By Chris Olsen

Six years ago, as I shifted my focus from consulting to supporting female-identifying business founders in communicating their purpose and impact, I joined a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based organization co-founded by Lani Basa called The Business Women’s Circle (The BWC). I began meeting with a cohort of women once a month for half a day. Led by a seasoned business owner facilitator (the whip-smart Katie Kath), we addressed the joys and struggles of entrepreneurship together. I got focused on what mattered. I made invaluable connections. My business continued to grow and evolve. I can say without a doubt that Publish Her is what it is today because of the support I receive from that community (four of us pictured clockwise from the top Heidi Mueller, founder of Excelsior Candle Co., me, Shannon Foreman, founder of Forethought Planning, and Katie Kath, Partner and Creative Director of Jkath Design Build).

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions women business owners make to the economy. As we continue to break barriers and start and scale businesses at a rapid rate, organizations that provide access to resources and community continue to be essential to our success. Like The BWC, the following organizations offer practical support and foster connection and growth for women business owners to make an even greater impact:

AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION: A national organization focused on providing professional development, networking and leadership opportunities for women in business. ABWA.org

ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS CENTERS: A network supporting Women’s Business Centers across the U.S. to assist women in starting and growing their businesses. AWBC.org

THE BUSINESS WOMEN’S CIRCLE: An organization that offers peer mentoring and support for women business owners to foster growth and success. TheBWC.org

CENTER FOR WOMEN AND ENTERPRISE: A nonprofit dedicated to helping women start and grow their businesses through training, financial education and mentorship. CWEOnline.org

EWOMENNETWORK: A community of women entrepreneurs offering networking opportunities, business growth resources and professional development. eWomenNetwork.com

FEMALE FOUNDER COLLECTIVE: A network of businesses founded by women, offering resources and connections to promote women-led companies. FemaleFounderCollective.com

FORBESWOMEN: A section of Forbes magazine dedicated to sharing stories, trends and advice that empower and inspire women in business and leadership roles. Forbes.com/ForbesWomen

GOLDMAN SACHS 10,000 WOMEN: A global initiative that provides women entrepreneurs with business education, mentoring and access to capital. GoldmanSachs.com

HELLO ALICE: A platform that helps small business owners, especially women and underrepresented groups, through free resources, grants and community support. HelloAlice.com

LADIES WHO LAUNCH: A nonprofit organization focused on empowering women entrepreneurs with education, mentorship and funding opportunities. LadiesWhoLaunch.org

NATIONAL WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCIL: A federal advisory committee that provides advice and policy recommendations to foster the growth of women-owned businesses. NWBC.gov

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS: An organization advocating for women entrepreneurs by providing resources, networking opportunities, and a voice in policy matters. NAWBO.org

PUBLISH HER AND PUBLISH HER STORY: A community and resource hub that supports women writers and entrepreneurs in sharing their stories and publishing their works. PublishHerPress.com

THE SBA’S OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP: A division of the U.S. Small Business Administration dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs through training, resources and financial support. SBA.gov

SHE OWNS IT: A platform offering inspiration, resources and community support for women entrepreneurs to thrive in business. SheOwnsIt.com

THE TORY BURCH FOUNDATION: A nonprofit that provides access to capital, mentorship, and entrepreneurial education to empower women business owners. ToryBurchFoundation.org

U.S. WOMEN’S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: An organization that advocates for economic empowerment for women by providing resources, networking and policy influence. USWCC.org

THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: A nonprofit that helps women achieve economic independence by supporting their efforts to launch and grow successful businesses. CTWBDC.org

THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE NATIONAL COUNCIL: The largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S., offering opportunities for business certification, networking and resources. WBENC.org

WOMEN IMPACTING PUBLIC POLICY: A national nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of women-owned businesses and women in leadership positions. WIPP.org

THE WOMEN PRESIDENTS’ ORGANIZATION: A global peer advisory group for women entrepreneurs whose companies generate at least $1 million in annual revenue. WomenPresidentsOrg.com

WOMEN’S STARTUP LAB: A startup accelerator designed to support women entrepreneurs in growing their businesses through mentoring, coaching and investor access. WomenStartupLab.com

WOMENVENTURE: A nonprofit organization providing women with financial and business development services to launch and scale successful businesses. WomenVenture.org

Do you lead or know of an organization supporting women business owners not mentioned here? Email me and I’ll add it to the list!