End of a 12-Year Leadership Chapter

Teresa Younger, the outgoing CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, is preparing to step down in June after more than a decade leading the organization. The foundation established its operational methods during her time as executive director to respond to both the #MeToo movement and the substantial United States abortion rights developments which occurred during her leadership period.

Younger believes that feminist progress will ultimately succeed even though political and gender equality advancement faces present-day obstacles.

Achievements During Her Tenure

Under Younger’s leadership, the foundation increased its financial support for grassroots organizations while generating more than $100 million in endowment funds. The organization increased its financial support for community organizations throughout the southern and midwestern regions of the United States.

Younger dedicated her leadership to increasing funding for programs that assist women and girls of color. Younger stated that the foundation should prioritize its mission goals by making these communities its primary focus instead of treating them as secondary elements.

Addressing Funding Gaps

The foundation published its report "Pocket Change: How Women and Girls of Color Do More with Less" in 2020. The study showed that these communities received extremely restricted funding resources.

The report showed that foundations distributed approximately $356 million to support women and girls of color during 2017 which accounted for less than 0.05% of total foundation funding in 2018. The findings required philanthropic organizations to provide more flexible financial support that would last for extended periods.

Historic Support for the Foundation

The organization received its most significant funding increase with the 2023 donation from philanthropist Lucia Woods Lindley who established a $50 million endowment for their foundation which became their largest contribution to date. The foundation received a donation that amounted to approximately 50 percent of its total $106 million endowment campaign.

The Ms. Foundation has existed as a feminist organization since its inception. Established through the efforts of activists like Gloria Steinem who founded the organization in the 1970s The organization supports groups that work to achieve economic justice and reproductive rights and protection of women and girls.

Looking Ahead

Younger wants her successor to continue the work she accomplished during her time at the organization. She will step down from her position, but she will continue her work to promote equal rights. Younger expressed her satisfaction about her time at the foundation because she helped create a strong institution that empowers women while supporting grassroots movements throughout the United States.