California Federation of Business and Professional Women

Professional Businesswomen’s Organization

We are the oldest organization of its kind in the world; devoted entirely and actively to the interests and needs of all women irrespective of their occupations and of their status. Our mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information. Our founders fought for women’s rights by securing commissions for nurses who served in World War I and ensuring that both men and women could take civil service exams for government positions. Today, we continue the fight for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, the ratification of the CEDAW treaty, and equal pay for women.

From President Sher Singh (2025 – 2026)

CALL TO ALL – FEBRUARY 2026

WELCOME MESSAGE

It is with great pride and deep respect that I welcome you to the California Federation of Business and Professional Women (CFBPW). For more than a century, since our founding in 1920, CFBPW has advanced a mission of promoting equity for working women, fostering personal empowerment, and encouraging professional growth. From women’s right to vote—an achievement born of persistence, courage, and a shared vision of equality we continue to support and uplift women.
While we celebrate this historic milestone each year, we also acknowledge that our work is far from complete. Women today continue to face challenges that demand our commitment, collaboration, and advocacy. As we honor the achievements of those who came before us, we also recommit ourselves to advancing the rights, opportunities, and voices of women everywhere.

For example, in 1951, through the work of California Federation of Business and Professional Women (CFBPW), California passed the “Wife Paycheck” bill which allows married women to pick up their own paycheck. CFBPW was instrumental in forming the Commission on the Status of Women and have worked diligently on the California Federation Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. We have an active State Legislation focus benefiting women and girls. There is a scholarship loans and grants through our Education Fund. We are a charter member of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and support it finding a permanent home in Washington, D.C. to be funded with private and public money.In 1919 in St. Louis because of the work that women did for the War Department during World War I BPW was born. We work to improve the standards for women through training, education and legislation. BPW International, which was formed in 1930, has had permanent representation at the United Nations since 1947.  BPW International also has full access to the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women information. The three policy initiatives that BPW International focuses on are Equal Pay Day, Women’s Empowerment Principles: Equality Means Business and Women Entrepreneurs and Trade. BPW International is one of the world’s most influential organizations, non-partisan and non-sectarian, promoting its objectives without distinction as to race, language or religion.

NFBPWC was the second organization after Alice Paul’s Women’s Party to support the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  We continue to work on Congress to ratify the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), as well as working to eliminate human trafficking.

The California Federation of Business and Professional Women stands as a testament to what is possible when individuals join in purpose and resolve. I invite all who share our values to engage in this ongoing journey, as we strive to create a future where opportunity, dignity, and equality are not ideals, but realities for all.

CFBPW is a part of the National Federation Business Professional Women’s Clubs (NFBPWC). Once you are a member of a club, you are a member at all levels. That is local, district, state, national, and international.

I invite you to join us—through your participation, leadership, and advocacy—as together we work to ensure equality for all. Our organization welcomes ALL women, career women, entrepreneurs, small businesses, students, retired or women looking for an organization to contribute to their communities.

To learn more, navigate through our website and learn about our CFBPW and all its districts and clubs across California.  Also click on these links and experience the global effect we have.

https://www.bpw-international.org/    BPW International

https://www.nfbpwc.org/About   NFBPWC

With respect, dedication, determination, and purpose,

Sher Singh
President 2025 – 2026
President California Federation of Business and Professional Women

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/15d6VVNynN55QWawKrRDfwElEX-aySMZT/view?usp=drive_link