The mission of WWiB is to connect businesswomen through leadership, professionalism, mentoring and serving our community.

About

Whatcom Women in Business (WWiB) is a dynamic group of local women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals dedicated to connecting businesswomen through leadership, professionalism, mentorship, and serving our community. Founded in 1978 on the principles of mentorship, service, and leadership, WWiB provides a platform for women to grow professionally, support one another, and give back to our community.

We have four main programs: Monthly Meetings, the Annual Professional Women of the Year Awards event, our Scholarships program, and our Charity program.

Monthly Meetings

WWiB hosts monthly gatherings featuring guest speakers and discussions on topics relevant to professional development and community involvement.

Professional Women of the Year Awards 

Each year, we host the Professional Women of the Year Awards event, recognizing and celebrating outstanding women leaders in Whatcom County. This event is also our primary fundraiser for our scholarship program. 

Scholarships

Each year, we award scholarships to women of all ages who are pursuing their education. We look for women who emulate our values- holding leadership roles in organizations they participate in, and volunteering their time for charitable causes. In 2025, we are awarding three women with $5,000 scholarships. The amount we give in scholarships is based on how much we are able to raise in the prior year. 

Charity

Each year, WWiB’s members nominate charities from our community, then hold a vote to determine who the next year’s charity recipient will be. We invest in organizations that are especially impactful for women.

Legacy Circle

The Legacy Circle is a simple way to support Whatcom Women in Business and our long-standing scholarship program. It’s open to anyone in the community who wants to invest in women pursuing their education.

This isn’t a membership or a sponsorship — no meetings, no obligations, just an annual opportunity to give back and strengthen our year-round fundraising. All donors are listed on our Legacy Circle page unless they prefer to remain anonymous.

FAQ

Who is eligible to become a member of WWiB?

We welcome women who are in business, including non-profit leaders and leaders in education. To be eligible for membership, women must live, work, or attend school in Whatcom County.

What involvement is expected of members?

  • General members are expected to attend a minimum of 5 meetings per year, participate on at least one committee, and participate in the annual Professional Woman of the Year Awards event.

  • Our patron membership level, intended for past members who are taking a step back but wish to remain involved, has a lower participation requirement of attending two meetings a year. This membership level is reserved for members who have been with WWiB for two years or more.

Is WWiB a networking group?

Our monthly meetings are certainly a place to meet new people, however, we are NOT primarily a networking group - we are a service organization. If you are looking for an organization where you can go to promote your business and seek referrals, there are other groups in our area that would be a better fit.

Can non-members attend monthly meetings?

Our monthly meetings are open to guests, with the exception of our July Member social and our December Holiday Social. Once a guest has attended two meetings, we ask that they apply for membership in order to join future meetings.

What does WWiB do for our community?

We currently have three programs beyond our monthly meetings:

Can I read WWiB's Bylaws?

A current copy of our Bylaws is linked below.