About Our Work

CWE Boston Program Manager, Gina Marciano at the MIDAS Fundraiser

What We Do and Why

Imagine yourself as a successful businessperson -- independent, prosperous, a leader in your field. It’s possible with the right tools and support.

The Center for Women & Enterprise is a nationally known nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people start and grow their businesses. CWE has worked with more than 28,000 Massachusetts and Rhode Island entrepreneurs since 1995.

Our Mission

CWE's mission is to empower women to become economically self-sufficient and to prosper through business and entrepreneurship.

What we do:

  • Education
  • Training
  • Technical assistance
  • Women’s business enterprise certification

Our History

The Idea

When Andrea Silbert returned to her hometown of Boston in 1994 after a two-year stint in South America, she brought with her an idea for a non-profit micro-lending institution for women entrepreneurs. Read more about the history of CWE.

Who We Do It For

Our clients represent a variety of racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.

We’ve worked with everyone from women starting a home-based business in public housing to women running multi-million dollar technology firms.

We’d like to work with you too, to start your business or grow your business.