Women's History Month & International Women's Day

[Michelle Fifis]

As we approach Women's History Month (WHM) in March and International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, 2025, it’s important for organizations, leaders, and changemakers to reflect on and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and challenges women globally face. This resource provides a brief history of these observances and actionable ideas for incorporating these themes into your programs in March and beyond!

This resource covers:

• The history of Women's History Month and International Women’s Day
• Why it’s important to address IWD and WHM
• Program ideas and examples from other Pledge 1% members
• Pledge 1% graphics for your use
  

 

History of Women's History Month and International Women’s Day

International Women's Day (IWD):
International Women’s Day, first celebrated in 1911, has become a global event that acknowledges women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements while also advocating for gender equality. For 2025, the theme is #AccelerateAction, which calls for “taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality” and “increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.”

Women’s History Month (WHM):
In 1987, Congress officially designated March as Women's History Month, highlighting women's role throughout history and seeking to uplift their often-overlooked contributions across all sectors of society. For 2025, the theme focuses on “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” celebrating the powerful influence of women dedicated to education, mentorship, and leadership.

Why it’s important to address IWD and WHM

• Advocacy for Gender Equity: WHM and IWD offer opportunities to highlight the ongoing fight for gender equity, raise awareness about women's barriers, and show support for policies and initiatives that promote gender justice.
• Reinforcing Organizational Values: As leaders in social impact, organizations can create a culture of inclusion, respect, and empowerment for women. WHM and IWD reinforce an organization's values by publicly supporting women’s advancement and leadership.
• Amplifying Women’s Voices & Contributions: WHM offers a chance to highlight female leaders, innovators, and unsung heroes whose stories have been marginalized throughout history. IWD provides a platform to amplify women's voices in contemporary struggles for justice and equality.

 

Program ideas

To make your celebration of WHM and IWD more impactful, align your programs with the unique context of your organization, industry, and region. Whether highlighting women in STEM for a tech company or honoring local women leaders, a tailored approach ensures relevance and resonates deeply with your team, driving more meaningful engagement and action. 

Additionally, connecting your initiatives to your organization’s mission and values helps drive desired outcomes, and defining clear metrics allows you to measure success and track meaningful impact.

1. Host Virtual or In-Person Events to Celebrate Women’s Contributions:

• Panel Discussions: Bring female leaders from within your organization or industry to discuss their experiences, challenges, and empowerment strategies to #AccelerateAction.
• Wellness Workshops: Host a wellness workshop focusing on women’s health issues, work-life balance, and stress management strategies. 
• Film Screenings or Book Clubs: Show films or host readings of books by women authors that explore issues related to your industry or topics such as gender, race, and power.

Example: Pledge 1% Builder, Peloton, celebrated International Women’s Day by partnering with Sporting Equals for a panel discussion on making sports "more equitable, inclusive, and impactful." To deepen the connection with their community, Peloton also invited the Sporting Equals network members to join instructor Susie Chan for a live Women’s History Month-themed Tread class. This example highlights how to celebrate International Women’s Day in a way that resonates with your customers and team members, creating meaningful engagement and fostering a sense of inclusivity.

2. Support Women-Led Nonprofits & Initiatives:

• Encourage employees to volunteer with women-focused initiatives. Offer a list of local and virtual opportunities and highlight employees who participate.
• #AccelerateAction by matching donations to women-focused nonprofits and community organizations.

Tip: Looking for nonprofit partners? Organizations like Candid and Charity Navigator offer comprehensive lists of recommended nonprofits, including impactful organizations such Girls Inc., the Malala Fund and Women for Women International. 

3. Launch Internal Programs for Women’s Empowerment:

• Launch mentorship programs where senior women in your organization mentor junior staff or offer skill-building opportunities for women in underrepresented sectors.
• Host a skill-sharing workshop where women across departments teach each other valuable workplace skills.
• Spotlight women in your organization who are making an impact and acknowledge their contributions to the growth of your business.

Example: Pledge 1% Builder, Upwork, founded the Upwork Women’s Group to “build a strong women-at-work environment.” The program includes the Women's Summit, panel discussions and fireside chats, volunteer opportunities, spotlighting “strong women inside and outside of Upwork during Women’s History Month,” and more. Learn more here.

4. Celebrate and Educate through Social Media & Internal Communications:

• Share historical facts or quotes from influential women in your industry and highlight women leaders from your organization on social media.
• Promote educational content that sheds light on the history of women’s struggles and achievements. The more relevant this content is to your industry, the more impactful and meaningful it will be!

Example: Airwallex interviewed women from their ANZ team to share valuable tips for women aspiring to break into the tech industry, and then showcased these insights on their blog and social media channels. This is a powerful way to spotlight women leaders within your organization while providing valuable resources and inspiration to women globally.

Need more ideas? Download the free IWD 2025 Planning Toolkit or consider using ChatGPT or other AI tools like Claude to help brainstorm customized ideas for your industry or organization. Here are a few prompts that may spark creativity:

• "Our organization is in [insert your industry], and we’d like to host a series of events for Women’s History Month. Can you suggest a week-by-week program that highlights different themes or key historical figures relevant to our field?"
• "What are some engaging ways we can share historical facts and highlight women's contributions to the [insert industry] through social media during Women’s History Month?"
• "Can you suggest creative fundraising ideas for Women’s History Month that also raise awareness for women's causes and align with our organization's mission?"

These prompts can help you develop a tailored plan that resonates with your customers, engages your team, and celebrates the incredible achievements of women.

Join the Conversation!

We invite you to share how your organization plans to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025! What initiatives are you introducing? Which women-led nonprofits will you support or promote this month? Share your favorite organization or social impact project that uplifts women and helps create a more equitable future in the Member Updates forum!

Pledge 1% Graphics

Your organization is invited to use these graphics to celebrate International Women’s Day. Click on the image to download.