GFWC is made up of 50 state federations, to which local clubs belong. By joining a local women’s club, clubwomen become members of their state federation, which conveys membership in GFWC.
The California Federation of Women's Clubs is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs International, chartered in 1901 by the UnitedStates Congress. GFWC organized in 1890 with 61 charter clubs, is the world's largest and oldest women's volunteer organization with over 100,000 members in 3,000 clubs across the United States, with hundreds of members in countries around the world.
Reflecting the GFWC motto, Unity in Diversity, there is considerable diversity in age, interest and experience of members.
GFWC and its members raised nearly $64 million on behalf of more than 300,000 projects, and volunteered more than 10 million hours.