Our Mission:
Empower.
Helping women and girls live their dreams.
Our Mission
Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and the world through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.
Who We Are
Soroptimist is a global women’s organization whose members volunteer to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. Over 160,000 Soroptimists in 122 countries and territories support community–based and global projects benefiting women and girls. Our organization is particularly concerned with providing women and girls access to education, as this is the most effective path to self-determination. We deliver our mission through a volunteer network of members, clubs, regions, the federation and now, our online platform: Live Your Dream.org.
Our Impact
Our years of experience working with women and girls has taught us that education is the key to unlocking economic empowerment of the world’s women and girls. When women and girls are educated, they have opportunity, choice and power to make healthy decisions for themselves and their families.
Our Programs
The Live Your Dream Awards program is a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. Every year, Soroptimist distributes more than $2 million in education grants to about 1,500 women all over the world. Participation in SIA’s signature program is strongly urged.
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls, was launched in July 2014. The program targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success.
Midwestern Region offers an educational award for women who are pursuing bachelors, masters or doctoral degrees. This award, The Virginia M. Wagner Educational Award, is specific to Midwestern Region and is so named in honor of former governor, Dr. Virginia Wagner, MD. The award’s criteria are similar to that of Live Your Dream, with a few exceptions, notably that the applicant is not required to be head of household.