The results of the latest World Pulse Annual Impact Survey are here!

Each year, we survey our global community to understand how World Pulse helps members create impact in their own lives and the lives of those in their communities. This year’s responses once again left us inspired.

Learn how 420 members across 67 countries reported using their voices, experiences, and leadership to transform their own lives and their communities (1).

Annual Impact at a Glance

As we look back on a year of both strides and struggles for women’s equality, one thing is clear: the World Pulse community continues to be a catalyst for action and growth.

• 3 out of 4 members surveyed report that because of their involvement with World Pulse they took action*
• 80% of members surveyed report increased knowledge
• 74% report that the actions they took as a result of their involvement with World Pulse made an impact
• 72% report World Pulse helped them build their confidence
• 66% report feeling more supported by others

Our Impact Methodology: Digital Empowerment

“World Pulse has opened doors in my life that I never knew would open. It has given me a new family through its social network website, where I can share my story or ask for an idea, and in no time, I receive a private message offering help. World Pulse helped me travel abroad for an event I was recommended for just because someone mentioned my name in a room full of opportunity. World Pulse has helped me build a community library where kids who love reading can spend time with books for free. It has shown me how to shift power without a fight.” – World Pulse member, Kenya

World Pulse believes that when women are digitally empowered (i.e., if women gain a voice, are connected, and have access to resources), they will act to change the world. Digital empowerment, facilitated by World Pulse’s network, helps accelerate social change. Our digital empowerment framework is based on more than 12 years of internal evaluation and external research conducted with our community, as well as consultation with our community and experts in the sector. Our evaluation practices are guided by our community’s ethical guidelines for research and evaluation.

Using multiple data sources, including our annual survey, we seek to evaluate whether members report having accessed increased voice, connection, and resources through their participation with World Pulse, and whether that then leads to them taking action and ultimately contributing to social change.

Through World Pulse, respondents to our annual survey reported the following improvements in the areas of Voice, Connections, and Resources leading to Action and Social Change:

Voice

“As an orphaned girl who longed to be heard, World Pulse became my voice when I had none. Through this platform, I found a safe space to share my struggles, dreams, and hopes. It connected me with a global community of women who listened, encouraged, and empowered me. World Pulse gave me the courage to believe in myself and the tools to advocate for change in my life and others'. It transformed my pain into power, proving that even the most vulnerable voices can inspire and create a brighter future.” — World Pulse member, Burundi

World Pulse believes — and our digital empowerment framework demonstrates — that having a platform to speak and access greater voice improves lives.

Survey responses show:

• 83% report increased resilience
• 72% report World Pulse helped them build their confidence
• 70% reported increased credibility as a leader on an issue

Connection

"Through World Pulse, I connected with women and organizations from diverse backgrounds and countries, expanding my professional and personal network. I connected to opportunities that led to new collaborations, projects, and initiatives that aligned with my passions and goals…. from reading different stories shared on World Pulse, I helped establish a community-led project that provided business start up to 50 of women and girls in Kumba Il Council Subdivision” - World Pulse member in Cameroon

Our digital empowerment framework shows that when women are connected and support each other, they are better able to take action.

World Pulse members report:

• 88% felt encouraged
• 66% felt more supported by others
• 65% grew their network or found new connections

Resources

"Receiving the $100 honorarium from World Pulse this past year had a meaningful impact on my life and the lives of others. I used the funds to support a community project focused on women’s empowerment. Specifically, I was able to provide resources for a workshop aimed at educating women about financial literacy and self-care. This small but significant contribution helped make the event more accessible to participants, and it created a platform for women to connect and share valuable skills. It also motivated me to continue creating opportunities for women in my community to learn, grow, and thrive." - World Pulse member in the United Arab Emirates

Greater voice and connections must be paired with access to resources in order to lead to action. At World Pulse, women exchange resources and opportunities that further enable them to act for change.

Survey responses show:

• 80% report increased knowledge
• 62% report increased skills
• 58% reported benefiting from an opportunity or resource

Taking Action

“I collaborated with a fellow World Pulse member on a project to empower young women through entrepreneurship training. We combined our skills, resources, and networks to organize workshops and mentorship programs, equipping participants with practical tools to start small businesses. This collaboration was impactful, as it not only fostered economic independence but also strengthened our bond as changemakers. Working together demonstrated the power of collective action in creating meaningful change.” — World Pulse member, Liberia

Whether launching grassroots health campaigns, mentoring the next generation of women leaders, using technology to advance gender justice, or mobilizing communities for peace and security, World Pulse community members are boldly transforming their communities and shaping a better world.

3 out of 4 people surveyed said they took action as a result of their involvement with World Pulse.

Top-reported actions include:

• 40% took on a leadership role
• 33% mentored others
• 31% started or led a community campaign or program
• 29% started or joined a business or organization
• 27% trained or educated others
• 14% collaborated with another World Pulse member

In addition, nearly 3 out of 4 respondents reported that the actions they took as a result of their involvement with World Pulse made an impact in or beyond their communities.

"In 2024, I started an initiative for gender-based violence. I shared a story about a girl who was discriminated against in our community, and I took action to support her. She was asked to get married early, although she was not yet 18. World Pulse members encouraged me, so I've taken the initiative to help her and girls with the same problem. I helped her learn digital skills so she can earn a living without family pressure or societal pressure. Now I'm more focused on helping girls learn digital skills, which I have mastered and teach to others." — World Pulse member, Pakistan

Here’s a breakdown of this impact:

• 51% report improvement in relationships with family, friends and/or communities
• 49% report increased awareness of an issue in their community
• 32% report changes in behaviors in their community
• 28% report changes in behaviors in their family
• 24% report increased access to resources and opportunities in their community
• 21% report improvement in health status of their community
• 16% report improvement in the economic status of the community
• 13% report influence or changes in a law or policy

Help Power Our Future Impact

"As a new member, my most significant change has been gaining confidence to share my voice and engage in global conversations. Before joining World Pulse, I wasn’t sure how to express my thoughts on issues affecting women, but being part of this platform has encouraged me to start speaking up. I have also been inspired by other women’s stories, which has motivated me to take steps toward personal growth and advocacy." —World Pulse member in Nigeria

With just over 9,000 new members joining World Pulse last year, the World Pulse community saw even more women actively engaging, sharing stories with each other, and catalyzing change. This acceleration of growth means the World Pulse community now hosts more than 85,000 registered community members across five continents.

Demonstrating the ripple effect of our community, members who took the survey and reported taking action typically shared that they went on to impact approximately 50 lives. That number doubles for members with the highest levels of engagement with World Pulse programs; they typically report impacting 100 lives. (2, 3) World Pulse programs include Story and Initiative Awards, badged leadership opportunities, and training programs such as the Changemaker and Impact Labs.

As World Pulse enters a new era of global impact, your support can help scale our reach and deepen our impact. Your dollars will help bring greater voice, resources, and connections to women across the globe, fuel action and on ground impact. Together, we can unlock the full potential of a connected global movement.

Footnotes

1) Our annual community impact survey represents a sample of our membership population. Responses are generally representative of our active membership, though responses over-represent our most engaged members who frequently contribute, participate in trainings, or have earned community badges. The survey provides a snapshot of our core community's impact and underrepresents those who are registered but less involved in community activity. The survey is just one of several mechanisms World Pulse uses to evaluate impact and gather community feedback.

2) Reflects the median and mode of the self-reported estimates of the number of people community members have directly impacted through their actions as a result of their involvement with World Pulse in 2024. In our annual impact survey, these numbers are provided along with a corresponding change story. When a range was provided, we took the conservative estimate. The impact number represents a variety of types and depths of impact and reach reported by members. While it would be implausible to independently verify all members’ change stories and reported impact, we do seek to follow up with participants who report sizable impact numbers to better understand and contextualize these estimates.

3) All World Pulse impact data reflect an assumption of contribution rather than attribution. While we only report results that our members attribute to World Pulse’s impact in their lives and communities, we recognize we are a contributing factor—one strand in a web of activities and circumstances that members participate in throughout their changemaking journey.