Michigan Women’s Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that is committed to creating positive change for Michigan’s women and girls. As a statewide foundation, MWF seeks to transform Michigan to achieve equality and empowerment for its women and girls. We do this by raising funds to support and collaborate with individuals and organizations to address and eliminate barriers to economic and social equality for Michigan women and girls. In over 25 years, we have awarded more than $3.2 million to more than 500 programs and organizations working to advance equality, remove barriers and improve lives. We value community, results, accountability and above all – equity.
Vision
Transform Michigan to Achieve Equality and Empowerment for Women and Girls
Mission
Eliminate Barriers to Economic and Social Equality for Michigan Women and Girls
Values:
Equity: Fair and impartial treatment of all
Community: Working together to improve the lives of women and girls
Results: Making impact to last for all time
Accountability: Live up to the trust stakeholders have placed in us
View our Strategic Plan (pdf)
In 1986, Mary Jo Pulte gathered a group of prominent Michigan women to discuss philanthropy and the serious inequities in charitable giving to women’s programs. At this time, only 3% of philanthropic dollars were supporting programs specifically for women and girls in the United States. Women were underrepresented in philanthropy, uneducated in financial matters and disinclined to exercise control over assets. The 30 women brought together by Mary Jo Pulte founded the Michigan Women’s Foundation, the only public, statewide foundation specifically devoted to funding the economic self-sufficiency and personal well-being of women and girls.
MWF’s founding mothers are Julia Darlow, Geri Larkin, Lana Pollack, Patricia Curran, Marjorie Peebles-Meyers (Deceased), Sharon George, Mildred Jeffrey (Deceased), Sarah Power (Deceased), Maureen Reilly, Helen Milliken, Tessie Sharp and Glenda Greenwald. The Foundation was launched with a gift of approximately $64,000.
To learn more about MWF’s initatives, please click here.
