year-long fellowship training Sacramento advocates. The Foundation also operates Solis, an investment fund supporting women-led startups. Useful for California mothers transitioning from direct services into systems change work.
(415) 837-1113 · 340 Pine St Suite 302, San Francisco, CA 94104 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Dress for Success LA provides referral-based interview suiting, the Going Places Network of career circles, and Professional Women's Group ongoing mentorship for women returning to work after caregiving, incarceration, or domestic violence. Suits are gifted (not loaned) for the interview and one for the first day of work. Bring a referral letter from a partner social service agency. Call to confirm Tuesday-Friday suiting hours.
(213) 747-2400 · Los Angeles, CA · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
YWCA Greater LA at 1020 S Olive operates job-training programs in IT, healthcare, and union-aligned construction trades, plus the Sexual Assault Crisis Service that handles 90% of LAPD's SART exam advocacy. Mothers leaving abusive relationships often access housing, childcare, and re-employment supports here in one campus. Member of the racial justice coalition that fought to reduce LA's youth detention pipeline.
(213) 365-2991 · 1020 S Olive St Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90015 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Girls Inc. LA at 913 N Euclid in Hollywood runs after-school and summer programming for girls 5-18 emphasizing STEM (Operation SMART), financial literacy (Economic Literacy), and the healthy-relationships curriculum 'Project BOLD.' Sliding-scale tuition with full scholarships for low-income LA families. Often partners with LAUSD Title I schools for in-school enrichment. Daughters of mothers in transitional housing get priority placement.
(323) 780-4770 · 913 N Euclid Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm · Visit Website
California hosts the largest concentration of SBA-funded Women's Business Centers in the country, with locations in Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Oakland, Sacramento, and the Inland Empire. WBCs provide free one-on-one business counseling, low-cost workshops on California LLC formation, and microloan referrals through DreamSpring, Accion, and California FarmLink. Especially effective with Latina and immigrant founders.
Multiple locations statewide · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
DWC at 442 S San Pedro is the only Skid Row resource focused exclusively on women experiencing homelessness, with 119 units of permanent supportive housing on-site, a Day Center serving 200+ daily, and the MADE by DWC social enterprise providing job training. Mothers separated from minor children due to housing instability can access reunification supports. Open 365 days a year for drop-in services.
(213) 680-0600 · 442 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
California Women Lead is a Sacramento-based bipartisan nonprofit training women for elected and appointed public service roles. Programs include the Candidate Bootcamp, the Appointed and Empowered series for boards and commissions, and mentor matches with sitting officials. Free or low-cost depending on the offering. Useful for California mothers transitioning from PTA or nonprofit volunteer roles into formal political leadership.
Sacramento, CA · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
AAUW has been advancing women's education since 1881 and operates 100+ California branches that run scholarship competitions, Tech Trek STEM camps for 7th-grade girls, and salary negotiation workshops (Work Smart and Start Smart). The national fellowships fund California women pursuing graduate degrees, post-docs, and career re-entry. Membership is open to anyone with an associate degree or higher.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NOW's California chapters in San Francisco, LA, Sacramento, and San Diego advocate on reproductive rights, equal pay, and intersectional feminism. Mothers can join local chapters free of charge to participate in policy actions like the annual lobbying day at the State Capitol or rapid-response on Supreme Court rulings affecting California women. The national site also publishes legislative scorecards for California's congressional delegation.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The League's California state office and 60+ local Leagues run nonpartisan voter education including the Pros & Cons guide to state ballot measures translated into Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. Mothers can attend free candidate forums on local school board and city council races, where childcare is often provided. Membership is open to any California resident regardless of gender.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
YWCA USA's national network includes 14 California associations from Eureka to San Diego, collectively the second-largest provider of DV shelter beds in the state after county-funded programs. Local YWCAs offer racial justice programming, child watch, housing for low-income women, and Bold Women summits. Free programs are funded by HUD, CalOES, and county contracts; child watch may charge nominal fees.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
WFN is the trade association for women's foundations including Women's Foundation California, the Los Angeles Women's Foundation, and the Women's Foundation of San Francisco. Their public reports map the giving landscape, helping California mothers find funders that match their nonprofit's mission. Especially useful for mothers running grassroots safety, education, or economic-justice programs without development staff.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Junior League chapters in San Francisco, LA, Pasadena, San Diego, Orange County, and Sacramento are training grounds for women's civic leadership, with annual membership dues funding community grants for child welfare, foster youth, and women's economic empowerment. Open to women 21+; provisional membership year includes leadership training. Daughters of members can join the Children's Theatre and other youth programs.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Soroptimist of the Americas (which includes California) operates the Live Your Dream Awards giving cash grants directly to women who are head-of-household pursuing education or training. California clubs in nearly every mid-sized city select local recipients before forwarding to regional and federation rounds. Application is online and open annually August-November; awards range from
,000 to
6,000.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Zonta clubs across California fund the Young Women in Public Affairs award and the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business scholarships, plus local college tuition grants. Members are professional women supporting community projects on ending child marriage, reducing maternal mortality, and expanding STEM access. Useful for California college-bound and graduate-school-bound mothers seeking under-publicized funding sources.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Frequently Asked
- How many women's programs resources are in California?
- Women's Corner tracks 16 women's programs resources for women in California.
- Are women's programs resources in California free?
- 16 of the 16 listed women's programs resources in California are explicitly free or low-cost.
- Which cities in California have women's programs resources?
- Listings span cities including Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles.
- What are some examples of women's programs resources in California?
- Featured entries include California Commission on the Status of Women & Girls, Women's Foundation California, Dress for Success — Los Angeles, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Girls Inc. of Los Angeles.
- Do these listings include phone numbers?
- 6 of 16 California women's programs listings include phone numbers.
- What do women's empowerment programs actually offer?
- Most combine peer support groups, financial literacy and credit-building classes, job training, GED prep, leadership development, and help navigating benefits and legal systems. Many include free childcare during sessions. Programs like Dress for Success, Bottomless Closet, and YWCA chapters serve women rebuilding after divorce, abuse, or job loss.
- Are there programs for single moms specifically?
- Yes. The Life of a Single Mom (TLSM) operates in 30+ states with peer groups and crisis grants. Helping Hands for Single Moms funds college for single mothers. Modest Needs gives short-term emergency grants. Many United Way 211 calls connect single mothers to local single-mom funds for rent, car repair, or childcare.
- Do these programs cost money?
- Almost all empowerment programs are free for income-qualifying women, often funded through HHS Office of Family Assistance, state TANF dollars, or private foundations. Many include free meals, transportation stipends, and childcare. Bring ID, proof of income, and any benefits letters when you enroll.
- Can I get help starting a business as a woman?
- Yes. The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership funds 140+ Women's Business Centers nationwide offering free training, mentorship, and loan readiness. SCORE provides free women-mentor pairings. Grants like the Amber Grant (
0,000/month) and Cartier Women's Initiative target women founders. Many states have additional women-owned business certifications that unlock contracts.