5 Impactful Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day

March is Women’s History Month, and March 8th is International Women’s Day (IWD). For over a hundred years, the holiday has been celebrated to empower women’s voices and raise awareness of the inequities that still exist in women’s personal and professional lives. This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action," encourages faster progress toward inclusivity and equality.

One of the most effective ways to support this cause is by working with women-focused organizations and charities, like Dress for Success (DFS).

Austin Bartsch, Director of Corporate Relations at DFS, explains, “Throughout March 2025, we will proudly honor the women Dress for Success serves, sharing their inspiring stories of determination, perseverance, and their journeys to find the courage and confidence needed to create better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities."

Here at SavingsCARES, we’ve worked alongside DFS to work towards a world where all women thrive in every aspect of their lives. This month is no different, as we continue to encourage people to participate in the fight towards women’s empowerment. Together, we can #AccelerateAction with these five simple steps.

1. Support Women-Owned Businesses

One of the easiest ways to help close the gender wealth gap is by shopping at women-owned businesses. This is important not just for the economy but also for inspiring confidence in youth and women who may lack confidence in the workforce.

Unfortunately, women face barriers to entry in business. This harsh reality makes it more necessary than ever to support women-owned businesses.You will contribute to bringing more equity in the workplace, along with creating role models for young girls and women to look up to.

So, the next time you shop for pet food, clothing, or anything in between, try purchasing from women-owned and led brands like Raw Paw Pet Food and Alice + Olivia.

It’s also helpful to use a women-owned directory to narrow down your search, alongside small women-owned directories to support small businesses owned by AAPI, Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ groups.

2. Donate Professional Attire

If you have business attire that you’ve only worn a few times, donate it to Dress for Success. Many women around the world struggle with access to professional work attire, which can impact their ability to secure a job. By providing them with a proper outfit, you’ll be working to eliminate issues like perception bias and job insecurity for those who might be gearing up for their first big interview or networking event.

Raise your impact even further by rallying with your neighborhood, workplace, or friends to organize a clothing drive. If you have social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and X, try using them to advertise these events. Change works quicker in numbers, so the more participants, the better!

If time doesn’t permit these actions, donate money or gift cards to organizations like DFS so they have more purchasing power toward job interview essentials. Even a small amount can go a long way. With these donations, DFS has empowered over 1.3 million women worldwide with the necessary attire and career support on their path to financial independence.

3. Volunteer Your Time and Skills

Access to role models and mentorship is an important part of a woman’s career journey. However, according to Dress for Success, 75% of women say they lack confidence at work along with access to supportive professional networks.

Through various services provided at DFS, such as career coaching, resume reviews, or job search assistance, women without access to these valuable tools become progressively more empowered to take charge of their careers.

Help build women’s career confidence by volunteering your career knowledge to the closest DFS in your area. Share your wisdom by providing your advice to women in business and assist them in making significant changes in their lives.

As seen in our previous DFS campaigns, tangible changes happen when you volunteer. In Phoenix and San Antonio, local businesses volunteered by providing women with free food and even degree programs.

Naima, a DFS NSW & ACT member, said, “Walking in, I did not know what to expect. There was no judgment; they were dedicated to helping every woman, no matter their background. Dress for Success immediately became my safe place."

4. Attend International Women’s Day Events

A good way to keep learning and supporting women this March is through Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day events. Attend events virtually and in person at locations worldwide to show your support, foster networking, and encourage women’s entrepreneurship.

To name a few, the Faith Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia, will host an event showcasing women authors on International Women’s Day (March 8th).

In Seoul, South Korea, Lit Lounge will host a “Ladies’ Night" featuring a female DJ lineup alongside a Black-owned entertainment company known as “Planet Hustle."

International Women’s Day isn’t just a one-day event. During Women’s History Month, it’s essential to continue your support by participating in ongoing events. A simple way to do this is by joining their virtual events like the “Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Strategies for Women to Reach Senior Leadership Roles" event on March 28th.

Lastly, you can stay engaged with the latest IWD events throughout the year by following their events directory and by keeping up with the official International Women’s Day Instagram account. Make sure to repost their upcoming campaigns on social media to raise awareness!

5. Use SavingsCARES to Shop & Donate Effortlessly

Many shoppers want to give back to causes like this but find it difficult due to budget restraints. SavingsCARES gives them the opportunity to support various causes without impacting their budget.

We’ve made it easy to support International Women’s Day and save some money for yourself on your next shopping trip. Download our SavingsCARES browser extension, and we’ll donate $5 to Dress for Success without you paying a dime.

From there, we’ll also take our contribution further by making uncapped donations on your behalf, donating a portion of the earnings from every code redeemed through the extension for free.

Doing good doesn’t need to be a special occasion. For all seasons throughout the year, you’ll save on the products you want from over 2,000 major brands, plus you’ll be making a positive impact for the world every time you shop.

The next step is to redeem a SavingsCARES coupon from one of our women-empowering brand partners:

• M.M. La Fleur
• Bloomchic
• Bluebella
• Hydro Flask
• Osprey
• Donald Pliner
• Marathon

Once you’ve redeemed one of these deals, we’ll give a portion of the revenue from every deal used without costing you anything. We didn’t want to stop there, so we’ve also pledged to donate $5,000 from our quarterly revenue to Dress for Success!

If these five steps weren’t enough, you can continue to show your support by volunteering at the closest Dress for Success location or donating gift cards to the organization to make a direct impact.