The Arts Department incorporates the Arts programs in the community with GFWC Photography Contests and GFWC Short Story and Poetry Contests. Projects work range from work with museums, to teaching crafts in nursing homes, to sponsoring arts festivals for area students. Since 1910, some form of Arts Festival has been enjoyed on the State level. In recent years, this event has been held at Salem College in Winston-Salem with participating District winners from across the state. The Federation was behind the effect that established both the NC Symphony Orchestra and State Ballet and has even endowed seats at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Through the Conservation Department programs of Beautification and Resource Conservation major environmental problems have been tackled. Clubs clean up the roads, promote recycling, support the NC Zoo, NC Aquariums, and NC Museum of Natural Sciences and preserved and beautify their communities.

The Education Department emphasizes programs in Literacy, Education for Life and Lifelong Learning. Club support area schools, work with literary programs and through the years have helped established over 75% of the countries libraries. For over 90 years, the GFWC-NC has been awarding scholarships. A $5,500 annual four-years renewable scholarship is awarded called the Sallie Southall Cotton Scholarship, name in honor of the GFWC-NC founder.

Work in the Home Life Department is coordinated through the programs of Dollars and Sense, Helping Hands and Women’s Health. Many health related organizations are promoted and supported by clubwomen. For many years, the GFWC-NC has been an avid supporter of the Children’s Home Society, Girls and Boys Homes, and the State Retardation Centers.

Under the banner of the International Affairs Department, the programs of Reaching Out Internationally and United Nations are promoted. Clubwomen adopt children overseas, work for UNICEF and CARE and spotlight UN issues. Clubs across the country have united in support of the Operation Smile Program and have funded several missions themselves. Clubs have supported projects such as Heifer  International. As an international woman’s organization, clubs and federations are organized in countries through the world. Cultural exchange programs and support for third world countries has long been of great importance to the Federation.

Through the Public Affairs Department, federation work is accomplished through the programs of Citizenship and Safety.  The clubwomen of GFWC were literally the first in the trenches gathering information for the National Census Bureau and have worked tirelessly in our communities to establish a better life for its residents. The Federation history is filled with first accomplishments related to establishing the legal rights of women and children such as child labor laws, eight hour work days, the food and drug administration, the juvenile justice system and the election of women to political positions. During the World Wars, clubwomen bought bombers and in NC over 20 million dollars worth of stamps and war bonds were sold.  Through the efforts of the NC membership, the State Department of Public Welfare was established, local boys and girls clubs and scouting have been uplifted and playgrounds established and maintained.