Women's Networking & Professional Organizations in Spokane — The Complete Guide
Spokane has more organized spaces for women to connect, grow, and lead than most people realize. The problem — as anyone who has spent time trying to find their people in this city can tell you — is that the ecosystem is scattered. Groups live on Facebook pages, buried in Google search results, or passed between women by word of mouth at the exact kind of event you had to already know about to attend.
That is changing. Organizers across the region are shifting focus from sales and lead generation to personal and professional growth — a shift that reflects what women have been saying for years: the old format of showing up, handing out cards, and leaving with nothing real doesn't work.
This guide is the map. Women-focused organizations are listed first. Broader professional organizations that actively serve and include women follow. Everything is verified as of May 2026.
WOMEN-FOCUSED NETWORKING & PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
HIKE with Her
Spokane's women-led economic infrastructure — a searchable business directory, research-driven community programming, and capital pathways for every woman in the Inland Northwest workforce. Not just entrepreneurs. The full workforce: business owners, employees, executives, caregivers, and stay-at-home parents.
Frequency: Monthly in-person + monthly virtual + quarterly flagship + seasonal outdoor
Website: hikewithher.com
Directory: hikedirectory.com
Instagram: @hikewithher_
Best for: Women across every role, industry, and career stage who want real community — not just events. The easiest starting point in the Spokane ecosystem.
Vested (She Is Vested LLC)
A Spokane-based networking platform for female-identifying entrepreneurs focused on curiosity, collaboration, and community. Monthly networking events and educational workshops covering topics from stress management to social media strategy, legal compliance, and client experience. Founded in 2018 by Anna Abel; revitalized in 2023 by Mercedes Leahy.
Website: sheisvested.com
Instagram: @sheisvested
Best for: Female-identifying entrepreneurs who want a structured community with an educational component — skill-building alongside real talk about the realities of running a business.
Ladies Business Community (LBC)
A community for female business owners focused on genuine connection, personal and professional growth, and mutual support. Events span Spokane and Northern Idaho — monthly meetups focused on connecting and growing, casual coffee gatherings, quarterly community impact events, and an annual signature networking event. Membership-based with multiple event tiers.
Frequency: Multiple events per month across Spokane and North Idaho
Website: ladiesbusinesscommunity.com
Facebook: Ladies Business Community
Best for: Female business owners who want consistent monthly touchpoints, a membership community, and events across both Spokane and the Idaho panhandle.
NAWBO — National Association of Women Business Owners, Inland Northwest/Spokane Chapter
The Spokane chapter of the largest dues-paying organization for women entrepreneurs in the United States. NAWBO represents women business owners across all industries and at all stages of development — providing networking, advocacy, and access to a national platform. The local chapter meets the second Thursday of each month. About 50 members. Active as NAWBO-NW on Facebook.
Frequency: Monthly meetings
Membership: Dues-based. Members must own a percentage of their company.
Website: nawbo.org/inland-northwestspokane
Facebook: Search "NAWBO-NW Spokane"
Best for: Women business owners who want connection to a national advocacy organization alongside local community — particularly valuable for those who want a voice on policy issues affecting women entrepreneurs.
Professional Women's Networking Group (PWNG)
A Spokane-based group of businesswomen who meet regularly to share experiences, collaborate, and grow their professional networks. Facebook-based with in-person events.
Facebook: facebook.com/PWNGSpokane
Best for: Women looking for a consistent local networking format with fellow Spokane businesswomen — lower barrier to entry than membership-based organizations.
EWI of Spokane (Executive Women International)
The Spokane chapter of a global professional organization — celebrating 45 years in Spokane. EWI brings together professional women and men to develop leadership skills, foster business connections, and participate in community service and scholarship programs. Membership is by invitation only; the firm holds the membership. About 65 organizations are currently represented. Meets monthly, typically on the third Tuesday of each month.
Frequency: Monthly
Website: ewispokane.org Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/EWIspokane
Instagram: @ewispokane Coverage area: Spokane County, WA and Kootenai County, ID
Best for: Professional women at established firms who want a structured, invitation-based organization with a long track record in Spokane and a global network.
Worth knowing: Membership is held by the firm, not the individual — if your employer is an EWI member firm, ask about participation.
Women Lead — Gonzaga University
A Gonzaga University School of Leadership Studies initiative offering annual spring and fall conferences, workshops, book clubs, webinars, and a Certificate in Women's Leadership program. Described as Spokane's premier education event for women. About 160 people have earned the Certificate since the program launched.
Frequency: Annual spring + fall conferences + year-round programming
Website: gonzaga.edu/school-of-leadership-studies/women-lead
Certificate program: gonzaga.edu/school-of-leadership-studies/degrees-programs/women-in-leadership
Best for: Women who want depth alongside networking — leadership education, certificate programming, and a growing community committed to advancing gender parity in the workplace.
Whitworth Women's Leadership Network (WLN)
What it is: A Whitworth University initiative for current and former students focused on leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy. Flagship event is Leadership 360 — a biannual luncheon series featuring Spokane-area leaders and structured table discussion. Also runs a mentorship program pairing alumnae with current Whitworth students and maintains a philanthropy fund.
Frequency: Biannual Leadership 360 events + ongoing mentorship programming
Website: whitworth.edu/cms/alumni/womens-leadership-network
Best for: Whitworth University alumnae and current students — and women in the broader Spokane community who want access to leadership events with a track record of selling out.
Amplifying Women's Voices
A professional development series founded in 2021 by Cyndi Donahue of Spokane-based Vin & Yin LLC. Programming covers burnout recovery, workplace toxicity, self-advocacy, work-life balance, and leadership. Events feature speakers, workshops, and structured networking. Events consistently sell out.
Website: Search "Amplifying Women's Voices Spokane" for current event details
Best for: Women who want programming with their networking — focused on advocacy, burnout, and professional development.
Spokane Women Leaders Association
A Spokane-based women's leadership association offering an annual summit, year-round membership benefits including monthly webconferences, books, and mentoring access.
Website: spokanewomenleaders.org
Best for: Women who want ongoing access to leadership content and community beyond a single annual event.
Soroptimist International of Spokane
Spokane's oldest women's organization, founded in 1926. A global volunteer organization focused on women's and girls' social and economic empowerment through education, career support, and community service. Offers the Live Your Dream Award — a monetary award for women who are head-of-household returning to school to improve their employment opportunities.
Website: soroptimistspokane.org
Best for: Women who want to combine professional connection with meaningful civic service and advocacy for women and girls locally and globally.
Junior League of Spokane
An organization of women committed to advancing women's leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Current community focus includes improving access to basic needs for women, children, and families who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma.
Website: spokane.jl.org
Best for: Women who want structured leadership development through community service — and who are prepared to invest significant time alongside membership.
Woman's Club of Spokane
A historic civic organization focused on community service, leadership development, and social connection — one of Spokane's longstanding women's civic organizations.
Best for: Women interested in civic engagement, historic community connection, and service-oriented networking.
BROADER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ACTIVELY SERVE WOMEN
These organizations are not women-specific but have strong women's programming, significant female membership, or are consistently recommended by women in business across Spokane.
Leadership Spokane
Not women-specific — but worth noting that women now make up the majority of the Leadership Spokane class of 2025, with 34 out of 64 participants. The flagship program connects emerging leaders across Spokane's business, nonprofit, and civic sectors through a year-long cohort experience.
Website: leadershipspokane.org
Best for: Women who want deep cross-sector exposure across Spokane's leadership community — graduates describe a "six degrees of separation" network that connects them across every industry in the region.
Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI)
Spokane's regional Chamber of Commerce and business development organization. Hosts the annual Women in Leadership event (produced with the Spokane Journal of Business, running for nearly a decade), women-centered networking events, and OMWBE certification programming.
Website: greaterspokane.org
Best for: Women who want connection to the full regional business community alongside women-specific programming and advocacy.
SIMBA — Spokane Independent Metro Business Alliance
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting independently-owned businesses and nonprofits in Spokane and Eastern Washington through organizing, education, direct support, and advocacy. No-cost and low-cost services including business consulting, tax assistance, contract reviews, workshops, and member networking.
Address: 25 W. Main Ave., Suite C1, Spokane, WA 99201 Phone: 509-228-2842
Website: spokaneindependent.org
Instagram: @spokaneindependent
Best for: Women who own independent local businesses and want hands-on support, community advocacy, and access to a values-aligned business network.
Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce
The primary business organization serving the Spokane Valley corridor — networking events, business resources, advocacy, and community programming.
Website: spokanevalleychamber.org
Best for: Women-owned businesses in the Spokane Valley who want local business community connection.
StartUp Spokane
A regional initiative connecting entrepreneurs and startups across the Inland Northwest to mentors, investors, programming, and community.
Website: startupspokane.com
Best for: Women in the early stages of building a company — particularly in tech, innovation, and growth industries.
Spokane Journal of Business — Women in Leadership
An annual professional event bringing together business leaders to discuss what is and isn't working when it comes to increasing women in organizational leadership. Running for nearly a decade.
Website: spokanejournal.com/WIL
Best for: Women in or aspiring to leadership who want a high-profile regional platform for conversation and connection.
SCORE Spokane
Free mentorship from experienced business professionals and executives. One-on-one coaching, workshops, and online resources for small business owners at any stage.
Website: spokane.score.org
Best for: Women who want a mentor — particularly useful at the startup and early growth stages.
HOW TO ACTUALLY FIND YOUR PEOPLE IN SPOKANE
After two years of going to everything, attending hundreds of coffee conversations, and building HIKE specifically to address this problem, here is what we have learned:
Start low-barrier. The HIKE Happy Hour Tour, Ladies Business Community guest events, and Vested's networking nights are easy first steps — low commitment, no membership required, good for testing whether a group feels right before investing.
Go more than once. First impressions of networking events are almost always misleading. The room feels different on a second visit when you recognize a few faces. Most lasting connections form on the second or third encounter, not the first.
Don't limit yourself to women-only spaces. Leadership Spokane, SIMBA, GSI, and StartUp Spokane all serve women well and connect you to the full breadth of Spokane's professional community. The women-specific organizations go deeper on some dimensions; the broader organizations go wider.
The HIKE Directory is your starting point. Looking for women-owned businesses, professional services, or community organizations across the Inland Northwest — search hikedirectory.com. It's the searchable index of what exists in this ecosystem, and it keeps growing.
Know a group that should be on this list? Let us know! Organizations can also get listed in the HIKE Directory at hikedirectory.com — free to start.
A note on accuracy: Organizations change. Membership fees, event formats, and contact details shift. Confirm current information directly with each organization before joining or attending. If a group is missing, email us at [email protected].
