As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I spend the vast majority of my time with women. It’s rare. I know. Until I started this business nearly a decade ago, the majority of my friends have always been men. My female friends were typically women who weren’t into clothes or style and predominantly didn’t wear makeup. So, my interest in style often stood out.

Things are very different now. It is a true gift to have met a diverse collection of extraordinary women who continue to be supportive, inspiring and authentic. And while I am grateful for my existing community, I know there are even more like minded women out there. Women that I can learn from, that make my life better just by knowing them AND that also want to make the world a better place.

I’ve had lots of questions about how I find these women. And that, my Dear Reader, is what this post is for. Full disclosure- so many of them are Poplin clients! It’s true. I absolutely adore my clients. Here are some other ways that might help you if you are on the hunt for a similar collection of incredible women. As always, let me know how it goes!

My Favorite Women’s Networking Organizations in the Seattle Area

Let’s start with giving circles, shall we? A giving circle is a collection of individuals who come together and contribute funds to support causes they care about. Giving circles can be cause based (as in giving to end climate change or mass incarceration) or they can be location based (as in giving to organizations in Washington State). You can see more in this Ted Talk. I’ve recently joined two and I’m ELATED about each one.

Washington Women’s Foundation

Washington Women’s Foundation is set to give approximately $1 million dollars to Washington based nonprofits and nonprofit leaders this year. This one is a financial commitment as members donate $2,500 per year (annually or monthly). Members then have the opportunity to contribute as much or as little of their time as they’d like. No guilt. Really. There’s endless education for members and I especially appreciate the focus on social justice and equity. Dive deep into the grant making process or just show up to see who will receive funding. I also adore the shift to Trust Based Philanthropy, which is a fancy way of saying, respecting the expertise of vetted nonprofits to spend grant money as they see fit. Sure, it’s sexy to give a grant for supporting 100 kids in a program, but it can be much more valuable to offer funds that can be used to keep the lights on. After all, if you have computers and no power, you won’t get much done.

Grapevine and specifically Seattle Women in Business for Good

If you are new to giving circles, Grapevine is the place to start. This online community connects women across the country and then empowers them to join giving circles based on causes or geography. I joined the Seattle Women in Business for Good Giving Circle. Members give $100 every quarter to be part of the community. Then, members have the opportunity to nominate a local nonprofit organization. Each quarter three nonprofits will be presented to the group by members and the group votes on the organization that will receive 100% of the funds. That’s it! Meet other like minded women, learn about local nonprofits and support causes that matter to you.

Ellevate

Ellevate is the “largest community of women at work.” It is not focused on philanthropy, but instead on learning and bringing together women. Our local chapter is filled with some of my favorite folks, but even if you are out of the area or will spend all of your time virtually, it’s worth a visit. There are various levels of membership and a constant stream of virtual workshops to support your personal and career growth. The Seattle chapter also have in person events like the one in January where yours truly will be presenting!

The Koa Club

For those of you who have been with me for years, you know all about the Koa Club. “Koa” means brave in Hawaiian and embraces the spirit of the Koa Club. It’s a membership organization for high achieving women across the globe. Attend workshops in person or virtually, connect with other women who are looking to learn and grow. Membership is FREE, so there are no barriers to trying it out. By the way, there’s also a Koa Club TV episode featuring yours truly.

Leading Women in Technology

I met the founder of the Koa Club when she was spearheading the local chapter of Leading Women in Technology. LWT offers the annual WILPower Program is a professional development opportunity for women based in Seattle, the Bay Area and NYC. I participated in the WILPower Program a few years ago and really enjoyed meeting so many ambitious women (most but not all in tech jobs at various companies) and the monthly professional development opportunities. As you know, I’m not in tech, but tech adjacent, I suppose, and all the information was relevant for me. Now is the time to apply for the 2023 cohort.

If you’ve been spending the last few years feeling more isolated, this is the time to reinvest your energy into relationships. And, if you are ready to make some new connections, ideally, one of these organizations will be a solid catalyst for you to do so. Maybe I’ll see you there!