Women's empowerment programs in the US are funded through a mix of federal grants (Office on Women's Health, Women's Bureau at the Department of Labor, WANTO grants for nontraditional trades) and nonprofit networks like the YWCA, AAUW, and the National Council of Women's Organizations. Services typically include leadership development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship through SBA Women's Business Centers (WBCs), and peer support groups. Dress for Success outfits women re-entering the workforce, and Bottomless Closet and Step Up Network mentor low-income women. State-level women's commissions advocate on policy and refer to local providers. This directory aggregates WBCs, YWCAs, women's commissions, and empowerment nonprofits.
Minnesota district courts hear family matters across its 87 counties. The Child Support Enforcement Division operates under DHS. Minneapolis-Saint Paul anchors the state; Rochester, Duluth, and Bloomington follow. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and Violence Free Minnesota (the statewide DV coalition) serve women.
MWC at 550 Rice St in St. Paul is a statewide coalition of women-serving organizations that advances gender equity through public policy, advocacy, and joint programming. Member orgs share a building and host events open to MN women. Call 651-228-0338 weekdays or email info@mnwomen.org to connect with a member group.
651-228-0338 · 550 Rice St, St. Paul, MN 55103 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
WomenVenture at 2324 University Ave W in St. Paul offers business training, microloans up to $50,000, and one-on-one coaching for Minnesota women starting or growing a business. Especially active with BIPOC and immigrant founders in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Call 612-224-9540 weekdays or email info@womenventure.org for intake.
612-224-9540 · 2324 University Ave W Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55114 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
YWCA Minneapolis at 1130 Nicollet Mall runs racial-justice programming, early-childhood education, fitness centers, and Strong Fast Fit women's leadership programming. Mothers can also access financial-coaching and Girls Inc. youth programs on-site. Call 612-215-4400 weekdays to ask about scholarships, sliding-scale fees, and program schedules.
612-215-4400 · 1130 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
YWCA St. Paul at 375 Selby Ave runs supportive housing, family stabilization, employment programs, and youth services in the St. Paul community. Programs are designed to help women break cycles of poverty and homelessness. Call 651-222-3741 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm to ask about openings in housing or workforce programs.
651-222-3741 · 375 Selby Ave, St. Paul, MN 55102 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
WFMN at 105 5th Ave S in Minneapolis is the state's largest philanthropy focused on women and girls, funding grantees that work on economic security, safety, leadership, and health across all 87 MN counties. Call 612-337-5010 weekdays or email info@wfmn.org to learn about funded programs you can access locally.
612-337-5010 · 105 5th Ave S Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Waite House at 2323 11th Ave S in Minneapolis is a neighborhood center in the Phillips community offering culturally specific programming for Latina and immigrant women, including ESL, food shelf, and parenting support. Call 612-721-1681 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to learn about current group offerings.
612-721-1681 · 2323 11th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
HAWA at 1544 Timberlake Rd in St. Paul supports Hmong women through leadership development, domestic-violence advocacy, economic empowerment, and cultural programming. One of the longest-running Hmong women's nonprofits in the Twin Cities. Call 651-222-2303 weekdays to ask about current programs and language-specific groups.
651-222-2303 · 1544 Timberlake Rd, St. Paul, MN 55117 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Ain Dah Yung ('our home') at 1089 Portland Ave in St. Paul runs culturally grounded programs for Native American women and youth, including emergency shelter for runaway youth, the Ninde Doula program, and family stabilization. Call 651-227-4184 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm to ask about culturally specific intake.
651-227-4184 · 1089 Portland Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Resource Inc. at 612 N Broadway in Crookston provides financial coaching, job-readiness training, and small-business support for women across northwest Minnesota — a part of the state with few other dedicated women's economic programs. Call 218-281-0431 weekdays to learn about current cohorts and one-on-one coaching.
218-281-0431 · 612 N Broadway Suite 2, Crookston, MN 56716 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
AAUW has been advancing equity for women through education and research since 1881, with active Minnesota branches in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, and St. Cloud. National scholarships and local programming on pay equity and STEM access are open to MN women without joining as a paid member.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NOW is the largest grassroots feminist organization in the US, with Minnesota chapters that advocate on reproductive rights, pay equity, and gender-based violence at the State Capitol. The national site lists local MN chapter contacts and upcoming meetings for women who want to plug into organized advocacy.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
LWV Minnesota and 40+ local leagues across the state host nonpartisan voter education forums, candidate guides, and civic-engagement workshops. Useful for MN women who want to become informed voters or get more involved in local politics without joining a partisan organization.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
YWCA USA coordinates the national network that includes YWCA Minneapolis and YWCA St. Paul, with shared programming on racial justice, housing, childcare, and DV services. The national site explains how to find an affiliate elsewhere in MN or other states for women relocating with family.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
WFN is a coalition of women's foundations including the Women's Foundation of Minnesota. The national site explains how women's funds are different from general grant-makers and lists open RFPs that MN-based nonprofits and women's projects may qualify for.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Junior League has active chapters in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester that train women in leadership and run civic projects on family wellbeing and education. Annual dues apply; useful for Minnesota women seeking long-term volunteer-based leadership development.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Soroptimist clubs in Minnesota — including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth area clubs — run the Live Your Dream education grant for women supporting families while pursuing school. The national site lets MN women apply directly without finding a local club first.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Zonta International is a service organization with Minnesota clubs in the Twin Cities, Rochester, and Duluth that fund local women's scholarships and support international gender-based-violence prevention. Membership is open to MN professional women interested in service-based advocacy.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website