Our Legacy: History & Impact

Our Beginnings

The year is 1893. At the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, seven intrepid women from the "Queen City" gathered in the Cincinnati Room of the groundbreaking Women’s Building.

Though their attire may appear quaint to modern eyes, these visionaries possessed "steel in their spines" and a tireless resolve. Years before women won the right to vote, these founders were confident that—in partnership with the women of Cincinnati—they held the power to transform their community. In 1894, they founded the Cincinnati Woman’s Club, launching a tradition of civic improvement that remains as vital today as it was at the turn of the century.

Highlights Over the Decades

• 1894: The Club is founded and immediately organizes its first benefit for Berea College.
• 1897–1913: CWC pioneers civic beauty and wellness, establishing the Pearl Street Playground, funding the first matron for the Women’s Prison, and providing the first illuminated Christmas tree for Fountain Square.
• 1914–1945: The Club serves as a Red Cross unit during WWI and raises significant relief funds for the Great Ohio River Flood and WWII international aid.
• 1947–1984: The President’s Project tradition begins, funding essential needs from school lunches and pediatric dental care to neonatal cardiac monitors at Children’s Hospital.

1989–Present: The establishment of the CWC Foundation and Permanent Philanthropic Fund ensures a sustainable future for our giving. In 2025 alone, the Club awarded $96,000 in scholarships and $65,000 in community grants.