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2020 Annual Report
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Our Mission We build women’s collective power in the U.S. to advance equity and justice for all
We achieve our mission by investing in, and strengthening, the capacity of women-led movements to advance meaningful social, cultural and economic change in the lives of women.
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2020 Annual Report
Ms. Foundation for Women @ms.foundation 212 742 2300 12 MetroTech Center, 26 Floor Forwomen.org MsFoundationforWomen Brooklyn, NY 11201 [email protected]
3 Contents
Contents
6. Welcome Letter from Board 42. Capacity Building Chair and President & CEO 44 Donor Advised Funds — 8. Leadership and Ms. Team Oma; Asian Women Giving Circle
10. Leadership in Progress — Adhikaar 48. President’s Discretionary Grants
14. SHE Grants 49. Gloria Steinem Fund
20. Leadership in Progress — Jessica 50. Our Time Together González-Rojas 24. Building Connections Grants 52. Ms. on the Move
28. Donor Profile — Feminist Block Party Q & A with Arlene Arin Hahn 54. 58. Our Supporters: Thank You 32. A National Presence
Statement of Activities 34. Activist Collaboration Fund 64.
39. Grantee Profile—Latina Institute
4 Vision & Values
Vision
We believe in a just and safe world where power and possibility are not limited by gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or age.
We believe that equity and inclusion are the cornerstones of a true democracy in which the worth and dignity of every person is valued.
Values
Integrity We believe in holding ourselves responsible and accountable for all that we say in order to build an aligned, principled, and powerful movement for gender equity. Trust and Respect We believe in the truth that comes from those we work with and those most impacted by the issues affecting their communities. We believe in honoring their voices and supporting their leadership. Interconnectedness We believe that by achieving equity for women of color, we achieve equity for all. Given the complexity of the issues we face, we are committed to addressing all issues holistically across multiple movements and sectors. Social Justice We believe that structural changes are needed in order to increase opportunities for those who are least well off politically, socially, and economically.
5 From Leadership
From Leadership Jocelyn Frye Teresa C. Younger Board Chair & President & CEO
Dear Friends, As we grappled with the health any other, as we joined hands, and economic crisis, women, raised our voices, and pooled As New York City and the country 2020 was a year that tested us, girls, and communities of color, resources towards creating went into lockdown, our office over and over again, with shocks who are on the frontlines of social a more equitable, connected, team transitioned to working and aftershocks. It fractured— movement building, were among safe, and just world. remotely—experiencing and even wiped out—our certitudes. It the hardest hit and faced the reflecting what was happening banished complacency—we had biggest obstacles to healthcare In January 2020, we launched the globally—juggling their own no clue what next would come our and relief. In the ‘best’ of times, pilot phase of the Activist Col- issues, yet still able to serve as way, or what would be required of our grantee partners work 24/7 laboration Fund (ACF) to support leaders in the philanthropy and us. It was a year of adversity that for their communities— on min- the under-funded, indeed, often nonprofit sector. tested our mettle— and our truths. imal funding, on multiple issues, unfunded work of relationship and trust-building that is at the Our annual Gloria Awards Ben- When schools and work went often at once. And in the thick of the national crisis, our grantee heart of transformational move- efit Gala had a new incarna- remote, women became the ment building. The ACF granted tion—a virtual Feminist Block stabilizing presence at home, partners were the sole lifeline for many of their constituents. At $275,000 to 15 organizations Party! Unable to gather in forced to ‘hold it together’ for led by women and girls of color person as we traditionally do, their children and families, amid the Ms. Foundation for Women, we’ve been living into our stra- to deepen collaboration across we still managed to celebrate rising anxiety and stress, even as social justice movements. By our incredible honorees, show- their own lives were disrupted. tegic plan, to center and invest in the leadership and capacity the time the grants were dis- case their powerful work, and We tossed our best laid plans and bursed, however, the world as join in solidarity to “roar” and gained comfort in virtual commu- building of women of color-led organizations, with a particular we knew it had changed, and rally for women. Together— nity and the confidence that if we organizations had pivoted to connected—we are stronger survived the storm, we’d be stron- focus on the South. As we all piv- oted to meet the demands of the respond to the urgent needs of and louder! ger for the love shared and the les- their communities. sons learned. 2020 challenged us pandemic, the Ms. Foundation Since 1973, the Ms. Foundation to show up for each other with loosened requirements on grants In 2020, we went deeper into for Women has been working greater intention and urgency and encouraged our grantee the impact investing world, alongside our grantee and funding than ever. partners to use the funds as activating 100 percent of our en- partners to disrupt and dismantle needed. dowment towards actualizing systems of inequity and create At the Ms. Foundation for Women, our mission. We allocated our meaningful social, cultural, and we know that hope and possibility A long overdue reckoning has erupted in our nation in the public investments to a portfo- economic change that will ben- are embedded in our connections lio featuring further integration efit future generations. We honor and networks of care. Our re- wake of the litany of violence against Black lives. Individually at the intersection of race and and value our relationships—to- lationships form the bedrock gender and in consideration of gether we can fling open the doors of who we are and what we and collectively, we are asking ques- tions. The mass demonstrations the many ways in which gender of hope, possibility, and freedom. do. We honor and value our is tied to the United Nation Sus- partnerships. It is precisely by across the country are a cry for Thank you for the gift of connec- nothing less than systemic change tainable Development Goals. investing in and deepening our We have also begun developing tion—only with you are we able relationships that we activate of seismic proportions—change to build out the relationship. that requires us all to mobilize. a private market impact invest- our mission to advance equity ment portfolio with a focus on and justice for all. Our annual report offers a gender and racial equity which window into our work over the will evolve over the next few last fiscal year, a year unlike years. Jocelyn Frye
Teresa C. Younger
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"A long overdue reckoning has erupted in our nation in the wake of the litany of violence against Black lives. Individually and collectively, we are asking questions. The mass demonstrations across the country are a cry for nothing less than systemic change of seismic proportions— change that requires us all to mobilize."
Teresa C. Younger President and CEO
7 Leadership
Leadership
Officers Board Directors Founding Mothers
Jocelyn Frye Patricia Carbine Chair Catherine Yelverton Rinku Sen Letty Cottin Pogrebin Cathie Harnett Susan Dickler Alicia Lara Gloria Steinem Vice Chair Danielle Moodie-Mills Tom Watson Marlo Thomas Jenna Skinner Scanlan Wade Davis Jenna Bussman-Wise Marie C. Wilson Treasurer Lauren Embrey Yin Ling Leung Honorary Founder & President Emerita Gail Wasserman Secretary
8 THE TEAMH
Our Team
Teresa C. Younger Elisabeth Platt Raquel Willis President and CEO Senior Manager, Development Operations and Direct Director of Communication Marketing Rosina Barba Ellen Liu Roselande Louis Chief Operating Officer Director of Grantmaking and Capacity Building Program Associate
Rosalyn Lee Ejim Dike Shawnda Chapman Vice President, Stratergy & Programs Senior Strategist, Safety, Health and Economic Director of the Girls Fund Initiative
Ruth McFarlane Jadyn Patterson Rae Stephanie Blackwood Vice President, Advancement Communications Coordinator Sr. Director, Engagement and Major Gifts
Alaya Gaddy Jasmine Banks Tamara Vasan Office Manager Digital Communications and Marketing Manager Director, Institutional Partnerships
Arelis Perallon Marlene Martinez Zabrina Collazo Finance Associate Director of Finance Program Officer, SHE
Camille Kennedy Maureen McNamara Sr. Director of Advancement Strategy Development Assistant
Coya White Hat – Artichoker Maya Radiconcini Program Officer, SHE Executive Coordinator and Board Liaison
9 Movement Leadership
Adhikaar
“I think we could just live in a different society. That world is only possible when we actively try to create that change.”
Pabitra Khati Benjamin, Executive Director of Adhikaar and Women of Vision Honoree
A human rights and social justice organization, at our organization. That power’s awakened within Adhikaar is the lifeblood of the Nepali-speaking them to be able to create the systematic change immigrant community in New York and a home away that they want to see,” says Pabitra Khati Benjamin, from home for many of its members. Founded in executive director of Adhikaar, and Women of Vision 2005, Adhikaar—which means “rights” in Nepali— is honoree, whose journey into the movement space a worker and community center based in Woodside, began as a youth organizer at the age of 15 as she Queens whose membership is comprised largely witnessed the inequities and challenges faced by of new immigrants, many of whom are nail salon, her mother, a lifelong restaurant worker. restaurant and domestic workers. In 2015, Adhikaar made national headlines with its groundbreaking In 2019, a grant from the Ms. Foundation enabled advocacy work on behalf of nail salon workers. Adhikaar to begin an analysis of childcare needs within the community. Many of Adhikaar’s members With a staff of just 11, the women-led grassroots are caregivers who struggle to find care for their own organization takes a holistic and robust approach children while they are at work. Surveys and focus to its multi-layered work of organizing, service groups revealed that in addition to childcare needs delivery, and advocacy. Adhikaar organizes the within the community, there was a gap in support Nepali-speaking community through workers’ and services for older children and youth. The Ms. rights, immigration justice, access to healthcare, grant became the catalyst by which Adhikaar began and language justice programs. developing the foundations for its youth program. “It’s just beautiful to see this powerhouse of women “I know that so much of the power we’ve built and
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continue to build, in our community is because we have some backbone to our work in order to then are intergenerational,” says Pabitra B. “Through apply for new grants around youth organizing. We the Ms. grant we were able to say, look there’s a are building an intergenerational movement and real need to provide space for teens and youth. that’s powerful.” Our organizers were able to create that space for young people to talk about the issues they care *** about—discussions around anti-Blackness in our As Queens became the ‘epicenter of the epicenter’ communities and why it’s so important to be allies of the pandemic, low-wage workers, immigrant to the Black community, how this relates to caste women and families, and undocumented folks and indigenous communities in Nepal.” were some of the hardest hit residents of New York The participation of the children of nail salon City. Adhikaar swiftly pivoted to rapid response and domestic workers has been key to building relief efforts as thousands of constituents faced intergenerational communication and empathy unprecedented levels of health, economic, and between parents and children. In addition to the social insecurity. Many members reported incidents facilitation of conversations around challenging of discrimination on public transportation and in topics that don’t naturally arise at home, youth are the streets. assisted with navigating resources such as college “The pandemic has intensified every inequity preparatory classes that aren’t readily available and imbalance in the system,” states Pabitra B. to them. “Our staff is in hyperdrive to ensure everything “Because of the Ms. Foundation we were able to do from testing, quarantine facilities, sick care, something that was not intentionally written into unemployment benefits, stimulus measures, food the grant but became where the project landed,” relief, and safety pay for essential workers like says Pabitra B. “I want to thank Ms. for allowing domestic workers who are often overshadowed.” us to be flexible and creative enough to go in the Adhikaar’s multi-pronged relief efforts included direction that we needed to. This has allowed us to
11 Movement Leadership
direct relief and services, community education, For over a decade, Adhikaar has joined in coalition to campaigns and advocacy, and organizing. As win rights for workers and immigrants. It is a leader operations went remote, the lack of digital literacy in the national movement for Temporary Protected among members posed a significant challenge. Status (TPS) and has completed the first ever survey Adhikaar provided in-language support to more of Nepali TPS workers. than 5000 people via their COVID-19 hotline and distributed half a million dollars among 767 “The voices and lives of low-income AAPI community members, prioritizing those who were communities are often left out in movement ineligible for state or federal relief. The organization’s discourse. Every day our workers fight for their rights census campaign work became integrated into their and lives and to ensure that all immigrant workers COVID response. are included in relief and recovery. But even as we fight, we are also working with our communities “We fundraised really hard to get money directly to to imagine the world that we want to live in as new the community. The reality is money wasn’t pouring systems evolve,” says Pabitra Khati Benjamin. in to grow our organization. The demands just kept getting higher. In the middle of the crisis, we lost a major funder. As a small worker center, it’s really hard to find funding. People don’t realize we’re doing food and PPE support each month. And the money is just not there,” explains Pabitra Benjamin.
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“Through the Ms. grant we were able to say, look there’s a real need to provide space for teens and youth. Our organizers were able to create that space for young people to talk about the issues they care about—discussions around anti- Blackness in our communities and why it’s so important to be allies to the Black community, how this relates to caste and indigenous communities in Nepal.” Pabitra Khati Benjamin Executive Director, Adhikaar
13 SHE Program
SHE Program
The Ms. Foundation for Women has moved to a importantly, we recognize that organizations by and unified, overall grantmaking and capacity building for women and girls of color are not only poised to program titled Safety, Health, and Economic Justice lead – indeed, they are leading the most innovative (SHE). Rather than individual program areas, our social justice efforts of our time. By deepening our new approach aligns our core strategy holistically investment in them, we are supporting equity and and collaboratively across social justice issues justice for all women and girls. and movements. We know that in order for our Our key focus areas—safety, health, and economic program vision to succeed, it requires the expertise justice —are central to our theory of change and and thought partnership of women and girls of address the multiplicity of challenges that affect color on the frontlines of social change, so we’ve women and girls of color. As a group, women and restructured our program to better respond to girls of color live at the intersection of multiple what we’re learning from movement organizations systems of oppression, including white supremacy, and leaders. patriarchy, colonization, and unbridled capitalism. For at least the next five years, we will have a priority In spite of the many threats they face, women and focus on work by and for women and girls of color girls of color lead thriving, resistant, and vibrant in the U.S. South and will be expanding our support social movements. for transgender women and girls of color, indigenous As a social justice public foundation with a mission women and girls, and girls of color in the U.S. and to build women’s collective power in the U.S. to U.S. territories. We have chosen to prioritize the advance equity and justice for all, we recognize our U.S South for several reasons, including the region’s vital role and responsibility in philanthropy. The Ms. demographic and political significance. In most Foundation practices openness, and transparency Southern states we see an overlay of barriers, to build trust, accountability, and relationships in including policies and laws that deny women and order to facilitate greater collaboration and promote girls access to reproductive health care; a regressive shared learning with peers, allies, and the field. agenda that blocks proactive measures for women We welcome stakeholders to help us engage in of color to earn a living wage as evidenced by the critical and courageous conversations while valuing proliferation of the Right to Work legislation, and a different perspectives and insights. We know that culture of state sanctioned violence that prioritizes by expanding our relationships, we are also creating the criminal justice system and threatens the safety the space and resources that we need to effect of women and girls of color and, in particular, that transformative and systemic change. of trans and queer women and girls of color. Most
14 SHE CORE GrantsH
SHE Program Grantee Partners Organization Grant Amount
ACT for Women and Girls** $100,000 All Our Kin, Inc** $40,000 Atlanta Jobs with Justice** $100,000 Blueprint NC $30,000 Borealis Philanthropy – Fund for Transgenerations $100,000 California Child Care Resource and Referral Network – Parent Voices** $100,000 California Latinas Reproductive Justice $10,000 Childspace Day Care Centers, Inc.** $70,000 Children’s Defense Fund Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative $80,000 Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights** $90,000 EveryBlackGirl** $90,000 Garment Worker Center** = $100,000 Institute for Women’s Policy Research $10,000 Kentucky Health Justice Network** $40,000 Miami Workers Center** $100,000 Mujeres Unidas y Activas** $90,000 National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum* $50,000 National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice* $50,000 Native American Community Board* $50,000 The OLE Education Fund ** $40,000 Planned Parenthood Southeast** $40,000 Power U Center for Social Change** $90,000 ReproAction Education Fund** $90,000 SisterSong* $50,000 SPARK RJ Now** $80,000 Trans Sistas of Color Project – Detroit** $80,000 URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity** $100,000 West Virginia FREE** $90,000
TOTAL $1,960,000
* Asterisks denote funding through the Groundswell Catalyst Fund ** Asterisks denote 2-year grant
15 SHE Program Grants
ACT for Women and Girls** opportunities for children and impacted by injustice leading Justice (CLRJ) is a statewide $100,000 families for years to come. the way. Borealis Philanthropy organization committed to honoring Interim Co-Executive Director, Sarah invests in leaders, organizations, the experiences of Latinas/xs Atlanta Jobs with Justice** Hutchinson, Visalia, CA and movements using diverse and to uphold their dignity, bodies, $100,000 ACT is a reproductive justice Executive Director, Shannan Reaze, innovative strategies to pursue sexuality, and families. Using a organization that builds power Atlanta, GA transformational change and works reproductive justice framework, through leadership development, with donors to support movements CLRJ builds Latina/x power in Atlanta Jobs with Justice is community organizing, advocacy, in ways they may not be able to the core strategies of policy a coalition of labor unions, and policy change. ACT’s mission do on their own. Through its work advocacy, community engagement, community groups, faith- and work seek to engage with both funders and grantee community-informed research, based organizations, student communities that have been partners, Borealis Philanthropy and strategic communications. organizations, and individuals that historically and systemically aims to shift power and invest in The grant will support CLRJ to leads and supports campaigns for denied access to services and communities. The grant will support continue building Latina/x’s power economic and social justice in our opportunities. ACT’s primary base the grantmaking program and and cultivate leadership through workplaces and in our communities. is youth of color between the ages operations of the Fund for Trans community education, policy The grant will be used to maintain of 15-25. The grant will support Generations, a trans-led fund, advocacy, and community-informed the operational capacity of the ACT’s innovative and effective housed at Borealis Philanthropy. research to achieve reproductive organization to win economic reproductive justice programming, justice. justice and support worker California Child Care Resource and leadership development, grassroots organizing in Georgia. Referral Network–Parent Voices** Childspace Day Care campaigns, policy and advocacy, $100,000 Centers, Inc.** and events to advance reproductive Blueprint NC Statewide Organizer, Mary Ignatius, San $70,000 justice in their conservative rural $30,000 Francisco, CA Chief Executive Officer, Susan A. Kavchok, region. Executive Director, Serena Sebring, Philadelphia, PA Raleigh, NC Parent Voices is a parent-run, All Our Kin, Inc.** parent-led grassroots organization Childspace was created to provide $40,000 Blueprint NC is a Black women- fighting to make quality child a new model for the delivery of CEO, Jessica Sager, New Haven, CT led project that was created to care accessible and affordable child care services that builds harness the power of Black women’s to all families. A project of the upon the link between quality All Our Kin, Inc. is a nationally leadership to address their needs California Child Care Resource jobs for child care workers and recognized nonprofit organization and realize justice for all. North and Referral Network, this chapter quality child care. For child care that trains, supports, and sustains Carolina Black Women’s Round organization is a partnership of workers, it provides improved family child care educators— Table (NCBWR) is a program under parents throughout California. wages and benefits, long term transforming opportunities by the fiscal agent Blueprint NC. Parent Voices combines leadership career advancement opportunities, ensuring that children and families NCBWR recognizes Black women development, advocacy, and increased job satisfaction have the foundation they need as powerful leaders and provides a community organizing in its efforts through participation in corporate to succeed in school and in life. platform for Black women to build to increase funding, improve quality, governance and management, All Our Kin has developed a high- community in leadership and to and provide better access to child and increased financial security touch, holistic, data-driven model identify and address barriers to care. through ownership in a successful for partnering with and supporting social justice, economic security, business. For families with children, family child care providers, who health, and other issues. The grant will support the it affords the opportunity to choose play a critical role as educators of advancement of a more equitable desired social roles, without guilt, our youngest children, children of Borealis Philanthropy–Fund for child care system centered around by offering high quality day care and color, and children in overburdened, Transgenerations the direct expertise of low-income responsiveness to their particular under-resourced communities. $100,000 mothers of color. President, Margarita Rubalcava Shulman, concerns regarding program design, This grant will allow All Our Kin to Minneapolis, MN flexibility, and cost. The grant will continue to provide the resources, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice allow Childspace to continue its training, and support that family Borealis Philanthropy directs $10,000 work in advocating for low-income child care providers need and resources to people building Executive Director, Laura Jimenez, Los families and jobs for the workforce. deserve to build high-quality powerful, thriving communities Angeles, CA programs that will transform that serve all, with those most California Latinas for Reproductive
16 SHE Program Grants
Children’s Defense Fund Southern EveryBlackGirl** workers, women of color, and direct service component of its Rural Black Women’s Initiative** $90,000 their families who are impacted by work: a practical support abortion $80,000 Executive Director, Vivian Anderson, exploitation in the fashion fund that serves Kentuckians and Director, Oleta Fitzgerald, Jackson, MS Raleigh, NC industry. The grant will support residents of surrounding states with the organizing efforts of Los financial assistance, transportation, The Children’s Defense Fund EveryBlackGirl, Inc’s (EBG) mission Angeles garment workers for an interpretation, lodging subsidies, Southern Rural Black Women’s and vision is to create a world where end to sweatshop wages and and non-judgmental support. Initiative (SRBWI) is a collective of every Black girl can thrive. EBG was working conditions, fashion KHJN has become one of the most women leaders across Mississippi, birthed out of the #EveryBlackGirl brand accountability, and robust sought-after voices regarding Alabama, and Georgia dedicated to campaign— a response to the labor laws. abortion access in KY. The grant lifting up Black women and families Spring Valley High School assault will fund general operating support in rural, impoverished areas. SRBWI where Shakara, a Black student, Institute for Women’s Policy to KHJN to continue providing works to promote a human rights was slammed out of her desk and Research support to Kentuckians seeking agenda aimed at eradicating thrown across a classroom by a $10,000 reproductive and gender affirming historical race, class, cultural, School Resource Officer. EBG’s President/CEO, C. Nicole Mason, care amid the COVID-19 crisis. religious, and gender barriers work centers women and girls to Washington, DC experienced by Southern rural black expose and educate communities The Institute for Women’s Policy Miami Workers Center** women. The grant will strengthen on the interlocking and connecting $100,000 Research (IWPR) is the nation’s Bama Kids and SRBWI’s economic oppressions that are not directly Interim Executive Director, Santra Denis, preeminent think tank committed and social justice work in Alabama’s addressed in communities yet Miami, FL continue the cycle of violence to winning economic equity black belt counties. The Miami Workers Center (MWC), and trauma for Black children and for women and families and founded in 1999, is a frontline Colorado Organization for their families. EBG’s strategy is lowering barriers to women’s full strategy and action center that Latina Opportunity and for people to self-organize in their participation in the workforce and organizes, mobilizes, and builds Reproductive Rights** communities by educating local society. IWPR conducts original the power of oppressed and $90,000 community members and national research and analysis to inspire Executive Director, Dusti Gurule, Denver, CO disenfranchised communities, stakeholders about how we can public dialogue, shape policy, and improve the lives and opportunities particularly low-income Black and Colorado Organization for Latina transform what public safety looks of women of diverse backgrounds, Latina women in South Florida. Opportunity and Reproductive like for Black women and girls and circumstances, and experiences. MWC aims to build a progressive Rights (COLOR) is a community- their families. EBG’s constituents IWPR operates on the principle that voice and platform and to nurture rooted, nonprofit organization that are Black women and girls above knowledge is power and that social the growth of movements for social works to enable Latinx individuals the age of 13 living in Columbia, SC science evidence, based on strong change. MWC achieves its mission and their families to lead safe, and the surrounding region. The data and analysis, compellingly through a variety of strategies: healthy, self-determined lives. grant will provide general operating presented and systematically constituency-building; grassroots COLOR exists to grow the number support. disseminated, makes a difference in organizing and education; of youth-to-elder Latinx leaders, Garment Worker Center** moving public policy. The grant is in policy advocacy; strategic have an organized, vibrant, and $100,000 support of leadership transition. communications; civic engagement; sustained grassroots base, and Director, Marissa Nuncio, Los Angeles, CA training and leadership leverage the power of and allyship Kentucky Health development among the people Garment Worker Center (GWC) is a with public officials and partner Justice Network** most affected by the intersections worker rights organization leading organizations. The ultimate goal $40,000 of poverty, racism, and gender an anti-sweatshop movement to Executive Director, Erin Smith, Louisville, KY is to empower Latinx individuals and sexual oppression, especially and families across Colorado improve conditions for tens of Kentucky Health Justice poor women of color. MWC will to create the type of policy and thousands of Los Angeles garment Network (KHJN) builds the expand their work organizing and system change that allows their workers. Through direct organizing, power of Kentuckians to achieve mobilizing low-income, Black and communities to lead safe, healthy, GWC develops leaders who demand reproductive justice. KHJN serves Latina women and femmes in self-determined lives. The grant enforcement of strong labor laws this mission through direct support, South Florida, to advance their provides support to advance their and accountability from factory education, and outreach. KHJN’s intersectional Femme Agenda reproductive justice work owners, manufacturers, and fashion Support Fund program is the largest focused on reproductive and gender in Colorado. brands. GWC centers immigrant
17 SHE Program Grants
justice, affordable housing, and and girls to gain full agency over Native American that working families are playing domestic worker rights. their lives, their families, and their Community Board* a critical role in shaping New communities. NAPAWF is a leading $50,000 Mexico’s future with a united voice. Mujeres Unidas y Activas** national, multi-issue organization Executive Director, Charon Asetoyer, The grant will support leadership $90,000 Lake Andes, SD Executive Director, Juana Flores, that advocates and organizes within development among women who San Francisco, CA a reproductive justice framework. The Native American Community are fighting to raise compensation NAPAWF aims to build its base Board’s (NACB) mission is to standards for early educators. Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) of leaders who are AAPI women address health issues pertinent to Planned Parenthood Southeast** is a grassroots organization of and girls in order to organize on a the Native American community $40,000 Latina immigrant women with a grassroots level for policy change through cultural preservation, President & CEO, Staci Fox, Atlanta, GA dual mission of promoting personal in support of reproductive rights, education, coalition building, and transformation and building health, and justice for the AAPI environmental and natural resource Planned Parenthood Southeast community power for social and community. The grant will provide protection while working toward a (PPSE) works to address health economic justice. MUA achieves general operating support. safe community for Native women disparities in the South and ensure this mission by implementing the quality reproductive health for National Latina Institute for and children. The majority of following strategies: creating an women, men, and families while Reproductive Justice* NACB staff members are Yankton environment of understanding and Sioux (100% are Native) and all advocating for reproductive health confidentiality; giving members $50,000 Interim Executive Director, Cristina Aguilar, are residents of the Yankton Sioux and rights in Alabama, Georgia, opportunities to empower New York, NY Reservation. NACB launched KDKO- and Mississippi. The grant supports themselves and provide mutual FM for community members to the work of PPSE to provide quality National Latina Institute for support to one another; offering voice their opinions, learn about health care and comprehensive Reproductive Justice (the Latina diverse trainings so that women local issues, practice their Dakota sexuality education programming Institute) builds Latina/x power to obtain economic security and culture and language, and gain and to fight for unfettered access fight for the fundamental human gain skills to become leaders of skills and experience through to comprehensive sexual and right to reproductive health, dignity, their lives, their families, and their volunteer work. The grant will reproductive health care. and justice. For too long, complex communities; working with diverse support NACB’s work to culturally systems of oppression have robbed Power U Center for Social alliances on the local, regional, engage and empower Native Latinas/xs of the resources they Change** national, and international levels, Americans nationally around issues and organizing to win immigrant, need to make informed decisions $90,000 of importance to them, including Co-Executive Director, James Lopez, worker, and women’s rights. The about their bodies and lives. To Native women’s and children’s Miami, FL overcome these barriers, the grant will help to bolster the freedom from sexual violence and Latina Institute is building a base Power U Center for Social Change leadership of immigrant women access to reproductive health of activists across states, shifting works with Miami-Dade County workers in the San Francisco Bay services to which they are entitled. Area so that they can effectively culture, and shaping policies youth, parents, and schoolboard advocate for the passage of specific informed by the lived realities of The OLE Education Fund ** members to win restorative justice policies that protect their rights their communities. Its strong base $40,000 for youth and their communities, as immigrants, as women, and as of leaders has created lasting Executive Director, Matthew Henderson, dismantle the school-to-prison Albuquerque, NM workers. change at the local, state, and pipeline, and obtain necessary national levels—from expanding services, supports, and safety for National Asian Pacific American The OLÉ Education Fund is a abortion access and affordability to pregnant and parenting teens. Women’s Forum* grassroots organization that securing im/migrant reproductive This grant will be used as general $50,000 works with the local community of Executive Director, Sung Yeon Choimorrow, health rights. The grant will provide working families in New Mexico. operating funds to help continue to Chicago, IL the Latina Institute general Their members and staff work build the infrastructure to develop operating funds to serve its mission. together to strengthen their the leadership of young Black The mission of the National communities through social Femmes and young parents. Asian Pacific American Women’s advocacy and economic reform, Forum (NAPAWF) is to build the using issue-based campaigns and collective power of all AAPI women electoral engagement to ensure
18 SHE Program Grants
ReproAction Education Fund** SPARK RJ Now** and sexual liberation. As a national $90,000 $80,000 organization rooted in the South Co-Founder/Co-Director, Erin Matson, Executive Director, Krystal Redman, and Midwest, URGE builds power New York, NY Atlanta, GA with and for the most marginalized Founded on direct action, SPARK Reproductive Justice Now is young people, provides a political ReproAction Education Fund a local-statewide organization that home for them, advocates for organizes disruptive, media-friendly builds and strengthens the power meaningful policy change, and actions that force people – from the of communities and a reproductive shifts culture. The grant will provide general public to elected officials justice movement that centers general operating support. – to reconsider abortion rights, Black Women, Women of Color, West Virginia FREE** abortion access, and opposition to and Queer & Trans Young POC in $90,000 abortion. ReproAction’s vision is to Georgia and the South. Based in CEO, Margaret Chapman Pomponio, uphold abortion rights and advance Atlanta, GA, SPARK has fostered Charleston, WV reproductive justice as a matter of a dynamic, collaborative model of As West Virginia’s leading human dignity. They are introducing advocacy, leadership development, reproductive health, rights, and a new culture of accountability collective action, and discourse that justice organization, West Virginia and empowering the reproductive creates change and impact for Black FREE’s (WV FREE) mission is rights movement and the broader women and queer people’s struggles to build stronger communities progressive community to openly for reproductive justice. The grant through advocacy and education and enthusiastically stand up for provides general operating support on reproductive health, rights abortion rights through campaigns, to aid in sustaining and expanding and justice. Founded in 1989 to organzing, and resources. The two of SPARK’s most successful combat the growing anti-choice grant will provide general operating programs into a statewide model of movement in West Virginia, support that will fund the building leadership development. WV FREE has evolved from a of ReproAction’s infrastructure to Trans Sistas of Color reproductive rights coalition ensure digital security as they grow Project - Detroit ** with one part-time contractor to their online presence, especially $80,000 a statewide, membership-driven Thank you, Ms. as they move their organizing work Executive Director, Lilianna Angel Reyes, reproductive justice organization online during the COVID-19 crisis. Oak Park, MI Foundation, for with a full-time staff and strong SisterSong* The mission of Trans Sistas of Color national partnerships. With over supporting women and $50,000 Project – Detroit is to uplift trans 13,000 members and supporters, girls for so many years Executive Director, Monica Simpson, women of color in or from Detroit. WV FREE works as part of a larger Atlanta, GA and for bringing us all The grant will provide general social and reproductive justice SisterSong is a national, Southern- operating support that will help to movement, with a focus on West together right now to based organization uniting women continue emergency assistance for Virginians facing the highest support those who are of color and indigenous women to trans women of color in Detroit. barriers. Committed organizations dismantle reproductive and racial like WV FREE are imperative most vulnerable and URGE (Unite for Reproductive & oppression. SisterSong conducts because of their continued focus on most in need during the Gender Equity) ** fighting for social and reproductive reproductive justice (RJ) trainings $100,000 pandemic. Thank you to influence and expand the RJ Executive Director, Kimberly McGuire, justice through grassroots power movement, convenes RJ leaders, Washington, DC building, mobilization, advocacy, for your leadership, and engages in culture change and education. The grant provides your courage, your work. The grant will provide general URGE is a multi-racial, multi- general operating support. operating funds in support of ethnic, multi-gender, and multi- support. SisterSong’s work to build the RJ sexuality reproductive justice organization that centers the Tina Tchen movement’s capacity and influence President and CEO Time’s Up on allied movements, US culture, voices and leadership of young and powerful decision-makers. people in the fight for racial justice, immigrant justice, gender justice,
19 Movement Leadership
Q & A with Jessica González-Rojas Women of Vision Honoree
“The systems and structures healthcare. The Supreme Court bold systemic change that can that fail communities like mine victory marked a milestone for impact the lives of millions of New every day must change!” – the abortion rights movement Yorkers,” said Gonzalez-Rojas. Jessica González-Rojas as it removed some barriers to In November 2020, González- reproductive healthcare access Activist, organizer— and Rojas was elected to the New for women in Texas, including 2.5 Women of Vision honoree at the York State Assembly, defeating million Latinas of reproductive 2020 Gloria Awards— Jessica the six-term incumbent in the age who were disproportionately González-Rojas has dedicated her Democratic primary and winning affected by the restrictive life to fighting for dignity, justice 75 percent more of the vote in regulations of HB 2, the Texas and equity for her community. As the general election against Clinic Shutdown Law. the former executive director of her Republican contender. She the National Latina Institute for González-Rojas is an outspoken represents the 34th Assembly Reproductive Justice (NLIRJ), she and loyal advocate who District in Queens which worked passionately for thirteen understands intimately the encompasses the neighborhoods years on a host of issues from granular realities and challenges of East Elmhurst, Jackson immigration to contraception, of her constituents. When the Heights, Corona and Woodside. all the while centering the pandemic struck, she was in Ms. spoke with Jessica González- experiences and voices of women the midst of transitioning out Rojas about her journey from and immigrant and migrant of her role as executive director activism to politics, and her hopes Latinas. of the Latina Institute to run for and vision for her district and for political office. Nevertheless, New York City. In 2016 (at the time, the González-Rojas continued to organization went by the name of Congratulations on your work alongside community Latina Institute for Reproductive election! How does it feel, and organizations to aid those most Health), Jessica’s bold leadership what does it mean for you in need in her neighborhood of was instrumental in the outcome personally, to be in the political Queens as the area escalated into of the landmark Whole Woman’s arena right now? the epicenter of the COVID-19 Health v. Hellerstedt case. The outbreak. “Every day, women One thing that feels most Latina Institute submitted its like me have the courage to risk powerful is that I represent a first amicus brief describing the their lives and time away from community that is 88 percent devastating impact on the lives of their children and families. This people of color, of which 60 low-income women resulting from risk is worth the reward of being percent are Latino or Latinx. I am legislation that restricted access a public servant and creating the first woman of color—in fact, to abortion and reproductive
20 H
the first person of color—to ever the infrastructure is beginning dream you’d been nurturing for hold that seat! It’s an awesome to crack and crumble. And a while? honor and responsibility and a that creates space for me to No! I ran for office before, in 2002, humbling feeling. say, “Hey is that white guy still and hated it. I was a Democratic there? He’s been there 12 years. I’m not a status quo politician. I’m State Committee Member, a small He was appointed. He was not always centering communities non-legislative position. In those even elected, and no one’s ever and communities of color in my four years, I was disgusted by challenged him?” legislative capacity. I know how the political machine and didn’t policies impact marginalized and In 2018, when a new crop of want to be a part of that. I’d much oppressed communities because leaders came in, my community rather be an advocate, activist, I’ve worked with them and at turned to me. It often takes organizer. So, I really didn’t have different points in my life, I’ve person after person to ask a any aspirations to run. been them. woman of color to run before It wasn’t until 2018 when my she runs. It took that. But I know It is surprising that a district as community started looking that I am the right person for this diverse as yours has not had a towards me after Alexandria community in this moment. More person of color at the helm Ocasio-Cortez became my than ever it’s important to have until now! congresswoman and a young women of color who are bold and Latina became my state senator. It is! In its entire existence, it’s progressive, and, quite frankly, My neighboring assemblywoman only really been white people who come from activism and in the district right next to me is a who’ve held that seat. It speaks advocacy. It’s history-making and former Dreamer. These really bold to the grip of the political Queens exciting. But it’s not easy and it’s Latinas ended up winning these machine. It’s only since someone not… not scary! amazing positions. That was the like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was Entering politics and becoming moment people started asking able to tap the leadership that an Assemblyperson—was this a me. It took about a year to decide
21 Movement Leadership
to do it—it meant leaving a job I failing my community. I hold that Dolores Huerta—courageous really loved at the National Latina courage. women who’ve broken barriers or taken risks when things were Institute for Reproductive Justice. Role models and mentors are so not comfortable. I admire their But I am humbled and honored very important in our life, and tenacity. and ready to take bold steps to particularly so for young women. address the challenges that our You are a role model for many. You have more than a full plate community faces. Who has inspired or motivated between work, parenting, and Courage is the word you’ve you? family life. How do you carve time out for yourself even as you chosen for the year. You quote I think about my maternal and dedicate so much of your energy Audre Lorde: “When I dare to be paternal grandmothers. My and presence to your community powerful, to use my strength in maternal grandmother came to and district and the issues that the service of my vision, then it New York City from Puerto Rico you are fighting for? becomes less and less important as a teenager with polio. She was that I am afraid…” quarantined, teased, and called It’s a lot of juggling! Last night A lot of people make new year’s a cripple. She lived in public I was on three Zoom meetings resolutions. I commit to a theme housing, in poverty, and still went simultaneously—a community for the year. I know that none of to work every day with her head board meeting, a local street the bills are perfect, or that if they held high. She was strong and campaign, and the women’s are perfect, they won’t pass—this humble. I admire that. She always legislative caucus meeting. And work is often a compromise. But had gratitude to this country. My then I had my family over for to always lean on my values, on paternal grandmother was more dinner at nine o’clock with my my community, and on the fact of a firebrand. She wasn’t humble nine-year old son to celebrate the that I’m a voice that hasn’t been at all. She came from Argentina fact that he’d got a good report heard before, in a community that and had Syrian parents—giving card! At some point, I just have actually hasn’t been represented, us that Arab, Argentinian fire! She pull myself off Zoom. I have to hold that political was so bold. She had a tattoo and My son sees my partner cooking courage because my community always wore makeup. And it was and doing dishes more than me. is depending on it. exciting because she cursed! She I call my husband my partner. was a badass woman ahead of her We’re 62 percent immigrant. My son hears that word and sees times! I really admired her. I have These community members our relationship as a partnership some mix of her bold, vivacious, are the frontlines of essential as opposed to something more and fierce character and the quiet, workers. They’re the ones not traditional. humble, hardworking, and more getting any relief from the federal reticent qualities of my maternal As an activist, you’ve done a government. They’re the ones grandmother. And then I think tremendous amount of work facing evictions, homelessness, of other Latina trailblazers like on the issues of immigration, and food insecurity. And if I’m not Sonia Sotomayor, Sylvia Rivera, women’s health, gender, and elevating their voices, then I’m
22 Movement Leadership
reproductive justice, all of which Institute journey for the 13 years are earning a living wage and are are interconnected. that I worked there. Ms. has healthy and happy and housed— always been committed to our that’s the big dream. Now that you’re in politics, are success. I am so grateful for you obliged to narrow your focus Teresa Younger’s leadership and and choose one particular area partnership—and for her boldness over others? in taking the foundation in the It’s really hard! As an direction of supporting women intersectional, social justice and girls of color. It was a big shift I am so grateful for activist, I get how housing is for a longstanding institution, and a matter of gender justice, is a I know it wasn’t easy. Investments Teresa C. Younger’s matter of reproductive justice, is in women and girls and trans leadership and a matter of disability justice, is communities of color are a partnership - and for a matter of educational justice. fraction of what they should be. her boldness in taking The issues impact one another. Ms. is leading in this area and the foundation in the It’s hard for me to separate issues showing philanthropy where direction of supporting into the clean buckets that people money should be invested. I’m so women and girls of try to create. The advice I got is grateful to Ms. and to Teresa, who to think of it as a spotlight, not a is not just a mentor but a friend, color. It was a big shift floodlight—to focus on a handful supporter, and cheerleader. The for a longstanding of important things in order to Ms. Foundation has a special institution, and I know be most effective. I have to think place in my heart. it wasn’t easy....Ms. is about where I want to spend What is your greatest hope leading in this area and my political capital and create for your district, for the Latinx showing philanthropy boundaries around my goal. Top community, and for women of where money should be priorities for me are gender justice color in New York City? and women of color. I want to see invested. bold, progressive women of color Dignity. Dignity is a word that Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and trans community members means a lot to me. My wish is for New York State Assembly Women in office. people to be able to exercise self- determination, live, work, and How has the partnership of raise their families with dignity. the Ms. Foundation for Women My wish is that people never have influenced your life and career? to choose between health care When I joined the National Latina and putting food on the table, or Institute in 2006, Ms. was already between rent and putting food one of our early supporters and on the table. That people can put remained part of my Latina food on the table because they
23 Building Connections Grants
Building Connections
A powerful multiplier effect happens when leaders from different sectors and movements agree to advance a common set of values and goals as part of a synergistic approach to achieving greater collective impact. In order to be transformational, we need the issues impacting women and girls, especially women and girls of color, to be front and center in all social movements from climate change and immigrant rights to economic and racial justice. A component of the Building Connections Initiative is to engage with other funders to support and move resources to strategic efforts led by and centering women and girls of color, including transgender women and girls of color and indigenous women and girls. Toward this objective, the Ms. Foundation will provide matching grants to women’s funds to increase funding to women and girl of color; push philanthropy to more effectively support organizations and projects led by and centering their concerns and advocacy agendas; and build partnerships with women’s funds working at the local or regional level to advance gender and racial equity. We will leverage these generative connections to creatively source and lift up quality opportunities and projects that underscore the impact and influence of women and girls of color.
24 Building Connections Grants
Building Connections Grantee Partners
Organization Grant Amount
Center for Popular Democracy $20,000 Chicago Foundation for Women $25,000 Criterion Institute $15,000 Justice for Migrant Women $10,000 National Network of Abortion Funds $45,000 National Women’s Law Center $45,000 Rockwood Leadership Institute $5,000 Shelectricity $5,000 Southerners on New Ground $100,000 The Women’s Foundation of Colorado $25,000 The Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania $25,000 The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham $25,000 Washington Area Women’s Foundation $25,000 Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis $25,000 Women’s Foundation of Minnesota $25,000 Women’s Fund of Mississippi $25,000 Women’s Funding Network $5,000
TOTAL $450,000
25 Building Connections Grants
Center for Popular finance as a tool for social change. centering people who have Shelectricity Democracy Criterion Institute focuses on the abortions and organizing at the $5,000 system of finance because it wields intersections of racial, economic, Executive Director, Lora O’Connor, $20,000 Memphis, TN Co-Executive Director, Andrew Friedman, incredible power, with far-reaching and reproductive justice. The Brooklyn, NY implications for justice, safety, and grant will To provide general equality, and yet is controlled by a operating support. A new project designed with The Center for Popular Democracy relative few. Black, Brown, Indigenous, and API (CDP) works to create equity, National Women’s Law girl-identified folks at the center, opportunity, and a dynamic The grant will be used to Center SheLectricity is an empowerment engage diverse women’s rights ecosystem that brings together democracy in partnership with $45,000 technology, culture, and community high-impact base-building organizations and amplify the President & CEO, Fatima Goss Graves, organizations, organizing alliances, role they can play in transforming Washington, DC to create safe and nurturing online and progressive unions. CPD our economic and financial and in-person environments for strengthens their collective systems as the our nation responds Founded in 1972, the National girls and genderqueer folks to capacity to envision and win to COVID-19. Women’s Law Center has worked learn, grow, innovate, and lead. The an innovative pro-worker, pro- consistently to champion laws and grant will provide general operating immigrant, racial, and economic Justice for policies that expand opportunities, support. justice agenda. The grant will Migrant Women eliminate barriers based on gender, provide general operating support. $10,000 and help women and their families Southerners On President, Monica Ramirez, Fremont, OH lead economically secure, healthy, New Ground Chicago Foundation and fulfilled lives—with a focus on $100,000 Justice for Migrant Women aims low-income families and those who Executive Director, Mary Hooks, Atlanta, GA for Women face multiple, intersecting obstacles $25,000 to ensure that all migrant women and forms of discrimination. This President/CEO, Felicia Davis, Chicago, IL are guaranteed human and civil SONG is a home for LGBTQ rights, including the freedom of grant will support the “We, As liberation across all lines of race, Since its founding, Chicago mobility, the ability to live and work Ourselves” project, a narrative class, abilities, age, culture, gender, Foundation for Women (CFW) has with dignity, and the right to be development and movement and sexuality in the South. SONG been a leading voice in the effort free of threats of violence against building campaign striving to center builds, sustains, and connects a to achieve basic rights and equal them and their families, whether the stories and experiences of Black southern regional base of LGBTQ opportunities for women and they are migrating across borders, sexual assault survivors. people in order to transform the girls. In addition to grantmaking, around regions, or within states. region through strategic projects CFW invests in developing women Justice for Migrant Women protects Rockwood and campaigns developed in leaders and advocates and brings and advances migrant women’s response to the current conditions Leadership Institute in their communities. This grant will together diverse coalitions to rights through education, public $5,000 support the Southern Power Fund’s collaborate, share resources, and awareness, and advocacy. This grant CEO, Darlene Nipper, Oakland, CA develop solutions. This grant will supports of the launch of The Latinx strategic and effective distribution directly advance CFW’s work to House at Sundance, specifically a Since 2000, Rockwood Leadership of money to frontline organizations foster a network of resilient women panel on #MeToVoter and reshaping Institute has provided thousands leading transformational racial, of color leaders working at the the narrative about survivors. of social change leaders across gender, and economic justice intersection of racial and gender the globe with tools and skills to efforts throughout the Southern justice. National Network of help change themselves, their region. Abortion Funds communities, and the world. This Criterion Institute $45,000 grant is in support of the Rockwood The Women’s $15,000 Executive Director, Yamani Hernandez, Leading from the Inside Out 16/17 Foundation of Colorado Founder & President, Joy Anderson, Philadelphia, PA Cohort Retreat. $25,000 Haddam, CT President & CEO, Lauren Casteel, Denver, CO The National Network of Abortion Criterion Institute is an activist Funds builds power with members The Women’s Foundation of think tank with a mission to to remove financial and logistical Colorado (WFCO) catalyzes expand what’s possible by using barriers to abortion access by community to advance and
26 Building Connections Grants
accelerate economic opportunities philanthropic foundation solely Women’s Foundation for Women’s Fund of for Colorado women and their addressing the unique needs of families. WFCO is Colorado’s only women and girls, The Women’s a Greater Memphis Mississippi $25,000 $25,000 statewide community foundation Fund of Greater Birmingham President & CEO, Ruby Bright, Memphis, TN Executive Director, Tracy DeVries, focused on economic mobility leverages the resources of generous Jackson, MS for women. WFCO works to build individuals, nonprofits, corporate The mission of Women’s Foundation community, cultivate philanthropy, partners, and community leaders for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) is The mission of the Women’s Fund and create impact to ensure to build a world where all women to encourage philanthropy, foster of Mississippi is economic security that all women in Colorado have thrive. This grant will help build women’s leadership and support for women. The Women’s Fund access to thriving careers. This and formally launch the Women’s programs that enable women and of Mississippi works statewide grant will advance WFCO’s efforts Policy Institute, a women-centered, children to reach their full potential. through grant-making, advocacy, to serve women of color through permanent advocacy structure WFGM is an agent for change and research to support its focus their WAGES work, which employs for building grassroots leadership committed to a community of well- areas: access to education and research, public policy advocacy, and community power that is being and prosperity, where women careers, leadership development, grantmaking, and statewide intersectional, feminist, and live in sufficiency, strength, and two-generation work, and sexual engagement to help women reach multi-issue. safety, share their leadership, and and reproductive health. The grant economic security. empower their children. This grant will support projects led by and Washington Area will enable WFGM to strengthen centering women and girls of color, The Women & Women’s Foundation their existing partnerships focused including transgender women Girls Foundation $25,000 on supporting women and girls of and girls of color, and Iindigenous of Southwest President & CEO, Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, color, including transgender and women and girls of color. Washington, DC Iindigenous women and girls, as Pennsylvania well as provide funding as they form $25,000 Women’s Washington Area Women’s new alliances. CEO, Heather Arnet, Pittsburgh, PA Foundation mobilizes its Funding Network community to ensure that women $5,000 Women and Girls Foundation of Women’s Foundation President & CEO, Elizabeth Barajas-Roman, and girls of color in the Washington San Francisco, CA Southwest Pennsylvania (WGF) is metropolitan region have the of Minnesota engaged in statewide programming $25,000 resources they need to thrive. Women’s Funding Network is the and policy work. WGF’s mission is President & CEO, Gloria Perez, largest philanthropic alliance in to achieve equality for women and Minneapolis, MN The organization’s theory of change the world dedicated to advancing girls, now and for generations to is that by creating opportunities for The Women’s Foundation of the essential role of funders in the come. WGF’s vision is for women and increasing resources to women Minnesota (WFMN) is a community unwavering fight for gender equality and girls in Pennsylvania to have and girls of color in the region, they foundation investing in innovation and justice. When philanthropy equal access, opportunity, and will dismantle barriers to economic to drive gender and racial equity. invests in women’s foundations influence in all aspects of their security. They accomplish this work As the first and largest statewide and gender justice funders, it public and private lives. This grant by collaborating with community women’s foundation in the nation, empowers a deeply intersectional will support WGF’s grantmaking partners to disrupt sexist and racist WFMN aims to create a world movement that fights for policies investments in local organizations systems; invest in opportunities of equitable opportunity where and standards across lines of race, led by women of color and and resources for women and girls women, girls, and all people hold class, and gender. The grant will To members of the LGBTQIA and of color; and promote philanthropy the power to create and lead safe, provide general operating support. indigenous communities. that addresses needs at the prosperous lives. This grant will be intersection of race, gender, and used to support the Young Women’s class. This grant will be used to The Women’s Fund of Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN), support women and girls of color Greater Birmingham a statewide initiative focused on in the DC region experiencing $25,000 ensuring economic opportunity, President & CEO, Melanie Bridgeforth, domestic and sexual violence and safety, and leadership for and with Birmingham, AL those on the frontlines of the care young women who have been workforce during and after the As Alabama’s first and only pushed to the margins. COVID-19 pandemic.
27 Donor Profile
Q&A with Arlene Arin Hahn
“In a lot of ways, I feel like the world is finally catching up to what Gloria and the Ms. Foundation have been saying and doing all along – and I am here for it!” Arlene Arin Hahn (she/her/hers)
Arlene Arin Hahn is a partner at the law firm White hard-won wisdom gleaned from her journey to the & Case LLP. She represents clients in intellectual top of her field along with observations of progress for property and technology-driven transactions across women in traditionally male-dominated professions. a broad range of industries, including high tech, She also spoke about the gift of living in the now and software, AI/ML, financial services, energy, and embracing spontaneity, such as the time she and her entertainment. A passionate advocate of women’s New Zealander (“Kiwi”) husband eloped in Las Vegas. advancement and diversity in the workplace, Arlene is a monthly donor and steadfast supporter of the Ms. “There probably aren’t a ton of BigLaw attorneys who Foundation for Women. eloped in Vegas at 3am in the morning!” she chuckled. “But that’s partly what I love about being a partner at A firm believer in giving back and paying it forward, an elite global law firm—representing a different type Arlene is Chair of the Global Diversity Committee, a of woman who can do this job. Because I strongly member of the Global Women’s Initiative Committee, believe that a bulk of the gender disparity that we’re and Co-Chair of the New York Women’s Initiative at continuing to see in the work force, especially in White & Case, which is a corporate sponsor of the leadership roles, is due to a lack of representation of Ms. Foundation. Arlene has appeared as a featured different archetypes of women.” guest on BloombergTV and has been recognized by numerous publications, including the IAM Patent How did you first learn of the Ms. Foundation? What 1000, Legal 500, and Euromoney. inspired you to become a supporter and donor? Arlene, the mother of an eight-year-old son and a I’d heard of the Ms. Foundation for probably my whole six-year-old daughter, shared with Ms. nuggets of life—Gloria Steinem is from Ohio, which is where I was born and raised and she’s an icon! I am drawn
28 Donor Profile
to the principles of the Ms. Foundation and the important work that it’s doing in the world. As the fourth daughter of an unapologetically chauvinistic, but otherwise wonderful, father who escaped from North Korea and was candid in admitting that he had only wanted a son, I’ve always been acutely aware of gender difference and the societal impact of gender on power, privilege, and identity. I think I felt obligated to overcompensate for being born a girl throughout my life and feeling like I had disappointed my parents by not being born a son. As a child, it never occurred to me that being a girl should be a source of pride. I White & Case attracts an innately diverse work force can’t imagine how differently my life may have turned because of our focus on global, international work. out had I been raised to view my gender as a strength. In this vastly more diverse environment, I don’t feel And so, I have a soft spot for the Ms. Foundation, tokenized, I don’t feel hesitant. It has unleashed in Gloria, Teresa, and anyone who is actively and me the freedom to advocate more for others, to want intentionally helping and empowering women. to advocate more, to be more outspoken, to be an upstander – and when you’re in a safe and supportive For a long time, I carried with me so much gender bias environment, you can be so. and cultural baggage. As an Asian woman, I thought I innately understood bias. But I know now that I can’t At the time I joined the firm, I’d also had a conflation begin to compare my experience to those of other of life-changing events. I’d just had two kids in just women of color. In the past year alone, in large part over two years— and each time I was pregnant, I lost due to the work that we are doing at White & Case in a parent - first my mother and then my father. These support of racial justice and equity, I have learned so events were profoundly impactful. At the same time, much about bias – and anti-Black racism in particular, I was diagnosed with a chronic disease and a rare and in learning about how I’ve been personally neurological disorder for which I was hospitalized. complicit, whether intentionally or not. This learning All the stress and trauma of losing my parents while has made me much more passionate than ever about having my own children manifested in physical the work done by the Ms. Foundation - and part of illness. I learned how closely connected the body is why I became a monthly sponsor. to the mind. Joining White & Case at the tail end of that changed me as a person completely. I had all When you joined White & Case in 2015— after 15 those great epiphanies that people often have after years at your previous firm— you said that you trauma or during change—life is too short, you have finally felt the “freedom to be (your) authentic self.” to enjoy it, you have to give back, and you have to do Can you say more about this shift? something for the greater good.
29 Donor Profile
Beyond your work as a lawyer, you are active on is failure – and I feel like we carry that unnecessary several committees, initiatives and programs at the burden well into adulthood. I told my children when firm. You are also a mother of two young children. they were very little that there is no such thing as How do you balance it all? perfect – and now they say it back to me constantly! I’ll say, “Oh, that’s perfect!” And they’ll say, “Mom! A job is just a job if it doesn’t have meaning, if it’s not There’s no such thing as perfect! Everyone makes advancing anything, if it’s not changing things for the mistakes!” It’s important for me to hear that from better. At White & Case, we say that each of us should them – it’s truly liberating! leave the firm, and the world, a better place than how we found it. I firmly believe in this. I don’t think I At a time when institutions have the best of should do anything unless I’m going to leave it better. intentions to become more inclusive, what advice or thoughts do you have for organizations? What As a woman, and a woman of color, I do get a fair should they be wary of? share of requests to join committees and initiatives because of the lack of representation – there are There are a couple of things actually, especially in the still so few of us. I don’t discount that at all, but I column of good intentions. In a lot of organizations also recognize that that’s a necessary responsibility when they pick a woman, it’s a ‘safe’ woman. She’s until we reach parity. Studies show that women tend tested, she’s done this before. She does everything to do more of this invisible work – and of course and is on all the committees. That can be dangerous. it’s not necessarily ‘fair’ that women may spend You’re perpetuating the notion that there’s only one more time on committees and initiatives while woman, or only a few women, who are good enough many of their male counterparts are out chasing to fill all those roles. And what I’ve also witnessed is clients and bringing business through the door, that sometimes, if you have a woman who is being which traditionally has driven law firm success. But held out as an example, but in her everyday practice, at the same time, it’s important that women are she isn’t supporting other women, it can actually have participating in initiatives and leadership and that we the opposite effect and reduce the number of women are in the rooms where decisions are being made. I who stick around because they don’t feel supported. think it’s worth it. Plus, I feel like we’re so close – we So, in the column of great intentions, the best is are starting to transform the structures and spaces always a diverse group of leaders of all genders. that were not meant for us. It’s not easy – it can be downright exhausting – but if more of us stick with it, What advice do you have for young women, we can start to effect real change. especially immigrants and women of color, who aspire to a career such as yours? As for balance – I feel like the word “balance” can be triggering as it assumes too much! What helps me First, I’d say treat all of your connections and the most is to reject any notion of “perfection”. As networks as connections and networks for your girls, we are taught that anything short of perfection future. One of the mistakes I made early on in
30 Donor Profile
my career is that I separated my personal and need to expand the pie so that there are more seats professional networks, very much like ‘church’ and at the table for all women and underrepresented ‘state’. Men don’t do that; they aren’t taught to do people. And that begins with changing ourselves. that – these are your people and no matter what, you have your network – it’s not what you know, but The pandemic has been a time of numerous who you know. Studies show that women are not as challenges and collective loss. What are your comfortable leveraging our personal networks. We thoughts on working women and motherhood don’t ask our friends for work or referrals as easily or during this tumultuous period. as often as men do. We don’t go golfing every week For so many women, the impact of the pandemic and say, Hey, I need you to hire me. I need you to hire has been profound. It’s too demanding, it’s too hard, my firm. Women tend not to do that. But I think that’s especially as we’ve lost the social connection and changing. I hope it’s changing. aren’t benefiting from the bonding, interaction, and My second piece of advice is that you have to humanity of working together in person. On the one advocate for yourself. Don’t be the model in the mall hand, it’s forced me to really live in the moment – to waiting to get discovered. Don’t think, I will do an take each day and each moment as it comes. awesome job, turn in everything on time, and one day Do you have a long-term vision for yourself as a someone’s going to pluck me up and say we’re going philanthropist? to make you a partner, a director, a CEO. No one’s doing that! You have to reach for those opportunities For better or worse, I’ve never had a long-term vision and go for them. This is another thing that men seem – I have really just tried to live in the moment! But as to do well and that women tend not to do. And that’s I get older, I realize that it’s the impact that I have on where advocating for other women helps. Studies others, not just in my immediate sphere, but in the show that if a woman advocates on another woman’s world at large, that will measure my life. It doesn’t behalf, it’s perceived differently than if a woman have to be a huge impact as long as it’s an ongoing, advocates for herself and it’s seen as less threatening. positive impact. So supporting the work of the And if you are fortunate enough to have a powerful Ms. Foundation is a no brainer for me. Becoming a advocate or sponsor, you should protect and nurture monthly donor is the right way for me to continue to that relationship – because the support and guidance give back to the communities and projects that I care of a powerful sponsor is invaluable in any sphere. about and to support the work of the Ms. Foundation. I believe in the future vision of Teresa and the current And finally, we have to change ourselves—because Board as a continuation and evolution of the vision of women are just as hard on women (if not harder) Gloria and the Founding Mothers. In a lot of ways, I than men, so really trying to quell or sever that feel like the world is finally catching up to what Gloria competitiveness that’s been bred or socialized into and the Ms. Foundation have been saying and doing a lot of women. The lack of women in positions of all along – and I am here for it! power should not mean it’s a zero sum game – we
31 HA National Presence
Our philosophy at the Ms. Foundation for Women is about trusting women’s leadership. We support the areas of women’s safety, health, and economic justice, understanding that all these areas are connected. We center gender, race, and equity in our work. As a philanthropy we give general operating support to our partners—allowing them to determine whether those dollars should go toward a project, a salary, or toward turning on the lights. We don’t fund for one or two years—our grantee partners are in relationship with us for five to seven years, sometimes even longer. Change takes time. We are committed for the long term. Overview
Direct Grants to the Field Ms. Foundation’s 2020 Program Funding at a glance. Public Public $808.739 Education + Advocacy $62,540 Policy Building $450,000 Connections SHE $1,985,000 CORE
32 A National Presence
Where the grants are impacting
GRANTEE AMOUNT GRANTEE AMOUNT
$100K $80K $60K $40K $20K $5K
$100K $80K $60K $40K $20K $5K
I joined the Ms. Foundation board because as a younger professional woman I wanted a community of peers who think of ambition—at work, at home, in life and in society— as important and because I wanted to be part of advancing gender equity with an organization ready to build power for communities I care about. Sloan Leo Board Member 33 Activist Collaboration Fund
Activist Collaboration Fund
In January 2020, we launched the Activist The ACF aims to create enduring and effective Collaboration Fund (ACF) to deepen collaboration partnerships that will have a greater impact on across social justice movements for women and intersectional social justice issues. To meet the girls of color. The goal of the ACF is to support needs of the field, Ms. will seek donor partners and strengthen the under-resourced work of who are aligned with supporting the vison of the relationship and trust-building that is, in fact, at the Activist Collaboration Fund. The first year of the ACF heart of transformational movement building. The was a pilot phase, with strategy and operational funds help facilitate collaboration in meaningful, decisions for the pilot largely informed by insights nonprescriptive ways. shared by activists and movement leaders with the Foundation during a literature review and In its first cycle, spanning January to April, the ACF stakeholder engagement process. granted $275,000 to 15 organizations led by and for women and girls of color, trans women and girls of The ACF adopted an open-call process that color, and Indigenous women and girls engaged in mobilized trust-based philanthropy best practices collaborative work in the areas of climate, criminal, in order to ease the application burden for education and reproductive justice. Grants ranged prospective grantees. As COVID-19 emerged in full between $15,000 to $25,000. More than half the force, it exacerbated all of the existing structural grants represent groups that are Indigenous, trans- inequalities that women and girls of color face in led, or located in the South or Midwest regions. The our country. By the time grants were disbursed, ACF invests primarily in groups that are focused on organizations had pivoted to respond to the relationship building, shared analysis, strategy and pandemic crisis in their communities. While the ACF planning, power building, organizing, and healing is a vehicle for strategic collaboration, it additionally justice support. Grantees have a track record of supported the unique funding needs that arose successful collaboration and an annual budget during the COVID-19 health crisis. of less than one million dollars, with many in this docket with budgets below $500,000.
34 Activist Collaboration Fund
As applicants grappled in real time with the pandemic, we observed the following: • Movement building organizations led by and for women of color are best equipped to meet the needs of, and build power with, people most impacted by racism and inequity. • In moments of crisis, these organizations move the quickest to meet community needs, respond to attacks against their constituents, and take the offense with strategies that build power to fight oppressive systems. • For organizations led by and for women and girls of color working at the local and state levels, direct services are very much a part of organizing work. • Healing is a critical part of the power building process. Time and care must be taken to ensure leaders and individuals are supported and are able to stand in their power to demand change for themselves and their communities. • Organizations led by and for women and girls of color are significantly underfunded. They could accomplish even more with greater resources.
35 Activist Collaboration Fund
Activist Collaboration Fund Grantee Partners
Organization Grant Amount
African American Roundtable $25,000 Black Child Development Institute Denver $20,000 Black Trans Media $25,000 Black Women Rising $25,000 California Black Women’s Health Project $15,000 Collective Action for Safe Spaces $25,000 HEART Women and Girls $15,000 Marsha P. Johnson Institute $15,000 Native Movement $15,000 Pueblo Critico $15,000 Rise Up Kingston $20,000 Safe Return Project $15,000 Solutions NOT Punishment Collaborative $15,000 Southwest Women’s Law Center $15,000 Youth Rise Texas $15,000
TOTAL $275,000
36 Activist Collaboration Fund
African American Black Trans Media the need for moving to a place of HEART Women Roundtable $25,000 healing and reconciliation. and Girls $25,000 Founder/Co-Director, Sasha Alexander, $15,000 Brooklyn, NY Director, Markasa Tucker, Milwaukee, WI Executive Director, Nadiah Mohajir, California Black Chicago, IL African American Roundtable is Black Trans Media exists to a coalition led by and serving the reframe the value and worth of Women’s Health Project HEART for Women and Girls black trans peoples by building $15,000 ensures that all Muslims have the African American community in CEO, Sonya Young Aadam, Inglewood, CA Milwaukee, focused on empowering community, educating the public, resources, language, and choice and organizing community and engaging media on racial and California Black Women’s to nurture sexual health and members to transform policies so gender justice issues promoting Health Project is a collaborative, confront sexual violence, faced that they can reach their greatest #blacktranseverything. They will statewide organization that aims to particularly by Muslim women potential and thrive. They will be continuing to build a political strengthen community capacity to and girls. In collaboration with partner with Hmong American home for a network of brilliant folks address health disparities across a Justice for Muslims Collective Women’s Association and Freedom, doing the movement building work range of issues and challenges that (JMC) and #VigilantLOVE (VL), they Inc. to deepen their relationship; centering Black Trans people, and disproportionately impact Black will create a shared analysis, map learn about each other’s respective deepening relationships with GLITZ women and girls. In partnership current initiatives and players in cultures, traditions, and social and and Trans Gender Variant Intersex with Sankofa Birthworkers the field, and develop resources political movement history, and Justice Project. With their partners, Collective, Congregations Organized that can be used in both the gender strategize on how to move together they will be creating more spaces for Prophetic Engagement, and justice spaces and the larger anti- to build collective power. to strategize, organize, and mobilize Sayida Uplifts, they will bring black islamophobia movement. community members to address birth workers, healers, doulas, and Black Child violence directly impacting Black activist mothers together in safe Marsha P. Development Institute Trans women, including uplifting spaces to share, affirm, and address Johnson Institute sex workers in decision-making. Denver disparities in maternal and infant $15,000 mortality. Executive Director, Elle Hearns, $20,000 Black Women Rising Columbus, OH Affiliate President, Cassandra Johnson, $25,000 Denver, CO Executive Director, Marcia Dinkins, Collective Action Marsha P. Johnson Institute Dayton, OH protects and defends the human Black Child Development Institute for Safe Spaces $25,000 rights of Black transgender people Denver improves and advances the Black Women Rising leverages Executive Director, Je’Kendria Trahan, by organizing, advocating, creating quality of life for Black children and Black Women’s organizing skills, Washington, DC an intentional community to their families through education leadership potential, and political Collective Action for Safe Spaces heal, developing transformative and advocacy. They lead two power to influence and positively is a grassroots organization that leadership, and promoting major coalitions for policy and impact their community. They uses comprehensive, community- collective power. With TAKE advocacy to advance prenatal, will be deepening existing based solutions through an Resource Center and Trans infant, toddlers, and their families’ relationships with Black clergy, intersectional lens to eliminate United Fund, they will help build well-being as well as equity in Toledoans United for Social Action public gendered harassment and and repair relationships, provide early childhood education. They (TUSA), International Congress assault. They will be working with guidance, convene and train will convene and organize a larger on Faith and Justice, Faith and BYP100, the DC Rape Crisis Center, people, co-develop curriculum, base of African American/Black Harm Reduction, Religious Black Swan Academy, and the and generally work to build the identifying women of all different Coalition for Reproductive Choices Network for Victim Recovery DC, to field of Black Trans movement identities and backgrounds, by (RCRC), Resilient Sisterhood, and begin incubating a Transformative building organizations, while also providing healing spaces through SisterReach. Together, they will be Justice Incubator/Hub. They will responding to the immediate basic Sankofa Circles and increasing building a shared analysis of what’s also be working with the Sex Worker needs of community members in the visibility and voices of African working and not working across the Advocates Coalition (SWAC) to this moment. American/Black women in the intersectional issue areas where host retreats and townhalls to policy advocacy process. they work, and building a framework deepen shared analysis, revisit the to legislate around those issues #DecrimNow campaign goals and using a narrative of how trauma is strategy, and incorporate healing being perpetuated by systems and and wellness into their agenda.
37 Activist Collaboration Fund
Native Movement Rise Up Kingston Solutions NOT abortion and $15,000 $20,000 Punishment reproductive rights and will be Executive Director, Enei Begaye, Fairbanks, AK Executive Director, Callie Jayne, Kingston, NY working with Native American Collaborative groups statewide to initiate an Native Movement is building a Rise Up Kingston is a grassroots $15,000 agenda together in the areas of Executive Director, Toni-Michelle Williams, diverse and strong people-powered organization led by those women’s reproductive health. Alaska climate movement, rooted in experiencing racism, classism, and Atlanta, GA building systemic change, elevating gender oppression and organizing the people most impacted, and collective power to win a Kingston Solutions NOT Punishment Youth Rise Texas $15,000 furthering a diversity of strategies economy that meets all of our social Collaborative is a Black, trans-led, broad-based collaborative working Executive Director, Kandace Vallejo, for just and equitable transitional and environmental needs. They will Austin, TX steps. They lead the Just Transition be working with Newburgh LGBTQ to restore an Atlanta where every Coalition with Fairbanks Climate Center to develop curriculum that person has the opportunity to Youth Rise Texas is an organization Action Coalition, The Alaska Center, addresses misogyny, homophobia grow and thrive without facing dedicated to uplifting the voices Native Peoples Action, AK PIRG, the (anti-LGBTQ), transphobia, and unfair barriers, especially from the of young people harmed by Gwich’in Steering Committee, and other gender oppression specifically criminal legal system. On the heels criminalization and deportation Alaska Community Action on Toxics in the Black community. This of the historic victory surrounding so that they may heal, take action, (ACAT). Together, they will work collaboration will allow these the closure and repurposing of and cultivate compassionate to deepen collaboration among two groups to build together and the Atlanta City Detention Center, communities. With a focus on indigenous-led organizations, create language to help tackle they will work to strengthen young women of color, they will conservation organizations, these oppressive issues, while relationships and collaborations be working with partners in the grassroots community groups, furthering decolonization work and with #ClosetheJailATL Coalition Texas Youth Power Alliance (TYPA) policy-focused entities, and the movement for Black lives in the partners and other Black women, to deepen relationships with gender justice-focused groups, larger Hudson Valley Region. trans, and queer- led organizations each other, share resources, build while elevating and supporting to cultivate and deepen shared collective capacity, and finalize a Indigenous and grassroots analysis on organizing across lines shared youth justice agenda for Safe Return Project of race, class, and gender and leadership and helping ally $15,000 the state. groups build an understanding of Executive Director, Tamisha Walker, co-create strategy and tactics for Decolonizing and Just Transition Richmond, CA transformative campaigns that will mobilize Atlanta toward trans frameworks into their campaign Safe Return Project is an planning and analysis. safety, inclusion, and sex organization of formerly worker rights. incarcerated individuals and their Pueblo Critico allies working to strengthen the Southwest Women’s $15,000 relationship of people coming Public Educator and Social Worker, Kamil home from incarceration with Law Center Geronimo, San Juan, PR the broader community with an $15,000 Executive Director, Terrelene Massey, Pueblo Critico works with emphasis on self-sufficiency and Albuquerque, NM activist leaders, associations, long-term liberty. In partnership and social and community- with the Young Women’s Freedom Southwest Women’s Law based organizations on social Center and the Time for Change Center harnesses the power justice issues and human rights Foundation, they will be growing of law, research, and creative violations through Popular their county-wide campaign to the collaborations to change realities Education strategies and services. state-level to advocate for a holistic and injustices and create greater In partnership with the Diverses approach on reentry that addresses opportunities for women and girls program of the local Puerto Rico the trauma-healing, safety, and in New Mexico. They will work chapter of Amnesty International, success of women, girls, and non- with Strong Families New Mexico they are building the capacity and binary individuals in reentry. (SFNM), ACLU-NM, Bold Futures, bridging LGBTTQIA+ activists and Indigenous Women Rising with climate justice leaders in through the Coalition for Choice Puerto Rico. to advance and protect access to
38 Grantee Partner Profile
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
“In a year rife with challenges, transitions, and unforeseen pivots, we were grounded and confident, remaining centered and driven by our values.”
Dalissa Vargas, Senior Director of Development
Since 1994, the National Latina Institute for its name in 2020 to National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice (Latina Institute) has been Reproductive Justice as part of a rebranding building Latina/x power and centering the voices process aimed at better aligning its organizational and experiences of Latina/xs in the fight for the identity and work. fundamental human right to reproductive health, dignity, and justice. The Latina Institute has offices In 2020, the Latina Institute experienced a in New York City and Washington D.C., with state leadership transition when longtime Executive teams in Florida, New York, Texas, and Virginia. Director Jessica González-Rojas resigned to run The robust movement-building and advocacy of for political office and a search was initiated for her Latina Institute lives at the intersection of Latina/x successor. During this transition, the organization civil rights, reproductive health and justice rights, initiated a series of change management immigrant rights and justice, and economic justice. processes to build systems and practices that Formerly known as the National Latina Institute promote cross-department collaboration and for Reproductive Health, the organization changed stronger communication.
39 Grantee Partner Profile
At the center of this effort was the design and More recently, Latina Institute’s work in Virginia build out of a new leadership model rooted in the has built momentum with a series of victories for knowledge that the Latina Institute’s greatest reproductive justice, including the passage of the power is its people. This structural concept, named Reproductive Health Protection Act (RHPA), which Poderosa Mountain, is inspired by the affirmation, eliminates medically unnecessary restrictions “I am powerful.” It informs the Latina Institute’s that hinder access to reproductive healthcare, power-building work through individual and including abortion. Latina Institute and its partners collective leadership and recognizes that leadership in Virginia leveraged this victory to advocate for a development is neither a linear process nor a proactive reproductive justice bill of rights— the singular path. Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA)—and establish comprehensive coverage for reproductive “We’re really incubating this model to achieve deep health services regardless of immigration status or relational organizing in our communities. All aspects gender identity. of civic engagement, leadership development, and culture shift—amplifying voices and stories— Latina Institute is on the frontlines of some of begin from the ground up. We’re looking to build an the most challenging issues taking place around activist base, online and on the ground, of 500,000 immigration and the border, especially pertaining to by 2030,” says Dalissa Vargas, Senior Director of reproductive healthcare access. The organization’s Development at the Latina Institute. activists are impacted by the violence and action of ICE, such as the denial of care in detention centers. Latina Institute’s state teams work year around, The Texas team has worked alongside immigrant hosting community events, conducting trainings rights partners to advocate for abortion access and nonpartisan civic engagement campaigns for immigrants who are being detained. In Virginia, on reproductive issues that directly impact their Florida, and Texas, the Latina Institute continues communities. Their consistent and dedicated to work on the issue of drivers’ ID access for im/ presence encourages poderosas to engage with migrants. Many constituents live in transportation Latina Institute’s ’s programs and to view them as a deserts—without transportation, it is impossible to trusted resource of support. access work and care. Undocumented individuals, and those living in mixed-status families, face The organizing work of the Latina Institute is particularly serious reproductive health risks as a impactful. The organization played an active part in result of not being able to obtain legal identification Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt the landmark and a driver’s license. case, submitting its first ever amicus brief which centered the stories of Latinas in the Rio Grande At the federal level, the Latina Institute celebrated Valley who’d suffered the devastating impact from the re-introduction of Equal Access to Abortion Texas’s sweeping legislation to abolish access to Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act abortion, which had led to the closure of all but to the U.S. House of Representatives and its first 10 clinics statewide. The Supreme Court victory introduction to the Senate in March. The EACH “affirmed the power of the people’s voice,” amplified Act serves to abolish the Hyde Amendment and through Latina Institute’s grassroots work. removes barriers to abortion access for people
40 Grantee Partner Profile
with low-income. In April, the Senate introduced “It’s invaluable that Ms.’s support goes to where we the Health Equity and Access Under the Law need it. The dollars aren’t tied. They’re about how (HEAL) for Women and Families Act— advancing we best do our work. And that can’t be underscored the eligibility of immigrants for health insurance enough,” says Vargas. “Even with the challenges coverage and access to health care. Together, these we face, the Latina Institute remains committed policies propose greater access to the full range to serving our communities intentionally, of reproductive health services for all Latina/xs, compassionately, and effectively.” irrespective of their documentation and income status. Latina Institute is actively working internally to be anti-racist in all aspects of its operations and is committed to showing up as an ally with reproductive justice partners. It is unpacking the cultural impact of systemic racism within Latinidad, specifically around Afro-Latina/xs, and continually working to dismantle anti-Blackness I could not be more within its communities. resolute in the When the pandemic struck, the Latina Institute commitment of the quickly pivoted to working remotely and at reduced Ms. Foundation for capacity. A digital divide in both access and literacy among some field staff and activists quickly Women to support revealed itself. the leadership of “As an organization that does deep, relational, in- women and girls of person organizing and civic engagement as its core color, or clear about work, to operate as a virtual remote organization was no small task,” says Dalissa Vargas. my mandate from the leadership of this More than half the staff were directly impacted by COVID-19. Living by its values, Latina Institute organization. expanded benefits for staff, added wellness days and financial stipends, and automated its financial Teresa C. Younger system so activists who were receiving stipends President and CEO could be paid through ACH transfer.
41 Capacity Building Program
Capacity Building Program
Ms. Foundation for Women seeks to develop The Ms. Capacity Building program provides grants sustainable Women and Girls of Color leaders to WGOC organizations and leaders to strengthen and organizations to fortify the social justice their sustainability, resiliency, and connectivity. infrastructure at the local and state level, as well Capacity building grants support organizational as position grantee leaders and organizations as sustainability, provide flexible funding during experts on key issues. By investing in grantees’ organizational growth, leadership transitions, capacity, Ms. builds the leadership of those on the organizational change, as well as opportunities that front lines who are leading powerful movements to emerge out of crisis. transform systems of oppression so that all people can live full, secure, and healthy lives.
42 Capacity Building Program
Capacity Building Grantee Partners
Organization Grant Amount
California Latinas Reproductive Justice $10,000 Raising Women’s Voices $25,000
TOTAL $35,000
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice Raising Women’s Voices $10,000 $25,000 Executive Director, Laura Jimenez, Los Angeles, CA Women’s Health Program Director, Lois Uttley, New York, NY
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice (CLRJ) is a statewide Raising Women’s Voices is a national initiative with leadership from organization committed to honoring the experiences of Latinas/xs to its New York office as well as the National Women’s Health Network uphold their dignity, their bodies, sexuality, and families. CLRJ builds and the Black Women’s Health Imperative located in Washington, D.C. Latinas’/xs’ power and cultivates leadership through community Raising Women’s Voices makes sure women’s voices and concerns are education, policy advocacy, and community-informed research to achieve addressed as part of the Affordable Care Act’s policies. Raising Women’s reproductive justice. Voices provides healthcare education, outreach, advocacy, and policy work through 31 regional coordinators working in 28 states. The grant The grant will support organizational development, leadership will provide general operating support for the Raising Women’s Voices development, coaching, and training for CLRJ Board and staff as they initiative, with special attention to capacity building for women of color-led navigate through organizational transitions. organizations and funding of an annual convening.
“I call on each of us to commit to lifting up farmworker and migrant women as essential and to work our hardest to ensure that they and their work are fully appreciated now and in the future. They are and always have been heroes among us.”
Monica Ramirez President, Justice for Migrant Women
43 President’s Discretionary Grants
Discretionary Grants
President’s Discretionary Grants Grants in this docket are made at the discretion of the Ms. Foundation President Organization Grant Amount
Family Values @ Work: A Multi-State Consortium $500 Justice for Migrant Women $5,000
TOTAL $5,500
Family Values @ Work: A Multi-State Consortium $500 Executive Director, Wendy Chun-Hoon, Washington, DC In support of the Rising Leaders Fund.
Justice for Migrant Women $5,000 Today I stand with President, Monica Ramirez, Fremont, OH you rooted in our To provide support of Monica Ramirez’s leadership development through ancestors and the Rockwood Fellowship Program. community and centered in our hearts to roar until every person is liberated and our communities are free.
Pabitra Khati Benjamin Executive Director, Adhikaar
44 Donor-Advised Funds
Oma Fund
The Oma Fund is a donor-advised fund of the Ms. Foundation for Women. Established in 2010 as a descendant of the Dickler Family Foundation, Oma means “grandmother,” honoring the source of the funds and reflecting the intergenerational spirit that inspires our grantmaking. The Oma Fund supports organizations working to tackle the most challenging issues in reproductive health through the leadership of younger generations of activists. A small subset of discretionary grants that fall outside the area of reproductive health are also included as part of this donor advised fund.
Organization Grant Amount
Ibis Reproductive Health $20,000 National Institute for Reproductive Health $25,000 National Network of Abortion Funds $30,000 Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health $20,000 Provide, Inc. $25,000 The Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program $10,000 Kentucky Health Justice Network $10,000
TOTAL $140,000
45 Donor-Advised Funds
Ibis Reproductive Health member funds. $20,000 President, Kelly Blanchard, Cambridge, MA Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health $20,000 To support the Later Abortion Network (LAN), which connects Executive Director, Dr. Lina Buffington, St. Paul, MN organizations and individuals committed to increasing access to high- quality later abortion services. By providing their members with a safe To help provide students, nurses, and midwives with education and forum to share knowledge about later abortion, LAN acts as a catalyst resources to become skilled care providers and social change agents in to build momentum among those in their field to prioritize clinical and sexual and reproductive health and justice. legislative issues surrounding later abortion. Provide, Inc. National Institute for Reproductive Health $25,000 $25,000 Executive Director, Fatimah Gifford, Cambridge, MA President, Andrea Miller, New York, NY Provide works in partnership with health and social service providers to To provide general operating support to secure reproductive freedom build a health system that, in a climate of diminishing access and renewed and expand access to reproductive health care, including abortion, by legal threat, is equipped to respond to people’s healthcare needs around strengthening the effectiveness of state and local advocates across abortion. the country and by creating and sharing resources for the broader reproductive health, rights, and justice movement. The Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program $10,000 National Network of Abortion Funds Executive Director, Mia Sullivan, Amherst, MA $30,000 To provide support to educate, train, and activate diverse new leaders for Executive Director, Yamani Hernandez, Philadelphia, PA the movements for reproductive justice and human rights. To provide general operating support to further build power with member funds and individual members and to remove financial and logistical Kentucky Health Justice Network barriers to abortion access by centering people who have abortions and $10,000 organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive Executive Director, Erin Smith, Louisville, KY justice. As the visibility of abortion funds and their movement continue To provide support to the Take Root – Red State Reproductive Justice to grow, NNAF has a renewed commitment to centering the leadership Conference. of those who are most directly impacted by layered systemic inequities because they hold the knowledge to building long-lasting solutions. To this end, NNAF will focus efforts for the coming year on strengthening regionality, integrating racial justice theory and praxis, innovating network- wide approaches to direct abortion assistance, and refining technical assistance programs to support scaling and sustainability efforts of
46 Donor-Advised Funds
Gloria Steinem Fund
The Gloria Steinem Fund is a designated fund that disburses grants based on recommendations made by Gloria Steinem. Organization Grant Amount
Emergency Committee for Rojava, Inc. $20,000 Feminist Majority Foundation $30,000 Soapbox: The Feminist Foundation $20,000 Foundation for the Study of Independent Social Ideas $5,000 Get Lit – Words Ignite Inc. $2,500 National Women’s Studies Association $5,000 Spelman College $7,000 Vibe Theater Experience $5,000
TOTAL $94,500
Emergency Committee including special reports in the To provide support of the Ann Spelman College for Rojava, Inc. magazine and breaking news on Snitow Prize. $7,000 MsMedia.org. President, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, $20,000 Atlanta, GA Executive Director, Debbie Bookchin, Get Lit – Words Ignite Albany, NY Soapbox: The Feminist Inc. To provide support of the Audre To provide a capacity building grant Foundation $2,500 Lorde Endowed Chair. Executive Director, Diane Luby Lane, that will support hiring an executive $20,000 President, Amelia Richards, New York, NY Los Angeles, CA director. Vibe Theater Experience To enhance in-person programming To provide general operating $5,000 Feminist Majority that will continue to build their support. Executive Director, Toya Lillard, Brooklyn, NY Foundation virtual community, both with To provide support of the project $30,000 fresh faces and their vast alumni National Women’s Amplifying the Voices of Girls and Executive Director, Katherine Spillar, community. Studies Association Young Women of Color through the Beverly Hills, CA $5,000 Performing Arts. Executive Director, Deana Lewis, Chicago, IL To provide support that will keep Foundation for the U.S. activists linked to and informed Study of Independent To provide support of the National about the activities of the global Social Ideas Women’s Association Feminist women’s movement and sustain $5,000 Activist Fund. their capacity for global reporting, President, Michael Walzer, Princeton, NJ
47 Donor-Advised Funds
Asian Women Giving Circle
The Asian Women Giving Circle is a donor advised fund of the Ms. Foundation that pools resources from Asian American women and other supporters, who are passionate about amplifying the transformative power of arts and culture toward Asian women-led social change projects. The current focus is Arts & Activism.
Organization Grant Amount
Arts and Democracy, Inc. $10,000 Dorotea Mendoza $7,500 Free Rein Projects $10,000 Jaclyn Reyes $2,500 Jota Sosnowski $2,500 MoustacheCat Enterprises, Inc. $5,000 Kundiman, Inc. $7,500 Liz Sargent $2,500 National Asian American Theatre Co., Inc. $5,000 Siyan Wong $7,500 JoYin Shih $7,500
TOTAL $67,500
48 Donor-Advised Funds
Arts & Democracy Inc. Kundiman, Inc. $10,000 $7,500 Director, Caron Atlas, New York, NY Executive Director, Cathy Linh Che, New York, NY To support a series of intergenerational and bilingual arts-based To support the Asian American Feminist History & Zine-making workshops with artist Monica Jahan Bose. Workshops. Dorotea Mendoza Liz Sargent $7,500 $2,500 Artist, Dorotea Mendoza, Brooklyn, NY Artist, Liz Sargent, Brooklyn, NY To support the project Export Quality: Monologues (loosely) Drawn from To support the project 12 Turtles. True Stories of Mail-Order Brides from the Philippines. National Asian American Theatre Free Rein Projects Co., Inc. $10,000 $5,000 Founder, Artistic Director, Jaime Sunwoo, Brooklyn, NY Artistic Producing Director, Mia Katigbak, New York, NY To support the project Specially Processed American Me. To support the project titled The in Between: A Love Story by Deepa Purohit Jaclyn Reyes $2,500 Siyan Wong Artist, Jaclyn Reyes, Brooklyn, NY $7,500 To support the Little Manila Queens: Bayanihan Public Art Festival. Artist & Painter, Siyan Wong, New York, NY To support the project Five Cents A Can: Making Visible the Invisible – a Jota Sosnowski visual arts exhibition. $2,500 Director, Jota Sosnowski, Brooklyn, NY JoYin Shih To support Between Goodbyes – A Documentary Film. $7,500 Artist, JoYin Shih, Brooklyn, NY MoustacheCat Enterprises, Inc. To support the project Fly in Power. $5,000 Executive Director, Kaoru Ikeda, New York, NY To support the revival of the 1916 dance work, “Pizzicati”.
49 Our Time Together
Our Time Together
Martha’s Vineyard New York City. Customers received a 10% discount on items while the Ms. Foundation received a total On August 13, 2019 we hosted our sixth annual of $75,000 from sales proceeds. Bargain-hunting Cocktails and Conversation gathering on Martha’s Barneys customers, all new to Ms., attended the Vineyard. Approximately 125 guests attended the three events. popular event to hear President and CEO Teresa C. Younger in conversation with Jessica González- Annual Holiday Open House Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health about the battle On December 12, 2019, close to a 100 people to preserve reproductive freedom. We collaborated attended the Ms. Foundation’s annual holiday party with Cesta Collective, a female-owned and operated at our office in Brooklyn, joining in community and handbag business, which donated 20% of their celebrating our collective power! Grantee partners, proceeds from their pop-up store that evening to community friends, donors, board members, and the Ms. Foundation for Women. staff marked the spirit of the festive season at the gathering. Barneys Shopping Extravaganza Rose Bowl In October, the Ms. Foundation partnered with luxury retailer Barney’s— thanks to the In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the stewardship of Board member Cathie Hartnett and passage of the 19th Amendment, President and CEO the generosity of CEO and President of Barneys Teresa C. Younger participated in the Rose Bowl Daniella Vitale— for a shopping and fundraising Parade by riding in the Pasadena Celebrates 2020 extravaganza in San Francisco, Boston, and “Years of Hope, Years of Courage” float! The float
50 Our Time Together
marked the beginning of nationwide celebrations to Julia Shiplett had us doubled over in fits! Indeed, commemorate the constitutional right for women humor is a fine tonic and, sometimes, laughter the to vote—the result of a decades-long fight by best medicine for a healthy democracy! The event suffragists. was hosted by Gloria Steinem, Teresa C. Younger, and Carolines owner and longtime Ms. supporter, Carolines on Broadway: New Year. Same Sh*t. Caroline Hirsch. Michelle Buteau’s closing words brought tears as she thanked Gloria Steinem and Over 200 attendees—supporters, donors and new Ms. for carving a space for female comedians who friends—gathered for an evening of laughter and receive little support from the male-dominated good cheer at our annual Carolines Comedy Club industry. event on January 13, 2020. The theme was New Year. Same Sh*t. Comedians Kelly Bachman, Michelle Buteau, Anna Drezen, Judy Gold, Alise Morales, and
51 Ms. on the Move
Ms. on the Move
Each year, the Ms. Foundation for Women coordinated the visit with local foundation partners participates in a number of conferences and activists, including the Black Girls Women’s across the country in an active effort to listen Southern Funding Consortium and Ms. grantee partner, Every Black Girl. to and learn from grassroots organizations and to build relationships. In 2020, due to CHANGE Philanthropy/ Unity Summit COVID-19, many events from mid-March Several Ms. team members attended the biannual onwards were online. Here is a glimpse of conference hosted by affinity funder groups. some of our activities: Over 800 philanthropy professionals and trustees explored strategies to advance philanthropic equity by shifting energy towards racial equity, along Grantmakers for Girls of Color Convening in New with intersectional investment in community- Orleans led solutions and commitments to leverage our collective power to increase equity and One of the last events we attended in 2020, justice for all. Teresa C. Younger participated in Grantmakers for Girls of Color Convening, brought a panel for CEO’s titled: Challenges Inside and together more than 150 peer funders, activists, and Out:Transitioning and Integrating Racial Equity in youth organizers in New Orleans, in late February, Your Foundation. to explore and strategize about philanthropy’s role in resourcing movements to create a new world of opportunities for girls of color. Thriving Women Funder’s Briefing In October 2019, we attended the Thriving Women Regional Landscaping Scan Funder’s Briefing, a program of the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples which In alignment with our strategy to build relationships provides grants and resources to projects and with funders, leaders, and communities in the organizations that nurture healthy, thriving Native South, and to inform our Southern grantmaking communities and reclaim a world without violence call, our program team members took a learning against Native women and children. tour and road trip to Louisiana, South Carolina, and Virginia in late February to early March. A visit to Alabama was postponed due to the pandemic. We
52 Ms. on the Move
Global Girls Fund Project Philanthropy Forward Fellow 2019-2020 Also, in October— we attended the second President & CEO Teresa C. Younger was selected as convening of the Global Girls Fund Project hosted a Philanthropy Forward Fellow by the Neighborhood by the NoVo Foundation. Over the course of four Funders Group and the Aspen Institute Forum for days, we engaged in learning and reflection and Common Solutions. As a Philanthropy Forward connected with Girls Fund partners. A highlight of Fellow, Teresa is developing deeper relationships the event included an art and education installation with 19 other philanthropic leaders across the by seven feminist curators who had each collected country, including Arca Foundation, Akanodi life histories focused on early resistance by girls, Foundation, Amalgamated Bank Foundation, gender nonconforming individuals, and women. The Simmons Foundation, Surdna, and Youth Engagement Fund.
Women’s Funding Network Funders for Reproductive Equity Annual In September, before an audience of 200 individuals, Conference President & CEO Teresa C. Younger led a panel on funding girls of color at the Women’s Funding Ms. attended the Funders for Reproductive Equity Network. Panelists included Tynesha McHarris, Annual Conference in the fall. Highlights included a Program Officer for the Advancing Adolescent Girls’ panel with Vanessa Daniels from the Groundswell Initiative at NoVo Foundation, and Luleta Mola, Fund about the upcoming election and a briefing Vice President of Community Impact at Women’s by Kris Hayashi from the Transgender Law Center Foundation of Minnesota. on the important linkages between reproductive justice and transgender rights issues.
53 Feminist Block Party
Feminist Block Party #RoarForWomen
In a year that upended our best laid plans, the Pabitra Khati Benjamin, Executive Director of adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” Adhikaar, was recognized as a 2020 Women of never rang truer! The Ms. Foundation for Women’s Vision honoree for her bold advocacy and organizing annual Gloria Awards: Salute to Women of Vision work and the extensive services she facilitates metamorphosed into our inaugural Feminist Block for Nepali-speaking, low-income workers, mainly Party—a virtual benefit gathering of 2000 feminists women, in informal industries such as the nail salon and friends who joined in solidarity from around the business, whose voices have historically been left world to #RoarforWomen! out of movement discourse. Jessica González-Rojas, former Executive Director of the National Latina “Tonight is a reminder that even during these Institute for Reproductive Justice, “leads a fight for historically dark times, each and every one of justice with love.” Jessica was recognized as a 2020 us is not isolated, we are connected. We are Women of Vision honoree for her transformative connected by our hearts, our minds, by what we advocacy and organizing work with the Latina/x care about,” announced Co-Founding Mother of community in the areas of reproductive health and the Ms. Foundation, Gloria Steinem, in opening justice, human and immigration rights, and the fight remarks delivered from her home. A spark of hope to uphold the dignity, rights, and freedom of her in the midst of a bleak time, the Feminist Block community. Party reminded us of our collective strength and highlighted the courage and generosity of the President Emerita of the Ms. Foundation for Women thousands of women on the frontlines—postal Marie C. Wilson presented the eponymous Marie C. and grocery store workers, nurses, doctors, and Wilson Emerging Leader Award to Mónica Ramírez, community organizers—serving their cities. President for Justice for Migrant Women and the Gender Justice Campaigns Director for the National The virtual fundraising event was interwoven with Domestic Workers Alliance, for her innovative musical performances, uplifting words by feminist leadership, activism, and advocacy for farmworkers luminaries, and inspiring images and vignettes that and migrant women workers who face sexual spotlighted the incredible work of the four 2020 harassment, wage theft, violence, and hazardous Gloria Award honorees who have had a powerful working conditions. Mónica created the first legal impact on their communities. The tireless efforts project in the United States specifically focused on of our Women of Vision honorees to secure access addressing gender discrimination against women to resources and assistance for their communities farmworkers. She has been credited with sparking during the pandemic made a critical difference the launch of Time’s Up when she penned the in the lives of women and girls of color and their “Dear Sisters” letter to women in the entertainment families. industry that was published in TIME magazine in 2017.
54 Feminist Block Party
55 Feminist Block Party
Indigenous youth leader and environmental activist by poet Staceyann Chin. The benefit concluded with Tokata Iron Eyes was honored with the 2020 Free to a virtual dance party hosted by deejays Madame Be/ Peggy Charren Award for her inspiring activism, Gandhi and DJ Spinderella. presented by Marlo Thomas, Co-Founding Mother of the Ms. Foundation and the Free to Be President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Foundation. A member of the Standing Rock Sioux Women Teresa C. Younger said, “Tonight is about Tribe, Tokata Iron Eyes was 12 years old in 2016 more than just the women participating and the when she created a video summoning attention women who are being honored. This is evening is to the hazards of the Dakota Access Pipeline about each of us. It is about supporting the work of which endangered the land and the lives of tens of all the incredible women, so they have the resources thousands of Sioux Tribe members. “We’re trying to they need to get the work done on the ground. create this new world for ourselves where we feel Together we can make the world a better place.” safe enough to create dreams again,” Takota states *** in the video. The “Rezpect Our Water” campaign went viral and drew thousands of environmentalists Kudos to the Feminist Block Party production team: across the world to join the battle. Angélique Roché, producer and director; Cliff Parker, editor; Andrea Piño, illustrator and graphic designer; The Feminist Block Party featured stirring DBC, technical lead. performances by music artists Toshi Reagon, Aubrey Sellers, and the band BETTY, as well as a rousing spoken word piece, “Feminist or Womanist,”
For over 30 years the annual Gloria Awards have been a time of connection and community. I am thrilled to join tonight’s Feminist Block Party to sing and dance and to affirm the unshakeable truth that joy is an act of resistance, even in a time of crisis. Elizabeth Warren Senator, United States
56 Feminist Block Party
57 Our Collective Power
Thank You to Our Supporters
$100,000+
Anonymous (1) Gucci - Chime for Change Lucia Woods Lindley Quinn Delaney & Wayne Jordan W.K. Kellog Foundation NoVo Foundation Ford Foundation Suzanne L. Lerner Starry Night Fund Groundswell Catalyst Fund
$50,000 - $99,999
Anonymous (2) Susan Dickler & Sig Van Raan Janet Prindle Seidler Foundation Barneys New York Foundation Dobkin Family Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999
Anonymous (1) Morgan Stanley Thanksgiving Fund of the American General Service Foundation Prospect Hill Foundation Endowment Foundation HLH Family Foundation Betty Regard Catherine A. Yelverton & Marcy Syms, Sy Syms Foundation Laura T. Traphagen
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous (3) Rachel Knight Margaret H. Newell The Isabel Allende Foundation Yin Ling Leung & Shaibal Roy Nancy Nordhoff & Lynn Hays Freya & Richard Block Lord Abbett & Co. LLC Catherine Oppenheimer Elizabeth Bremner & Karen Crow Margaret & William Lynch Catherine Raphael Comcast NBC Universal The Namaste Foundation Jenna Skinner Scanlan & The Nathan Cummings Foundation Michelle Mercer & Bruce Golden Wilson S. Scanlan Donna Deitch Nancy Meyer & Marc Weiss, Steele Family Foundation Abigail E. Disney Summer Fund II Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts The Harnisch Foundation Mohegan Sun Gail Wasserman & Ilene Miklos Seth A. & Beth S. Klarman New York Life Insurance Company White & Case LLP Susan M. Wolford & Delores M. Komar
58 Our Collective Power
$5,000 - $9,999
Don Chen Alicia B. Lara & Anne Owen-Lara Brette Popper & Paul Spraos Jane S. Comer Patricia Y. Martin Lynda & Stewart Resnick Mary Backlund & Ginny Corsi Eleanor Bingham Miller Catherine Samuels & Jeremy Embrey Family Foundation Planned Parenthood Federation of Henderson Katie Grover & Mike Campbell America & Action Fund Sheri Sandler Susan J. Hessel Patricia J. Simpson Verna L. Williams & David Singleton $1,000 - $4,999
Anonymous (2) Sally Rudicel & Rosemarie J. Jill Saluck Susan Adelman & Claudio Llanos Gschwendtner Patricia A. Samuel Yetide Badaki Arlene Hahn Elizabeth Schraft Suzanne B. Biegel Cathie B. Hartnett Rinku Sen Stephanie K. Blackwood Ananya Hixon Jana Shea & Seaview Productions Ashley & Elliott Blanchard Elaine Kant Janet Singer Barbara M. Blount Carolyn Tyirin Kirk Kathleen Stephansen & Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D. Kate Klein Fund at the Santa Fe Andrew D. Racine Jayne L. & Jenna Bussman-Wise Community Foundation The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation Patricia T. Carbine Susan D. & Charles Knight Charlotte & John Suhler Cesta Collective Lucas Levin Dorothy Q. Thomas Jeannie H. Diefenderfer Elsa Limbach Phil Donahue & Marlo Thomas Gale Epstein Catherine Mulligan Sonali Virendra D’Brickashaw Ferguson Carol T. Pencke Dr. Rachael Wells Barbara & Douglas Fitts Nickerson Susan Penick Marie C. Wilson & Nancy Lee Jean Fletcher Suzanne Pierce-Moore Women & Girls Foundation of SW Jocelyn C. Frye Letty Cottin Pogrebin & Bert Pogrebin Pennsylvania Tina Gandhi, Nature’s Edge Lynn Povich Teresa C. Younger Zadelle Greenblatt Erin K. Rossitto & Chad P. Labonte The Jacquelyn & Gregory Zehner Pam Grissom Patricia Marie Russo & John Eino Karr Foundation Mary Beth Salerno & Denise Kleis
This list includes donors who gave during the period July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy.
59 Our Collective Power
Asian Women Giving Circle $1000+
Anonymous (1) Brigette Noh Hyatt Bass Clare C. O’Brien Lily Chang Melinda D. Sarafa Lisa C. Chen Shalini Somayaji Angela H. Cheng Raquel Sumulong Aditi Davray Ernandine Sutarjadi Helen H. Koh Tani H. Takagi Patricia J. Kozu Vivian Tseng Hali Lee & Peter Von Ziegesar Mannar Wong Victoria Niu Joyce Lin-Yueh Yu & Edward Lai
We believe that we are greater together. To reach a feminist future, we all have to be there.
Teresa C. Younger President and CEO
60 Our Collective Power
Gloria’s Future Fund
With the introduction of a new five-year strategic plan in 2018, the Ms. Foundation announced that our next steps toward the protection of women and girls would be bold, unapologetic, innovative, and inclusive and that our work would center women and girls of color.
With this shift in mind, we also decided to refresh and rethink the Ms. Foundation’s planned giving society, so that the new focus would be apparent. Renamed Gloria’s Legacy Circle for Gender & Racial Equity, this membership group recognizes donors who invest in the Ms. Foundation Endowment by making a planned gift to the Foundation in their will or revocable living trust or by naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of their IRA, qualified pension plan, Donor Advised Fund, life insurance, brokerage fund, or savings account. If you are interested in making a gift or learning about Gloria’s Legacy Circle, please email [email protected] or call 212.709.4444.
Gloria’s Legacy Circle for Gender and Racial Equity
Anonymous (2) Sheila Gershen Margaret & William Lynch Mary Backlund Debra Green Patricia Y. Martin Kimberly A. Baer Alice Greenhouse Michele M. Mattei Lisabeth G. Boyce Kathryn Gregorio Ruthi Muffler Elizabeth Bremner & Karen Crow Katie Grover & Mike Campbell Monica L. Nelson Susan Clark Leigh Hallingby Anika Rahman Michelle M. Clarkin Mary C. Helf Catherine Raphael Sheila Collins Sharon E. Howe Bernadine Rice Bernice Colman Sherry Jubilo Ene Riisna Jane S. Comer Julie F. Kay Trudi S. Riley Ginny Corsi Carol F. King Francine V. Rivkin Regina Cowles Denise Kleis Mary Rose Robbin Crabtree Marjorie F. Knowles Mary Sue Rose Susan Dickler & Sig Van Raan Ellen L. Konrad Lynne Rosenthal, Leo S. Jodie Evans Diane Lebow Guthman Fund Valerie Ina Fennell Suzanne L. Lerner Mary Beth Salerno Marjorie Fine Monica Levin Lindsay J. Schutz Rebecca Flint Amy C. Liss Ellen A. Schwartz Rhona Frank Lora Lonsberry June A. Siebert Jodell S. Gabriel Eleanor Y. Lord Claire A. Siesfeld Tracy D. Gary Ruthann Lorentzen Jane A. Silverman
61 Our Collective Power
Gloria’s Legacy Circle for Gender and Racial Equity Gloria Steinem Monica Wehrle & Harriet Miller Cora R. Wortman Lisa E. Stone Susan M. Wolford Teresa C. Younger Nancy L. Toder
Estate Gifts
Laila Abou-Saif Elthea A. Gill Leslie Prince Beverly Balch Allinsmith Dorothy Jane Haegele Sylvia Geraldine Radyx Alice A. Atchison Nancy L. Hamilton Ingrid Reti Suzanne Barnett Rosetta W. Harris Constance M. Rogier Alfred J. Berger William M. Hawkins Marion Sawyer Katherine Brownlie Linda J. Henry Jane Sherwin Schwartz Helen Bill Casey Marion Holmes Barbara Sherman Edith Coulter Margaret E. Jacobs Jean L. Sherman Shirley Cucchi Dolly L. Maass Vera Skubic Christine J. Drennan Victoria J. Mastrobuono Jessie Sinclair Smith Manfred W. Ehrich Bambi McDonald Carolyn Sonfield Freddy Sirott Engelman Cynthia McLachlan Carolyn Gunn Strickler Dr. Idella M. Evans Helen Mintz Anne Thaler Barbara K. Ferrin Elli Nilsen Edith VanHorn Elaine Fine Louise Rosenfield Noun
62 Our Collective Power
Statement of Activities
For the years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 Combined
PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE 2020 2019
Contributions (Including Grants) $2,334,699 $9,710 ,738 Special Events (Net Of Expenses) $560,033 $668,384 Net Investment Income $443,401 $461,283 Net Realized (Loss) Gain On Investment Transactions $406,457 $3,226,692 Other Income $132,209 $48,152 Total Public Support And Revenue $3,876,799 $14,115,249
OPERATING EXPENSES 2020 2019 Program Services Grants and Capacity Building $5,151,320 $4,731,235 Advocacy and Policy $62,540 $34,357 Public Education $808,739 $739,098 Total Program Services $6,022,599 $5,504,690
Supporting Services General and Administration $1,322,937 $1,235,442 Fundraising $1,197,268 $1,140,259 Total Supporting Services $2,520,205 $2,375,701 Total Operating Expenses $8,542,205 $7,880,391 Total Change In Net Assets (Including Unrealized Loss On Investment) $1,534,387 $3,384,997
COMPOSITION OF ASSETS 2020 2019
Unrestricted Net Assets $2,907,114 $2,411,688 Temporarily Restricted Net Assets $17,915,427 $19,949,127 Permanently Restricted Net Assets $24,704,845 $24,583,958 Total Net Assets $45,410,386 $46,944,773
63 Statement of Activities
Net Investment Income /Other Income 15%
Net Realized (Loss) Gain 11% on Investment Sources of Revenue
14% Special Events
60%
Contributions and Grants
64 Statement of Activities
Public Education 13%
2% Advocacy and Policy Program Services
85%
Grants and Capacity Building
Since 2016 we have strived to maximize the impact of our endowment by aligning 100% of its assets in support of our mission to build women’s collective power in the United States to advance equity and justice for all. As of June 30, 2020, the endowment was valued at approximately $39.6 million and incorporates a gender lens focus across all asset classes.
65