Tory Burch Foundation Adds $470M Through Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs are turning millions in support into hundreds of millions in economic impact, proving that closing funding gaps creates massive returns.

Fashion designer Tory Burch knows firsthand how tough it can be to launch a business. In 2004, she and her ex-husband pooled $2 million to open her first Manhattan store. Today, her brand generates $1.8 billion annually and spans 370 stores worldwide.

But Burch recognizes she had advantages many women never get. Women-led companies currently receive just 2% of venture capital funding, a gap that blocks countless talented entrepreneurs from building their dreams.

So in 2009, she launched the Tory Burch Foundation to change that reality. The foundation accepts female entrepreneurs as fellows, providing them with coaching, funding, and the resources they need to succeed.

The results speak louder than any mission statement. More than 500 women have joined the fellowship program, and over 91% remain in business after five years. That survival rate towers above typical small business statistics.

Last year, Burch set an ambitious target: help women entrepreneurs add $1 billion to the economy by 2030. In just one year, her fellows have already generated $470 million in revenue, nearly halfway to the goal with six years remaining.

The Ripple Effect

Every dollar invested in women entrepreneurs creates waves far beyond a single business. These 500+ companies employ thousands of people, support families, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation of female founders.

The foundation proves what happens when women get the same access to capital and mentorship that men have long enjoyed. They don't just survive; they build thriving enterprises that reshape entire industries.

Burch traces her commitment to giving back to age four, when she constantly talked about helping others. A college program called Semester at Sea exposed her to global poverty and cemented her determination to create opportunity.

Now her foundation is demolishing the barriers that keep talented women from accessing the funding they deserve, one successful business at a time.