FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• 1. WHAT IS NAWBO?
• 2. WHAT IS NAWBO's MISSION?
• 3. HOW MUCH ARE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES?
• 4. HOW DO I RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP ONLINE?
• 5. WHAT IS MY LOGIN AND PASSWORD FOR NATIONAL'S WEBSITE?
• 6. HOW DO I SUBMIT A NON-DUES PAYMENT?
• 7. HOW DO I ACCESS THE NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY?
• 8. DOES NAWBO CERTIFY BUSINESSES?
• 9. ONCE I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION, WHAT EVENT RATE DO I PAY?
• 10. HOW CAN I OBTAIN FUNDING FOR MY BUSINESS?
• 11. WHERE CAN I FIND STATISTICS ON WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS?
• 12. CAN ANYONE ATTEND A NAWBO-INDIANAPOLIS EVENT?
• 13. WHAT IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL PROCESS?
• 14. HOW CAN I RECEIVE INFORMATION ON NAWBO-INDIANAPOLIS?
• 15. CAN I TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEO AT NAWBO-INDY EVENTS?

1. WHAT IS NAWBO? TOP
In 1975, a group of a dozen like-minded businesswomen in the D.C. area gathered to share information and create an atmosphere of professional community to further and strengthen their entrepreneurial interests. That group quickly grew to become what is now known as the National Association of Women Business Owners. More than 35 years later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries.

NAWBO has expanded across the United States, boasting a chapter in nearly every major metropolitan area. Through its affiliation with Les Femmes Chefs d’Enterprises Mondiales (World Association of Women Entrepreneurs), NAWBO’s global reach extends to 60 countries on five continents worldwide. 

2. WHAT IS NAWBO's MISSION? TOP
NAWBO's mission is to:
-strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development;
-create innovative and effective change in the business culture;
-build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations;
-and transform public policy and influence opinion makers.

3. HOW MUCH ARE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES? TOP
NAWBO membership dues vary depending on your membership category. Learn more about dues on our membership page.

4. HOW DO I RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP ONLINE? TOP
To renew your membership online follow these steps:

1. Go to national's website at www.nawbo.org.
2. Enter your login and password on the Member Login section on the national website.
3. Confirm contact information is accurate. [Bypass this step by clicking on “Back to Main Menu.”] 
4. On the Main Menu, click on “Open Invoices.” 

5. WHAT IS MY LOGIN AND PASSWORD FOR NATIONAL'S WEBSITE? TOP
Your username and password should have been mailed and/or emailed to you upon registration. Unless you changed it, your username is your first initial + last name + the last three digits of your Member ID number. Your password is your Member ID number.

You can have your username and password emailed to you by completing this quick form or e-mail NAWBO-Indianapolis' chapter administrator for your Member ID.

6. HOW DO I SUBMIT A NON-DUES PAYMENT? TOP
For non-dues payments, NAWBO-Indianapolis accepts cash, check or credit cards.

• CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS
  To submit credit card payments online, click here. Please provide a brief description for what it is you are submitting payment.
• CHECK PAYMENTS
  To pay by check, make checks payable to NAWBO-Indianapolis and mail to: 2126 N. Meridian Street, Suite 220, Indianapolis, IN 46202. On your check, please provide a brief description in the Memo field for what it is you are submitting payment.
• CASH PAYMENTS
  Other than event on-site payments, cash payments are accepted ONLY in-person at the NAWBO-Indy office.

NOTE: For membership dues payment information, refer to questions #3 or #4.

7. HOW DO I ACCESS THE NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY? TOP
To access the national Membership Directory follow these steps:

1. Enter your login and password into the Member Login section on the national website.
2. On the Main Menu of the Member Section click on “Membership Directory.”
3. Complete search criteria and press “Query.”

8. DOES NAWBO CERTIFY BUSINESSES? TOP
No, NAWBO does not certify businesses nor require members to be certified. However, you may find more information on certification via the links below.

• Women’s Business Enterprise (MBE) - City of Indianapolis
• Women’s Business Enterprise (MBE) - State of Indiana
• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) - City of Indianapolis
• Minority Business Enterprise (WBE) - State of Indiana
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
• National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC)
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• SBA 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

To view more resources, visit NAWBO's national website.

9. ONCE I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION, WHAT EVENT RATE DO I PAY? TOP
Once an application is received it is forwarded to the Membership Review Panel. Following their review and upon their recommendation, the application is forwarded to the board of directors for final approval. Final approval is decided upon at the next scheduled board meeting, typically held the first Wednesday of every month. This process should happen within 30 days of receipt of the application. Until a decision has been reached, membership status is listed as PENDING and applicants have to pay the non-member rate to attend our events.

10. HOW CAN I OBTAIN FUNDING FOR MY BUSINESS? TOP
NAWBO itself does not provide funding for women starting businesses. However, the following organizations are helpful resources:
- US Department of Labor: Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century
- Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence: (212) 691-6380
- The Official NAWBO/Wells Fargo Women's Loan Program:  (800) 35-WELLS, ext. 120

11. WHERE CAN I FIND STATISTICS ON WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS? TOP
The go-to source on the trends, characteristics, achievements and challenges of women business owners and their enterprises is the Center for Women's Business Research.

12. CAN ANYONE ATTEND A NAWBO-INDIANAPOLIS EVENT? TOP
Yes, NAWBO-Indianapolis welcomes everyone to its non-exclusive events. If you are a non-member and would like to attend our Monthly Luncheon Meeting, you may do so at the member rate of $40. For your convenience, you can register and pay online on the Monthly Luncheon Meeting Registration page. Payment must be received prior to the luncheon.

13. WHAT IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL PROCESS? TOP
Once an application is received it is forwarded to the Membership Review Committee. Following their review and upon their recommendation, the application is forwarded to the board of directors for final approval. Final approval is decided upon at the next scheduled board meeting. Meetings are typically held the first Wednesday of every month. Following that meeting, the applicant is notified by someone from NAWBO-Indy regarding their membership status. All this should happen within 30 days of receipt of the application.

14. HOW CAN I RECEIVE INFORMATION ON NAWBO-INDIANAPOLIS? TOP
If you would like to receive more information about NAWBO-Indianapolis, just join our e-distribution list!

Join Our Email List Email:

15. CAN I TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEO AT NAWBO-INDY EVENTS? TOP

Only if designated to do so. On Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, the NAWBO-Indianapolis Board of Directors adopted a policy that limits the ability to take photographs or video at NAWBO-Indy events. The policy limits the ability to take photographs or video at NAWBO-Indy events to the following:

1. Individuals retained, with or without compensation, by NAWBO-Indy and designated as NAWBO-Indy's official photographer for the event.
2. The NAWBO-Indy Executive Director, Chapter Administrator, or any other paid employee of NAWBO-Indy.
3. Family members and friends of award recipients.

All other individuals are not allowed to take photographs or video at NAWBO-Indy events.

Anyone found violating this policy will be asked to leave the event at which the violation occurred. Continued violations may result in the individual being prohibited from attending NAWBO-Indy events and, if violations continue, a rescission of membership.