Research

About Our Foundation's Research

The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas provides grants, commissions research, and convenes stakeholders across the state to advance economic security for women and girls in Arkansas.

Commissioning research on the status of women and girls is a core pillar of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas’ work. We use research and data to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing women and girls and to inform strategic investments, programs, and priorities.

The WFA commissions research for two purposes:

Internal Use – Informing Strategy and Investment
WFA uses research to identify gaps, opportunities, and systemic barriers affecting women and girls across Arkansas. This data informs our strategic priorities and helps us direct resources toward areas where we can have the greatest impact.

External Use – Informing and Catalyzing Action
WFA shares research with policymakers, legislators, nonprofit and community organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders to increase awareness and advance solutions. By making data accessible and actionable, we equip Arkansans to better understand the issues facing women and girls and identify opportunities for meaningful change.

See our published research reports below.

Impacting Arkansas' Economy

Explore WFA’s research on the economic impact of women across Arkansas.

Holding It All Together

Released in 2026

The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and Ingeborg Investments commissioned this study to learn more about how working moms are holding it all together and what we as a state can do to respond to their needs for workplace flexibility, affordable child care, paid leave, and a supportive village.

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You Learn As You Go

Released in 2026

The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and Stone Bank commissioned this report to explore how women in Arkansas make financial decisions.

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Women's Commission Report

Read more about the Arkansas Women’s Commission report analyzing the current economic status of women in the workforce.

Looking Toward the Future

For the first time in nearly 50 years the state of Arkansas has a Women’s Commission. The Arkansas Women’s Commission released a statewide, all-inclusive report analyzing the economic status of women in the workforce, with emphasis on the impacts of COVID-19 and family caregiving.

The following report explores the plans of young women in Arkansas post-high school graduation, as well as the fields they plan to pursue and the fields they are being encouraged to pursue. There was a significant focus on whether or not young women were encouraged and/or planning to pursue careers in the male-dominated careers of economics, science, technology, engineering and math (ESTEM) fields. We are proud to announce that four of the eight recommendations from the report’s key findings have received financial and developmental support.

Read the Full Report

Women's Business Ownership

Learn more about how women business owners contribute to Arkansas’s economic development, the realities of business ownership, particularly for women of color, and the barriers that can prevent women from building wealth.

Women of Color Business Owners and Entrepreneurs in Arkansas

Released in 2020

“Despite the odds, women of color in Arkansas continue to open businesses at extraordinary rates.”

– Kristy Carter, Author

Read the Full Study

The Status of Women in Arkansas

Explore Arkansas women’s economic status in depth, including socioeconomic status, educational attainment, labor force participation and earnings, health care, and more.

Economic Indicators for Women in Arkansas: State, Region and County

Released in 2018

The WFA commissioned research in 2018 on the economic indicators for women in Arkansas. We learned a lot from that report, and most significantly to our work:

• Men outpace women in business ownership in our state in every racial/ethnic category except one: Black women own 60% of Black-owned businesses in Arkansas compared to their male counterparts who own 40%.

• The highest concentration of women-owned businesses in Arkansas are in the poorest counties of the state.

Read the Full Study