Ms. Foundation for Women

Ms. Foundation for Women
Lynn Gilbert · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Ms. Foundation for Women
Formation	1972
Founders	Gloria Steinem; Letty Cottin Pogrebin; Patricia Carbine
Type	Nonprofit foundation
Headquarters	New York City, New York
Focus	Women's rights; feminist organizing; gender equity

Ms. Foundation for Women is a U.S.-based philanthropic organization established in 1972 to support feminist activism, community organizing, and leadership development for women and girls. Founded in the wake of second-wave feminism, the foundation has funded grassroots initiatives, policy advocacy, and cultural interventions across civic movements, labor, racial justice, and reproductive rights. Over decades the foundation has intersected with prominent figures, nonprofits, and campaigns that shaped public debate on gender equality, social policy, and electoral participation.

History

The foundation was formed during a period of intense organizing that included events like the Roe v. Wade decision and movements such as the Women’s Liberation Movement, with founders engaged alongside activists associated with National Organization for Women, Ms. (magazine), and networks linked to Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and Bella Abzug. Early strategy combined philanthropy with direct-action support reminiscent of tactics used by groups like National Black Feminist Organization, SisterSong, and NOW Legislative Education Fund. In the 1970s and 1980s the foundation partnered with community groups in cities such as New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, aligning efforts with campaigns around laws like the Equal Rights Amendment and policies shaped during the administrations of Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter. During the 1990s and 2000s it collaborated with organizations including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, American Civil Liberties Union, and coalitions responding to events such as the 1992 United States presidential election and the rise of advocacy around the Violence Against Women Act. More recent decades have seen partnerships with groups like Black Lives Matter, Time’s Up, March for Our Lives, and community funds active during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mission and Programs

The foundation’s mission centers on building women’s leadership and supporting intersectional movements across racial, economic, and gender justice spheres, working alongside organizations like Equal Rights Center, National Women’s Law Center, Center for Reproductive Rights, Human Rights Campaign, and AARP-linked initiatives. Programmatically, it has run leadership institutes reminiscent of training by Human Rights Watch and capacity-building efforts akin to those of The Rockefeller Foundation or Ford Foundation but focused on feminist priorities. Initiatives have included community grants, technical assistance, and public education campaigns that engaged cultural platforms such as The New York Times, PBS, NPR, and arts partners including Kennedy Center and Sundance Film Festival to amplify storytelling about gender-based violence, caregiving, and economic security. The foundation also supported voter engagement drives similar to efforts by Rock the Vote, civic forums like those hosted by League of Women Voters, and research collaborations with academic institutions including Columbia University, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley.

Funding and Grants

Funding strategies combined endowment income, individual donors, and institutional partnerships with philanthropies comparable to Open Society Foundations, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and corporate grant programs linked to Ford Motor Company and Bank of America philanthropic arms. The foundation distributed grants to grassroots groups such as community-based organizations in neighborhoods like Harlem, Bronx, South Los Angeles, and Bronx-adjacent coalitions working on domestic violence, labor rights, and immigrant women’s services, often in coordination with funders like Tides Foundation and donor-advised funds at Community Foundation-type entities. Grantmaking criteria emphasized intersectionality and capacity-building, awarding multi-year support to groups engaged in organizing, policy advocacy, and public education, alongside fiscal sponsorships for emergent projects tied to campaigns like Take Back the Night and coalition responses to legislative battles over reproductive health.

Leadership and Governance

Board composition and executive leadership reflected a mix of feminist organizers, corporate board alumni, academic leaders, and legal advocates drawn from networks including American Bar Association, NAACP, Soros network, and alumni of universities like Barnard College and Smith College. Executive directors and presidents have engaged with major public figures and policymakers from administrations including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and worked with elected leaders such as representatives from Congress and state legislatures to advance funding priorities. Governance practices involved advisory councils, program committees, and partnerships with regional funders; accountability measures aligned with nonprofit standards employed by organizations like GuideStar and regulatory filings with Internal Revenue Service.

Advocacy and Campaigns

The foundation has convened coalitions and funded advocacy similar to campaigns run by ACLU, Human Rights Campaign, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), focusing on voting rights, reproductive justice, workplace equity, and anti-violence efforts. Campaigns have intersected with electoral mobilization during midterm and presidential cycles, collaborating with groups like Emily’s List and Sister District Project to increase women’s representation. Public-facing campaigns employed strategic communications with media partners such as CNN, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, and cultural advocacy through partnerships with artists and filmmakers connected to National Endowment for the Arts programming.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters cite measurable outcomes in strengthened grassroots capacity, increased civic participation among women and girls, and policy wins in areas like paid family leave and anti-violence statutes, with grantee success stories often documented alongside research by Urban Institute and Pew Research Center. Critics have questioned grantmaking priorities, transparency, and the balance between national initiatives and local grassroots autonomy, echoing critiques leveled at philanthropic models used by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation. Debates also emerged over alliances with corporate donors and potential mission drift during periods of rapid organizational growth, paralleling controversies involving major nonprofits such as Red Cross and United Way. Ongoing assessment of the foundation’s legacy involves evaluation by independent auditors and academic studies from institutions like Georgetown University and New York University.

Category:Women's organizations in the United States