Rung for Women

Rung began in 2010 as a non-profit resale boutique with a mission of empowering women on their climb to career success by providing professional attire at affordable prices. Rung partnered with programs serving women, offering a space where women could shop with dignity.

In 2015, our leadership looked at the missing rungs in the economic ladder for women and decided to expand. We started with a local landscape analysis and learned that there are a lot of programs for women in crisis, but nothing to help working women move beyond surviving to thriving. We looked for a national model to replicate, and, although we found promising practices, we did not find a program that addressed the unique barriers women face, and so we decided to build one.

In 2017, Rung Boutique closed its doors and was reborn as Rung for Women, a new model to leverage existing service providers in a coordinated and co-located model that empowers women to achieve sustained independence and holistic well-being. Rung is a fresh approach to workforce development - a "one-stop shop" with a community of support, coaching, career services, and wrap-around programs in the areas of health, wellness, and financial coaching.

We began recruiting our first cohort of members in November 2020. Nearly 1,000 women applied for the first 100 spots. Rung has used data and member feedback to make program improvements over the last two years, leading to our current model.

Rung for Women exists because women face systemic economic, social, and health barriers to their wealth creation. Rung empowers women to build wealth through a holistic approach that addresses wealth decelerators (health; debt; occupational segregation) and increases wealth accelerators (education, skills and training; income; financial health). The core Rung program offers coaching, community, and skill-building that prepares women for careers where they can earn more money. At the same time, Rung members (clients) receive wrap-around services in health, wellness, and financial education.