New York, January 23, 2025 – Women’s World Banking is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership, aligned with our mission to advance Gender Lens Investing. After six years of impactful work, Women of the World Endowment (WoWE) has joined forces with, and transferred its assets to, Women’s World Banking.
Women of the World Endowment was created by Patience Marime-Ball with a bold vision that was brought to life through the generous support of Dr. Ruth Shaber and other donors. Together, they aimed to shift the paradigm of capital allocation towards more diverse teams and strategies that can drive better financial returns as well as positive social and environmental change. Since its founding, WoWE has built a portfolio of impact investments, delivered key research and insights, and fostered a community of like-minded advocates dedicated to its mission.
This mission will live on and grow at Women’s World Banking. This move enables Women’s World Banking to expand the impact of Women’s World Banking Asset Management, furthering its pioneering Gender Lens Investing approach and investment strategy, with the aim of promoting women as customers, as talent and as leaders.
Commenting on the announcement, Women’s World Banking’s President and CEO, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, said, “We are excited to partner with Women of the World Endowment and carry on their mission. This transition not only validates Women’s World Banking’s strategy to expand into impact investing but confirms our leadership in the growing field of Gender Lens investing. We are deeply grateful to the WoWE Board for placing their trust in our organization as we build on the important work they have started.”
Commenting on the announcement the WoWE Team reflected, “Since our inception, WoWE has been dedicated to investing in solutions that create lasting change at scale, with a focus on women as changemakers. Through this transition to Women’s World Banking, we are poised to build upon this legacy, further empowering women and girls to drive systemic transformation across various sectors.”
About Women’s World Banking
For over 45 years, Women’s World Banking has been dedicated to serving the nearly 1 billion women excluded by the formal financial sector. As an NGO, we partner with financial institutions and policymakers to design, develop and implement solutions and programs that facilitate systemic change for women. As an investor, we advance women in the workplace and as customers through direct equity – to bring them security, prosperity, and independence. Since 2018 Women’s World Banking has reached more than 82 million women helping to change not only their lives but also of their households, communities, and countries. To learn more about Women’s World Banking, visit womensworldbanking.org.
Media Contacts
Liz Richards, er@womensworldbanking.org
