Welcome to NAWBO Charlotte, an organization specifically designed to fuel the success of the over 115,000 women-owned businesses in the greater Charlotte area. Below is just a snapshot of the resources, education, and support available for you and your business:
CLICK HERE TO JOIN NAWBO CHARLOTTE
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Statement:
In principle and in practice, NAWBO values and seeks a diverse and inclusive membership. NAWBO seeks full participation in the organization by all business owners who support our mission to empower women entrepreneurs, regardless of race, religion, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability. NAWBO’s goal is to effectively represent the full diversity of the women business owner community and to expand access to leadership opportunities across the full spectrum of our membership.
To read more about NAWBO National’s commitment to DEIB and our Strategic Imperative around these efforts, or to submit your experiences around diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, please visit: nawbo.org/
Events and Benefits for Members
- Monthly Signature meetings are held the 1st Tuesday of each month
- Holiday Gala gathering held in December
- Annual Woman Business Owner Awards Gala event held in the Spring: The Rising Star and Woman Business Owner awards are announced
- Monthly ‘Connect’ Meetings – networking opportunities throughout the city
- Mastermind: small peer-to-peer advisory group participation (Premier Members only)
- Limelight Table: business display table at monthly Signature Meeting (Premier Members only)
- Annual Women’s Business National Conference – location varies
- Member rates available for NAWBO Charlotte and NAWBO national events
- Special interest groups at the National level
- Educational webinars, training sessions, and business resources offered at the National level
- Discounts and special offers from National corporate partners
- Your voice and interest as a business owner represented on Capitol Hill by National public policy team
NEW MEMBERS—WELCOME AND INVOLVEMENT:
- One-on-one orientation meeting
- Many, many committee volunteer opportunities
- 30-second introduction at podium at monthly meeting within 6-months of joining
Read about all NAWBO has to offer.
Education
- Speakers at monthly meetings and expansion groups cover a variety of topics, and represent a variety of business segments
- Discount on Strategic Alliances’ seminars and conferences
- NAWBO National conferences include workshops and seminars
- NAWBO Charlotte and National websites offer articles and resources
- NAWBO National holds monthly webinars with experts in their fields, on a variety of topics
Communication
- NAWBO Charlotte LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages offer event reminders of NAWBO and community partner events and detailed information.
- Local website includes a link to the NAWBO Charlotte member directory, event details and registration, calendar of events, and Corporate Partners contact information (nawbocharlotte.org)
- National website includes NAWBO National member directory, event calendar, online webinar access, article library, Partner discounts and benefits, Business resources and guides, and more (nawbo.org)
National Connection
- Being a part of NAWBO National offers invaluable access to business resources, regional & national educational and networking seminars, discounts from corporate partners, and advocacy and a voice in public policy creation at a national level.
PR/Advertising
- Discount on a variety of opportunities through local and National Corporate Partners
- E-mail newsletter advertisements & announcements
- Multiple PR opportunities for award winners and all finalists
- Use of NAWBO Charlotte and NAWBO National logo
- Connect with members on LinkedIn Group page, Twitter feed, and Facebook Fan Page
Public Policy
- Information available about public policy issues at all levels of government that affect you as a woman-owned business
- Information available about the advocacy work being done for women-owned businesses at the different levels of government
- Opportunity to meet political leaders during Public Policy Days in Washington, DC
- Advocacy presence in Washington DC promoting & monitoring small business legislation
- Public Policy Alert emails from National include important updates on legislation that affect women business owners, and address what you can do to help
Affinity Partners
- NAWBO Affinity Partners provide exclusive member-only discounts and benefits that help our members improve their bottom line. Through these alliances, affinity partners reach out and influence decision makers, elevating their status as the “brand of choice” in delivering workplace and at-home solutions for women business owners. View the full list of National NAWBO Affinity Partners
- Monthly Signature meetings are held at Byron’s South End, 101 W. Worthington Avenue, Charlotte.
Lunch meetings begin at 11:30 am (networking); meal and program begin at 12 noon. Dinner meetings begin at 5:00 pm (networking); meal and program begin at 6:00 pm.
Leadership Opportunities
- Serve on the NAWBO Charlotte Board of Directors.
- Serve as a NAWBO Committee Member.
Membership Levels and Dues
Premier Membership:
- $359.40/yr or $39.95/mo
- $100 one-time initiation fee
- Includes all benefits offered through NAWBO National
- Eligible to be a speaker at NAWBO National virtual Lunch ‘n Learn webinars
- Eligible to submit application for NAWBO National awards
- Voting rights—which means you can vote for the local chapter Board members
ELIGIBLE TO:
- Be considered/appointed for a NAWBO Charlotte Board position
- Be considered for a NAWBO Charlotte Rising Star or Business Owner of the Year award
- Become a member of a NAWBO Charlotte Mastermind Group
- Host a Limelight table — one time per calendar year at a Charlotte Signature Meeting
Introductory Membership:
- $239.40/yr or $29.95/mo $100 one-time initiation fee
- Includes all benefits offered through NAWBO National
- This is a non-voting position
- Introductory members are not eligible for consideration for annual awards or Mastermind groups
Supporting Membership:
- $479.40/yr $100 one-time initiation fee
- Includes all benefits offered through NAWBO National
- This is a membership option for non-business owners
Common Questions:
Q) What is included in my dues/fees?
A) Your dues/fees cover all your National benefits, and your Charlotte chapter membership, but not the registration cost to attend our monthly signature meetings held at Byron’s South End, or our other special events including the Awards Gala, Holiday party, summer wine social, Success in the City event or workshops. These events are priced to cover costs only and do not always provide a profit to the Chapter. Please see nawbo.org/membership for a full listing of all the National member benefits.
Q) Can you explain the dues structure?
A) Dues amounts are uniform across the organization (no difference by chapter) and our members can pay their dues on an annual or monthly basis. The monthly option allows members to set up their credit card or bank account information in the system and it will automatically be charged every month until the member cancels. You can set it and forget it, without having to renew your membership every year.
Q) Will I have the choice to pay my membership dues monthly or annually?
A) You will have the choice, although we recommend that you choose the annual membership, as there’s a significant savings.
Q) What happens if I miss a monthly payment? Will my membership lapse immediately? Is there a reinstatement fee?
A) If your credit card is declined or expired, the system will send you a notification and you will have 30 days to log into the system and update the information before your membership is considered lapsed. After 30 days, you will have to pay a $25 reinstatement fee.
Q) Will my personal and credit card information be secure?
A) Absolutely. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol that transmits private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system that uses two keys to encrypt data—a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient of the message. Most Web browsers support SSL, and many webs ites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, including credit card numbers.
Q) What happens if a payment is declined on the monthly membership?
A) The payment system will automatically notify the member of the inability to process payment and give the member 30 days to correct the payment information before the membership is considered dropped. A follow up email will also be sent by National to the member two weeks prior to the membership being dropped.
