Our Mission

The Institute for Women's Policy Research conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue, and strengthen families, communities, and societies.

IWPR focuses on issues of poverty and welfare, employment and earnings, work and family issues, health and safety, and women's civic and political participation.

The Institute works with policymakers, scholars, and public interest groups around the country to design, execute, and disseminate research that illuminates economics and social policy issues affecting women and families, and to build a network of individuals and organizations that conduct and use women-oriented policy research. IWPR, an independent, non-profit, research organization also works in affiliation with the graduate programs in public policy and women's studies at The George Washington University.

IWPR's work is supported by foundation grants, government grants and contracts, donations from individuals, and contributions from organizations. Members and affiliates of IWPR's Information Network receive reports and information on a regular basis. IWPR is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Program Areas

• Poverty, Welfare, & Income Security
  Welfare reform, low-wage workers, social security reform
  
• Work & Family
  Paid and unpaid family leave, child care, flexible work arrangements, changing family and work structures
  
• Employment, Education, & Economic Change
  Pay equity, affirmative action, the wage gap, part-time and contingent work, women and unions, women in management, unemployment insurance
  
• Health & Safety
  Women's access to health insurance, costs and benefits of preventative health services for women, costs of domestic violence
  
• Democracy & Society
  Women's political participation, as activists, voters, candidates, and policy makers, the status of women in the states: and tax and budget policy

IWPR is special in several ways. First, the Institute specializes in the use of quantitative techniques and original research, interpreting the data through the lens of the special conditions of women's lives, paying close attention to gender and racial disparities. Second, IWPR works in partnership with women's advocacy groups and other public interest organizations to respond directly to the policy needs of their constituents by producing and disseminating research that supports specific policy initiatives.

Research dissemination and citizen education are critical components of our work, ensuring that the results of our research are used effectively to promote economic justice and structural change. Our research dissemination and citizen education activities include:

• Briefing Congress and the Administration as well as women's and other public interest groups
  
• Convening conferences, lectures, and a brown-bag lunch series (the joint IWPR and GWU Friday Forums) on policy issues affecting women and their families
  
• Advising women's organizations and other public interest groups on specific policy issues
  
• Organizing public relations campaigns and media events.

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"IWPR's groundbreaking research on policy issues have made a big difference in the fight for gender justice." -Nancy Folbre, University of Mass.

"IWPR research is an excellent source of information to women in business, politics, and the community." -Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Former Lt. Governor, State of Maryland