Independent Women's Forum (IWF)
The Independent Women's Forum (IWF) is a conservative American nonprofit organization founded in 1992 by Rosalie Silberman, Anita Blair, and Barbara Olson. The organization presents itself as an alternative to mainstream feminism and now operates publicly under the umbrella name Independent Women.
What you can find
The website features policy briefs, opinion pieces, podcasts, and campaign materials on the economy, education, healthcare, and women's rights. The umbrella organization also includes a legal arm, a sister organization for political advocacy, and the IW Features storytelling platform. Topics such as women's sports and separate facilities for women have a permanent place in its work.
Background
The organization has a clear political orientation and is not an independent news source. It is primarily useful for learning about conservative positions in the American debate. For broader context, see international developments.
History and funding
According to the American magazine Slate, the organization grew out of Women for Judge Thomas, a group that supported Clarence Thomas's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991. The IWF calls its guiding philosophy equity feminism and argues, for example, that income differences between men and women are mainly the result of personal choices about working hours and flexibility rather than discrimination. Carrie Lukas is president, and Heather Higgins chairs the board. The magazine The Nation identifies foundations associated with the Koch family and Donors Trust as funders. The news site Truthout also mentions the Bradley Foundation. The organization served on the advisory board of Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's policy program. Its sister organization, Independent Women's Voice, has a different tax status, allowing it to engage in direct political lobbying.
Programs and positions
The website is organized around policy areas such as the economy, culture, health, energy, education, law, and security. Its work is carried out through centers, including an Education Freedom Center, a Center for Better Health, and the Independent Women's Law Center, which handles litigation. There is a weekly podcast, She Thinks, and short policy briefs are published under the name Policy Focus. On sex and gender, the organization advocates separate facilities and sports categories for women, as well as a strict interpretation of Title IX. This site features articles about the Title IX investigation into Smith College and the Idaho law on restroom use. Personal stories about these issues appear on IW Features.
How to assess this source
Read the publications as advocacy briefs from a conservative think tank. The figures they present are selected to support a particular position. For background on the sports debate, see the article on gender and sports.