The Women’s Sustainable Development Initiative (WSDI) is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022. Our mission is to empower emerging women developers in commercial real estate, with a focus on projects in economically disadvantaged communities that integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
Predevelopment Funding
We provide critical early-stage financial support—including up to $50,000 per project—to help women developers move projects forward in low-income communities.
Capacity-Building Training & Mentorship
In 2024, WSDI launched WE Build, an 11-month accelerator designed to equip women with the skills, tools, and networks needed to succeed. Participants receive technical guidance, mentorship, site visits, peer collaboration, and may qualify for a $50,000 recoverable grant to launch their projects.
Cohort-Based Developer Support
Launching in 2026, our WE Develop cohort will expand on this model—offering enhanced technical assistance, deeper mentorship, and peer networks tailored to emerging women developers ready to scale.
Expanding Networks & Visibility
WSDI builds credibility and connections for women developers by hosting community meetings, forging relationships with mission-aligned funders, and creating a supportive professional network dedicated to equity in commercial real estate.
Community of Emerging Developers
Since our launch, we have cultivated a network of over 140 emerging women developers, primarily in Michigan. Collectively, they are advancing more than $35 million in housing projects that have begun breaking ground within the past year.
Alumni Success Stories
Our participants demonstrate the power of WSDI’s model:
Focused Dialogue & Responsive Design
We actively engage with a community of women in commercial real estate, ensuring that WSDI’s programs directly address the real-world barriers women developers face.
