Woman to Woman Mentoring, Inc. provides women with guidance, support, and community connections through mentoring relationships. We are a 501c3 non-profit created by a group of community leaders to serve the women of Frederick County.
Through our programming we offer women the opportunity to:
Be heard. Discover how sharing “you” can start to open doors.
Take action. Dig into your challenges and explore the possibilities. Get the information and encouragement needed for new habits to take root.
Move forward. Collect small wins that help to create momentum!
Grow without limits. Enjoy an extended community that remains committed to your success.
Our programs serve adult women, and combine the power of one-on-one mentoring, community-building workshops, and opportunities to connect to help women identify and work toward their goals in education, career, and life.
For nearly 20 years, W2WM mentees have used the power of mentorship to succeed in transition; start, restart, and complete school; explore, start, grow, and advance in their careers; and to build connections. We are proud to be part of more than 1,000 women’s stories.
A conversation with Amanda Whitener, Executive Director
Tell us your origin story!
Woman to Woman Mentoring is celebrating 10 years as an independent 501(c)(3), but our origin story goes all the way back to 2004. That year, the Frederick County Commission for Women conducted a needs assessment aiming to identify key needs and priorities of women in Frederick County. That survey revealed a strong desire for mentorship and guidance among local women.
A small group within the Commission began laying the groundwork for a mentoring program for adult women. In 2007, the Woman to Woman Mentoring Program opened it’s doors within the Adult Services Office at Frederick Community College. As the program grew, the needs of the organization grew – including the need to secure funding. Through the generous support of the Ausherman Family Foundation and other donors, our first cohort launched in 2009.
Since then, we have continued grown to offer three distinct program; our CORE Mentoring Program, our Women in STEM Mentoring Program, and Mentoring Circles. We have impacted the lives of hundreds of women, helping them build confidence, gain clarity, navigate change, and making lasting connections.
What do you like most about being an organization located in Frederick County?
Frederick is the second largest city in Maryland, but there is a special “small town” feel to it. Everyone feels connected to the city in a very personal way, and there is such a wonderful combination of individuals who have long family histories in the area, others who have recently joined the community, and everywhere in between. There are always women to serve in the community and we are continuously growing our network of mentees, mentors, supporters, and friends.
What makes Woman to Woman Mentoring unique?
We are an organization that serves ALL women, and we do that through mentoring programs. We are unique in the fact that we are an independent entity that is invested in
supporting and connecting adult women in the community, regardless of their background, affiliation, academic experience, or career path. We have built a diverse network of amazing women who believe in what we do and who continue to help us create meaningful relationships in every corner of Frederick County.
What do you want to be know for and what do you wish people knew about Woman to Woman Mentoring?
Woman to Woman Mentoring – it’s right in our name. We want Woman to Woman Mentoring to be the the go-to resource for all women in Frederick County to build connections and community, and be the first organization that folx think of when they are looking for personal growth opportunities for themselves or for others in their lives.
We wish more people knew that what we do is not a part of a social service agency or career-based mentoring service – we are an entire organization focused on connecting adult women to each other in intentional ways to create a safe space for growth, confidence building, clarity, and community.
How can the community support you?
The best way for the community to support Woman to Woman Mentoring is to tell others about the great work we do. Our best referrals come from folx who know us and love what we do (or know someone who has participated in our programs).
We would not be able to do what we do without the generous financial support of the community, so please consider a one-time or monthly gift or learn more about becoming a program or event sponsor.
We would also love to see you at community events or at our annual Signature Fundraising Event – Clutch the Future happening in March 2026.
What do you do best?
What we do best is create safe spaces for women to make meaningful connections – and working hard to maintain those connections! We support women through our programs and events, and offer opportunities to gain perspective, confidence, and clarity. We want our program alumnae to come back to us to share their stories, support others, and continue to expand our network of amazing support.
Many would also say that what we do best is throw a good party like Clutch the Future – which is 100% true, but we’re much more than that!
Is there anything else you want the Chamber membership to know about?
We just celebrated our 10-year anniversary as an independent 501(c)(3) – an Independence Day of sorts! We hosted a celebration with so many wonderful friends in attendance. Thank you to the Chamber for hosting a ceremonial Ribbon Cutting – it was the perfect kickoff to a great event!
We are also excited to announce the date for our 2026 Clutch the Future Purse Auction and we hope to see you there on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Hood College.
Photography by Qionna Irby
@qi_visions on Instagram
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.