As the Tory Burch Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary, it’s not pausing to look back—it’s doubling down on the future.
Earlier this month, Tory Burch unveiled an ambitious new pledge: to generate more than $1 billion in economic impact through women entrepreneurs by 2030. It’s a powerful commitment that signals a bold new chapter for a foundation already credited with transforming hundreds of women-led businesses across the country.
“Women are great investments,” says Burch, “It’s very important for people to know that diversity is what I find beautiful and also good for business.” That belief has long guided the Foundation’s mission—and now anchors the scale of its vision for the decade ahead.
The pledge builds on a strong foundation of results. Over the past 15 years, the Tory Burch Foundation has supported nearly 400 women entrepreneurs whose collective revenue now exceeds $340 million—establishing a proven model for accelerating women-led businesses at a time when female founders still face steep barriers to growth and access to capital.
What sets the Foundation apart is its holistic approach. While its zero-interest loan program remains a critical cornerstone, the real differentiator is its immersive, yearlong fellowship—designed to provide not just funding, but a robust ecosystem of skill-building, mentorship, and community. It’s a support system tailored to the real world challenges women entrepreneurs face.
The outcomes speak for themselves. With access to strategic resources and a powerful network, many fellows have transformed early-stage ventures into high-growth brands. Denise Woodard, for example, grew Partake Foods—her line of allergy-friendly snacks sold in major retailers—from just $400,000 in revenue to $17.5 million. Similarly, Christa Cotton saw similar momentum with El Guapo, her New Orleans-based cocktail mixer company, which scaled from $180,000 to $3 million after completing the program and expanding its national footprint.
This latest commitment comes at a pivotal time. While 86% of Americans see small businesses as drivers of positive change, women entrepreneurs continue to face steep obstacles to scaling. Only 4.2% of women-owned businesses in the U.S. surpass $1 million in annual revenue. Among Tory Burch Foundation fellows, that number rises to 42%—underscoring what’s possible with targeted support and access to the right resources.
The Foundation’s future work is grounded in a clear understanding of the structural hurdles women continue to face: underrepresentation, persistent capital gaps, and limited long-term support. Its model is designed to confront these head-on—prioritizing resilience, growth at scale, and lasting economic impact. Looking ahead, the $1 billion pledge isn’t just a milestone. It’s a powerful vision for what happens when women have the capital, confidence, and community to lead—not only building businesses, but shifting the broader economy in the process.
This article was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
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