http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_W...

From the Wikipedia article about them:

"Founded by Rosalie (Ricky) Gaull Silberman, Anita Blair, and Barbara Olson in 1992, the IWF grew out of the ad hoc group, "Women for Judge Thomas," that was created to defend Clarence Thomas against allegations of sexual harassment and other improprieties. By 1996 the organization had some 700 dues-paying members who met regularly at luncheons to network and share ideas.

Since Silberman, presidents of IWF have included Nancy M. Pfotenhauer and Anita Blair. The current president and CEO of the organization is Michelle D. Bernard, who assumed the role in January 2006. Before joining the IWF, Bernard, who holds a juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, served in the executive office of the 2000 Bush-Cheney Presidential Inaugural Committee and as a partner at the Washington, D.C. law office of Patton Boggs, LLP.

The IWF has been described as "a virtual 'Who's Who' of Washington's Republican establishment." People for the American Way, which is critical of the organization, describes IWF as "a secular counterpart to Religious Right women’s groups like Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America."