It’s a Volunteer Thing…
The Woman’s Club of Colorado Springs (WCCS) is part of a long tradition of women coming together to make a difference. Inspired by journalist Jane Cunningham Croly, who founded the first women’s club in 1868 after being excluded from a dinner honoring Charles Dickens, women’s clubs grew from a simple idea: together, we can accomplish more.
Founded in 1902, WCCS became a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1904. Guided by the motto “Unity in Diversity,” we bring together women with different talents, interests, and experiences who share a commitment to improving our community through volunteer service, fundraising, and charitable giving. Today, WCCS supports organizations and programs including children’s literacy, early learning, housing assistance, the Ronald McDonald House, scholarships for women students at Colorado College, and many others.
Our club also provides opportunities for members to connect, learn, and grow through programs focused on the Arts, Conservation, Education, Home Life, International Affairs, and Public Affairs. If you’re looking for meaningful connections, new friendships, personal enrichment, and a chance to make a difference, we’d love to have you join us.
A Legacy of Women Making a Difference
WCCS has always been powered by the determination and creativity of its members. In its early years, when membership grew beyond 100 women, members met wherever they could—including churches, the YMCA, and Odd Fellows Hall—earning the nickname “The Wandering Woman’s Club.” They held dinners, plays, lunches, and countless fundraisers to raise money for the club and the community.
Their efforts eventually allowed them to purchase a clubhouse, which they maintained and operated for decades. Beyond their own organization, WCCS women helped establish local libraries, advocated for community improvements, and supported the women’s suffrage movement.
In 2002, the clubhouse was donated to Colorado College, creating the foundation for the Woman’s Club of Colorado Springs Scholarship Endowment Fund and providing the club with facilities for meetings and events. WCCS became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2003.
More than a century later, the spirit of those “wandering women” lives on. We’re still women coming together, giving back, building friendships, and making a difference—one volunteer effort at a time.