The conference, called "Growing Numbers, Growing Force," addressed three main concerns: ensuring adequate income, health concerns of older women, and quality of life and the impact of aging.

[1] OWL was a nonpartisan, nonprofit, national membership organization headquartered in Washington, DC, that advocated for the estimated 78 million women in the U.S. who are age 40 and over.

[5] Advocacy was carried out through: Membership dues and donations, and grants from foundations and corporations were OWL’s prime funding sources.

OWL has successfully advocated for legislation, including the Retirement Equity Act and a law allowing widows to continue using their spouses' health insurance.

In 1990, OWL allowed the newly created Campaign for Women's Health to have space in its Washington D.C.