The idea preceding By Women For Women was to hold a marketing event for women. Axley attorneys Melissa Warner and Becky Orvick thought they would get two or three foursomes of women together for an afternoon of golf. Then they met Susan Lubar, of Citigroup Smith Barney, who suggested they instead make it a real women's golf outing with a charitable purpose. Being business attorneys, Becky and Melissa formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit company with the sole purpose of holding an annual golf outing with a charitable purpose benefiting women.

Beginning in 2005, By Women For Women has held an annual golf outing benefitting the Madison Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Selling out every year, the outing has raised and donated $180,000 to the Madison Affiliate for their battle to eradicate breast cancer.