Mission
The Voice for Women in Business in our Nation’s Capital
WIPP, Women Impacting Public Policy, Inc. is a national
bipartisan public policy organization that advocates for
and on behalf of women and minorities in business, strengthening
their sphere of influence in the legislative process of
our nation, creating economic opportunities and building
bridges and alliances to other small business organizations.
Through WIPP, our collective voice makes a powerful impact
on Capitol Hill and with the Administration.
WIPP Bipartisan Policy Statement
WIPP is a bipartisan organization which educates and advocates
on behalf of women and minorities in business. Since its
inception in June of 2001, WIPP has reviewed, provided input,
and has taken specific positions on many economic issues
and policies which affect the bottom line of our membership.
The issues cover a broad range of current legislation and/or
policies such as affordable health care, leveling the playing
field for women-owned and minority-owned businesses, opening
up federal procurement policies for small businesses, on
the implementation of well-established federal law which
seeks to encourage women and minorities in the marketplace,
tax policies, energy, telecom, etc. Matters which are not
directly relevant to the economic health and well-being
of constituent businesses are not part of our agenda.
As an organization which represents over half a million
members, we have within our ranks republicans, democrats
and independents, liberals, conservatives and every variety
of opinion. We urge and encourage our members to become
involved and politically active as their consciences dictate,
but these members do not speak for the organization or for
its positions.
Our organization surveys its membership on a regular basis
to determine which issues are priority issues for them,
and we maintain issue committees to review options and alternatives,
and to advise on legislation which meets the needs of our
membership. In order to further our objectives, we maintain
relationships with all Members of Congress, as well as the
incumbent Administration, regardless of political affiliation,
and scrupulously maintain our bi-partisan approach.
Coalition
More than any other tool used when advocating for a legislative
initiative, is the use of coalitions. In Washington, coalitions
are formed every day to work together on a particular issue
or set of issues. While every organization in a coalition
may have their own government relations experts, they work
together to bring larger numbers and a collective voice
to the issue. Usually, one organization takes the lead and
devotes the staff to the issue.
Take for example, the AHP Coalition—NFIB heads it
and dedicates its staff to the effort. Many small business
organizations, including WIPP, belong to that particular
coalition. In this instance, combined, many millions of
voters are represented instead of each of our individual
numbers. By working together, we leverage both numbers and
contacts to the issue, which in this case, is passage of
AHP legislation. So while we each have our individual representation,
we work together as a group to achieve a large policy initiative.
And numbers make a big difference.
WIPP serves its constituency and partners in that mode
as well. When it comes to a voice for women’s business
issues, all of our Legislators and their staff know that
it is a coalition of 30+ business groups as well as individual
members. Combined, we make a difference in procurement policies,
economic policies and other issues of importance to women
business owners. WIPP also works to bring together other
small business organizations on issues important to its
membership. An outstanding example was saving women’s
business center funding. WIPP not only represented its 500,000+
membership, but we added the Chamber of Commerce, the National
Association of the Self Employed, and others to bring the
support to millions of voters concerned with this funding.
That gets the attention of the policymakers.
The numbers WIPP represents, and the relationships all
of us have collectively make for a very effective voice
in Washington.
| Barbara Kasoff, |
Ann Sullivan |
| President/CEO, |
WIPP, Government Relations |
| WIPP |
Madison Services Group |
