LET’S CELEBRATE PROGRESS. Forté Foundation is thankful for leaders like you who advance and inspire women in business. Together, we make incredible progress in our mission to launch women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, career opportunities, and a community of successful women. This Forté 2015 Year in Review and Donor Recognition summarizes milestones achieved and donor impact—all made possible by your continued support.
WE HAD A VISION—AND MADE IT A REALITY In 2011, the Forté Board of Directors developed a 5-year strategic plan, pushing us to double our membership base, budget, programing, and staff to serve more women. Additionally, it challenged us to increase women’s MBA enrollment at partner schools to 35%, while also reaching more women in the college years to encourage them to consider business careers even earlier. Thanks to our Board’s vision—and the hard work and generosity of supporters like you— Forté achieved the following milestones: •F orté grew to become more than 70,000 individual members and 90+ sponsors strong. Student and professional women, 57% of whom are women of color, attend our live events and engage in our online community, connecting with school, company, and nonprofit sponsors in the process.
• Women’s MBA enrollment at our U.S. partner schools climbed to 36.2%, on average, with 12 schools achieving 40% or more women enrolled. Learn more in our Business 360º blog post, which links to the significant news coverage of this announcement and our related infographic.
•N early 800 exceptional business women and men volunteered for Forté. They gave their time and incredible expertise by speaking during our events and webinars, and coaching and mentoring the students and young professional women in our membership.
• More than 850 MBA women starting business school received merit-based scholarships as Forté Fellows. Forté sponsor schools have awarded over $85 million in scholarships to 3,875+ Forté Fellows since 2003, when the program started with 33 scholarships.
•W e expanded our undergraduate programming with the pilot of our Rising Star Initiative (RSI). Recognizing the need to reach women earlier in the pipeline, RSI helps college women compete for top jobs and has already enrolled 650 students from 10 partner schools in just the first semester.
Kathleen Bochman of Loomis, Sayles & Company coaches college students at the 2015 Forté Fast Track to Finance Conference.
• Forté doubled in size—both financially and as a team. Our budget surpassed $3.5 million and our staff grew to 17 professionals based throughout the U.S. • Our new Leadership Circle of major gift donors was launched. Over 25 generous members committed to supporting the pipeline of women in business with gifts of $1,000 or more ($500 for Forté Fellow alumnae).
Find it all at fortefoundation.org
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