Our Federation

New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs
Making a Difference for 130 Years

Founded in 1894, the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs of GFWC (NJSFWC), a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, provides opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service through participation in local clubs, enabling members to make a difference in the lives of others, one project at a time. There are approximately 6,000 members in 180 clubs located throughout New Jersey.

 

In 1918, the NJSFWC founded the New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass Residential College), and through our scholarships to Douglass students, the Federation continues to support this institution with its strong tradition of training tomorrow’s women leaders.

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In May 1964, President Lavenia S. Taylor announced at Convention that building a permanent Headquarters for NJSFWC would be the primary project of her administration. The Headquarters building, on the campus of Douglass College, was completed primarily through the collection of Green Stamps by clubwomen all over the state.

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The efforts of the NJSFWC led to the formation of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to oversee the preservation of the Palisades.

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Every two years, members throughout the state support a special project with fundraising, in-kind donations and public awareness campaigns. Examples of these projects include the Valerie Fund when $226,658 was raised; Canine Companions for Independence, raising almost $190,000; the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and its state-wide affiliates, contributing $140,000; and contributing cash and in-kind services totaling more than $600,000 to support New Jersey’s domestic violence shelters and their client families. Recent Special State Projects include Family Promise, CASA NJ, Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, and the New Jersey Children's Alliance.

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General Federation of Women's Clubs

The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service, with members in all 50 states and more than a dozen countries.

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Among the many achievements of our members, GFWC is credited with the following:

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• turning the tide in favor of the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 (an effort initiated by a New Jersey clubwoman, Alice Leakey of Cranford);

• founding 75% of the public libraries in the country in the 1930's;

• campaigning in the 1960's for seatbelts in all cars and streetlights on neighborhood streets;

• the fulfillment of its commitment to America's Promise by raising and donating over $13.5 million in books and materials to public libraries and public school libraries (1997-2002), continuing GFWC’s traditional support for libraries; and

• contributing $180,000 for a fully-equipped ambulance for use by the New York Fire Department in response to the loss of equipment suffered during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.