A common belief held at the time that a college education would harm a woman's health and result in infertility.

Supporting the education of women through fellowships would continually remain a critical part of AAUW's mission.

WACA was broad in purpose and consisted of five committees: fine arts, outdoor occupations, domestic professions, press and journalism, and higher education of women in the West.

In 1888, WACA awarded its first fellowship of $350 to Ida Street, a Vassar College graduate, to conduct research at the University of Michigan.

In 1919, the ACA participated in a larger effort led by a group of American women which ultimately raised $156,413 to purchase a gram of radium for Marie Curie for her experiments.

The policy of expansion greatly increased both the size and the impact of the Association, from a small, local organization to a nationwide network of college educated women, and by 1929, there were 31,647 members and 475 branches.

[6] During World War II, AAUW officially began raising money to assist female scholars displaced by the Nazi led occupation who were unable to continue their work.

The War Relief Fund received numerous pleas for help and worked tirelessly to find teaching and other positions for refugee women at American schools and universities and in other countries.

[12] Each year,[clarification needed] AAUW has provided $3.5 to $4 million in fellowships, grants, and awards for women and for community action projects.

LAF provides funds and a support system for women seeking judicial redress for sex discrimination in higher education.