The Ms. Foundation for Women was the first national women’s fund, launched in the 1970s. Today, more than 100 women’s funds operate throughout the US and in other countries around the world. Their shared purpose: to improve the lives of women and girls.

What do they accomplish? A lot.

Women’s funds make grants.
Their endowments and fundraising add many millions of dollars
each year to the pool of grant money available for the needs of
women and girls.

Women’s funds push for political change.
Thanks to the support of women’s funds, policymakers in virtually every state (Rhode Island in 2002) have fresh, important data on the status of
their female citizens. Health. Earnings. Vulnerability to violence.

Women’s funds develop amazing new solutions.
Women’s funds innovate. They introduce promising and original ideas.
Like Women on Board (Atlanta), which increases the number of women serving on boards and commissions. Like the Little Women’s Fund (Omaha, Milwaukee, and others) which teaches girls the lifelong good habit of philanthropy.

Women’s funds build a community of shared purpose.
They invite the many groups working on women’s and girl’s issues
to join together, share opinions, collaborate.

Women’s funds celebrate women.
They inspire a positive, hopeful view of women and girls. They
provoke a desire to safeguard the well-being and huge potential
of women and girls.