The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is a public charity based in Stamford, Connecticut. It supports women’s economic prosperity and Connecticut communities through entrepreneurial and financial education, business advising, and grant programs for businesses.
Key facts about Women's Business Development Council Inc
In short: Women's Business Development Council Inc gave $2.3M across 188 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Connecticut. 91% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 06-1493737
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,299,950
- Grants made (2025)
- 188
- Average grant
- $12,234
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 91% first-time grantees (171 of 188, 2025)
- Total assets
- $12,912,760
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Review the eligibility criteria and application information for the relevant program. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The Equity Match fifth-round deadline was July 3, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$12.9M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-73.1% YoY
Grant Count
188
-60.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-32.8% YoY
Is Women's Business Development Council Inc open to new grantees?
91%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 171 of 188 grantees (91%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 3% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
WBDC’s mission is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut.
Its services include one-on-one business advising, classes, on-demand learning, and mentoring. Its grant programs support qualified women-owned small businesses, as well as licensed, qualified Connecticut child care businesses through a program developed with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. One grantee, Metzuyan Childcare Inc., described its own mission as “early childhood childcare and Jewish education.”
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, WBDC reported 188 grants totaling $2,299,950. Grant amounts ranged from $5,100 to $41,705, with a median of $10,000. The listed 2025 grants went entirely to Connecticut recipients. The largest grant was $41,705 to Southern CT Hebrew Academy for the “OEC GRANT POOL.” Twelve other listed recipients received $25,000 each for that purpose, including Metzuyan Childcare Inc. in Waterbury.
Review Cycle
was July 3, 2026, a past cycle. WBDC says the next Ignite and Accelerate rounds are expected to open in early 2027.
Ready to take the next step with Women's Business Development Council Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WBDC’s stated service area is Connecticut. Its grant programs described here serve eligible businesses in the state, and all grant dollars listed for filing year 2025 went to Connecticut recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 188 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $829K (2021) to $8.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 188 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southern CT Hebrew Academy ($42K). Together the top 10 received $267K.
Grant Size Distribution
1,131 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,131 grants of 1,131 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern CT Hebrew Academy Orange, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $41,705 |
| Little Sprouts Learning Center Inc Guilford, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Metzuyan Childcare Inc Waterbury, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Tiny Learners Childcare Hartford, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Nay's Little Rascals Pre-School LLC Stratford, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Teacher Tots LLC Stratford, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Little Rascals Nursery School Inc Danbury, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Rocio's Learning Development Center LLC Naugatuck, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Little Explorers Academy LLC Putnam, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
| Willow Academy LLC Seymour, CT | OEC Grant Pool | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,912,760 | $8,226,373 | $7,783,951 | $2,299,950 | 188 |
| 2024 | $12,510,437 | $19,332,789 | $13,870,331 | $8,558,513 | 470 |
| 2023 | $7,651,236 | $7,391,783 | $7,322,220 | $2,576,129 | 198 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,912,760 | $12,510,437 | $7,651,236 |
| Revenue | $8,226,373 | $19,332,789 | $7,391,783 |
| Expenses | $7,783,951 | $13,870,331 | $7,322,220 |
| Net Investment Income | $97,557 | $121,134 | $19,493 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 21, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Moira Collins as chair and Lindsey Kopp as vice chair. Directors listed are Michael Weinstock, Marissa Weidner, Judith Corprew, Sarah Watson, Ann Matthews, Pamela Days-Luketich, Karen Goyette, and Nichelle Waddell.
Women's Business Development Council Inc is led by Fran Pastore, Chief Executive Officer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fran Pastore
Chief Executive Officer
President & CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$263K (2020) → $344K (2025)
Moira Collins
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Ham
Finance Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $101K (2025)
Danielle Ruggiero
Senior Director of Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2025)
Joann Gulbin
Director of Marketing
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
Flavia Naslausky
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Matthews
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Davis
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marissa Weidner
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Weinstock
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nichelle Waddell
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Watson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Trish Havey
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Rahilly
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jody Sunna
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judith Corprew
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Goyette
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leidy Nunez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marlene Piche
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Days-Luketich
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Khanna
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tal Kadar
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Thickett
Chief Operating Officer
Director → Vice President of Programs, 2021
Vice President of Programs → Chief Operating Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$120K (2021) → $234K (2025)
Tasha Jackson
Chief Financial & People
CFO → Chief Financial & People Officer, 2024
Chief Financial & People Officer → Chief Financial & People, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$29K (2022) → $234K (2025)
Janet Defrino
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Castellano
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Kopp
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (37)
- Former: Elana Milianta (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Elizabeth T. Hirsch (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sharon Kane (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Patti Melick (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Sandra Arkell (2021–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Katia Lacy (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Erin Kang (2024) — Director
- Former: Louise Lisboa (2024) — Vice President of Child Care Program & Impact
- Former: Monica Moore (2024) — Director
- Former: Sonia Hounsell (2024) — Director
- Former: Travis Parman (2024) — Director
- Former: Chantal Coffy (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Dorothy Bratchell (2020–2023) — COO
- Former: Gail Lehman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rebecca Wilson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Shoshana Lubin (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Vanessa Abrahams-John (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Denise Kaufman (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Greg Behrman (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Louise Lisboa-Menezes (2022–2023) — Operations Manager
- Former: Martha Finkel (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Tracy Gibbons (2021–2022) — CFO & Controller
- Former: Caroline Simmons (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Evelyn Isaia (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kerri Holloway (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Wiehl (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Susie Robinson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Elif Affan (2021) — Director
- Former: Jackie Ryan (2021) — Director
- Former: Chris Landino (2020) — Vice President of External Affairs
- Former: Leanne Shofi (2020) — Director
- Former: Maryann Donovan (2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Moore (2020) — Director
- Former: Rachel Ginsberg (2020) — Director
- Former: Robin Imbrogno (2020) — Director
- Former: Sandra Bell (2020) — Director
- Former: Valerie Senew (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $344K, to Fran Pastore (Chief Executive Officer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 422 Summer St, Stamford, CT 06901
Phone: (203) 353-1750
Website: https://ctwbdc.org
Frequently asked questions about Women's Business Development Council Inc
How much does Women's Business Development Council Inc give each year?
Women's Business Development Council Inc gave $2.3M across 188 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $8.6M across 470 grants.
What is Women's Business Development Council Inc's typical grant size?
Women's Business Development Council Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,234, across 188 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Women's Business Development Council Inc that year got $12K on average.
Where does Women's Business Development Council Inc give grants?
Women's Business Development Council Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waterbury, CT (24 grants), New Haven, CT (9 grants), Hartford, CT (8 grants) and West Hartford, CT (7 grants).
Does Women's Business Development Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 188 grants with a stated purpose on Women's Business Development Council Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Decd Grant Pool" (96 grants), "OEC Grant Pool" (63 grants) and "Opportunity Fund Grant Pool (Private Funding)" (17 grants).
Who are Women's Business Development Council Inc's largest grantees?
Women's Business Development Council Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Southern CT Hebrew Academy ($41,705), Little Sprouts Learning Center Inc ($25,000) and Metzuyan Childcare Inc ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 4% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Women's Business Development Council Inc?
Women's Business Development Council Inc reported $12.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.2M.
What does Women's Business Development Council Inc fund?
WBDC’s mission is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Women's Business Development Council Inc?
Review the eligibility criteria and application information for the relevant program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Women's Business Development Council Inc's EIN?
Women's Business Development Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1493737. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Women's Business Development Council Inc by hand.
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