About
Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a grassroots 501(c)(3) organization empowering Afghan women and girls in both Afghanistan and the United States to realize their full potential and advocate for their rights. Founded in April 2001 with volunteers serving a few Afghan immigrant women in Queens, New York, WAW describes itself as one of the largest organizations serving the needs of Afghan women in Afghanistan and in the United States, and today works across community centers in the US and operations spanning 22 Afghan provinces.
Mission
WAW works to empower Afghan women and girls in both Afghanistan and the U.S. to realize their full potential and advocate for their rights, while challenging societal norms to create lasting change and advance gender equality. Its vision is a world in which Afghan women and girls enjoy peace, justice, equality, and the freedom to participate in all spheres of life.
What they do
In the United States, through community centers in Fresh Meadows, New York and Alexandria, Virginia:
- Case management covering housing, benefits, and healthcare
- Legal services for immigration and family law matters
- Mental health support and counseling
- Youth leadership programs and workshops
In Afghanistan, headquartered in the Kart-e-Char district of Kabul:
- Women's Protection Programs operating across five regions
- Protection case management
- A Children's Support Center
- Mental health and psychosocial support services
History
WAW was founded in April 2001 as a grassroots volunteer effort serving Afghan immigrant women in Queens, New York. It opened its New York Community Center in 2003 and added a Virginia Community Center in 2022, while building out programs across Afghanistan that today reach 22 provinces.
Scale and impact
Figures published by the organization for 2025 include:
- 34,065 women and children served through its Women's Protection Programs
- 1,236 students learning in safe, renovated schools
- 279 children cared for at the Children's Support Center
WAW also states that its work reaches a community of more than one million Afghan and other vulnerable Muslim immigrant and refugee women in the US, and it holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator (2026).
Financials
Per its Form 990 on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for the fiscal year ending December 2024, WAW reported revenue of 8,193,407 dollars (98 percent from contributions), expenses of 9,934,362 dollars, and net assets of 6,712,693 dollars. The IRS issued its tax exemption in August 2002 (EIN 02-0539734).
Governance
WAW is women-led and governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Annie Pforzheimer (per its most recent Form 990). Key staff listed in the 2024 filing include US Country Director Naheed S. Bahram and Executive Director Susan Aryan Antolin.
