The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC ) is an international organization, i.e. it is one of the world's largest and oldest women's volunteer service organizations. GFWC works locally through thousands of clubs in the United States and globally in more than 20 countries. The members support the arts, preserve natural resources, promote education, encourage healthy lifestyles, stress civic involvement, and work toward world peace and understanding.
The Mission: The General Federation of Women's Clubs is an international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
Each local chapter benefits from membership, service, material, and program support from state and national Federation levels.
The GFWC headquarters in Washington, DC, a National Historic Landmark, houses the Women's History and Resource Center, a collection of books, periodicals and records devoted to women's history and women in volunteerism.
Among the many achievements of our members, GFWC is credited with turning the tide in favor of the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 (an effort initiated by a New Jersey clubwoman, Alice Leakey of Cranford); founding 75% of the public libraries in the country in the 1930's; and campaigning in the 1960's for seatbelts in all cars and streetlights on neighborhood streets. GFWC's traditional support for libraries was evident in the fulfillment of its commitment to America's Promise by raising and donating over $13.5 million in books and materials to public libraries and public school libraries (1997-2002).
