Our Year of Impact 2025

Our Year of Impact

2025

Letter from the CEO

In a year defined by upheaval, Women Moving Millions demonstrated what it means to meet crisis with collective strength, shared purpose, and steadfast commitment. Sustained threats to our democracy, the continued erosion of women’s rights, and rising autocracy have reshaped the realities of millions of women and girls. In moments like these, many retreat; our community did the opposite.

Members stepped forward with clarity, courage, and the same moral imagination that has driven every major advancement in women’s history. They showed, time and again, that challenge is not where our story ends—it is where our resolve begins.

This report tells that story. Across our flagship Philanthropic Leadership Programs, Annual Member Day and Summit, and more than 75 programs and convenings, members used WMM as a place to make sense of a shifting landscape, deepen their knowledge, and translate insight into bold action. They mobilized resources for democracy protection, women’s health and rights, media, LGBTQ rights, and more—pairing long-term movement building with rapid response to urgent needs. Through it all, one constant remained: the belief that investing in women is the most strategic, exponential, and necessary action we can take to realize a world where everyone has the agency, autonomy, and freedom to thrive.

2025 was also a year of bold new initiatives. We launched the Women in Art Catalyst Matching Fund, the first major initiative in our five-year, $1 billion campaign to supercharge women’s leadership and advance gender equality by 2030—igniting $20 million for women artists working at the intersection of gender equality and democracy. We joined the Fund Our Futures campaign with a commitment to mobilize $10 million in new funding for global LGBTQ movements, and we advanced our climate responsibility

through our first emissions audit and a path toward carbon neutrality. We grew our media presence—from TIME100 Philanthropy to the Financial Times, Forbes, and Stanford Social Innovation Review —helping ensure that women philanthropists’ voices and leadership shaped the public conversation when it mattered most.

Every action we have taken this year reflects a shared acknowledgement that progress is driven not by each of us alone, but by the power and perseverance of community. Through collective, bold commitments, we have shown how strategic investment can shift systems, strengthen movements, and spark lasting change. And we’ve demonstrated our readiness for what comes next.

As you read the pages that follow, I hope you see what I see: a community that was not only prepared for this moment but a community that this moment requires. The work ahead is urgent, but it is also filled with possibility. With renewed hope and unwavering determination, we move into the next year knowing the power we hold—and ready to create the future we imagine together.

Sarah Haacke Byrd Chief Executive Officer

Every action we have taken this year reflects a shared acknowledgement that progress is driven not by each of us alone, but by the power and perseverance of community.

— SARAH HAACKE BYRD, WMM CEO

Our Impact by the Numbers

2025 was a year of meaningful growth and collective impact for Women Moving Millions. Through new initiatives, collaborations, and shared learning, members advanced the movement for gender equality in powerful ways. Supported by a vibrant, connected member community and enriching programs, members gave more, connected more, and did more together than ever before.

Here’s a look at what we accomplished this year—by the numbers:

38 $58M 75

New members Secured from new member commitments Programs and Convenings

Women Moving Millions members gave $173 million to causes benefiting women and girls in 2024:

increased the size of their gifts to support gender equality

contributed to both global and local initiatives

collaborated with at least one other member

completed their $1 million commitment as of 2024

91% gave unrestricted dollars for some or most of their giving

The generous and open nature of WMM members makes me feel part of a larger community of women who want to have an impact in the world.

— ANDREA ARRIA-DEVOE, WMM MEMBER

Responding in a Year of Upheaval

In a year defined by upheaval—marked by shrinking civic space, widening polarization, and unprecedented attacks on gender equality—our community showed what it means to rise to the moment.

While this environment tested every organization committed to advancing gender equality, it also affirmed the strength of what we had intentionally built together. Because of years of investment in community, trust, and shared learning, along with the launch of a new strategic plan, WMM was prepared to respond and ready to lead.

With speed and scale, we moved quickly to provide member programming focused on understanding the impact of domestic and global government actions on our movement. We widened our tent, bringing in experts to talk about mounting legal responses to antidemocratic forces, political coalition building, international funding, women’s health, and more.

A mid-year rapid response member survey confirmed a universal shared sense of urgency: members were deeply concerned about the pressure on grantees, including shrinking budgets, staff reductions, threats to DEI work, and mounting security risks.

In the face of such sweeping disruption, members stepped up. Seventy-two percent recalibrated their giving strategies in response to new policies and executive orders by rapidly deploying resources, filling gaps, and doubling down to bolster grantees most affected by the moment. Members extended support beyond grant dollars, offering self-care resources, HR guidance, and legal assistance, and even making extraordinary commitments like purchasing buildings for nonprofits that had lost federal funding. This was philanthropy grounded in trust, partnership, and clarity—hallmarks of women’s leadership.

Even as other funders pulled back, WMM members leaned in. More than half planned to increase their giving, and none planned to decrease it, signaling a shared belief that this moment demands accelerated commitment and bold action. As one member emphasized, this work was about “aligning powerful women to make a difference.”

Members also embraced risk and innovation, with two-thirds considering causes they had not funded before. From supporting LGBTQ+ rights and local BIPOC-led work to legal defense, democracy protection, media, and local food systems, members sought to pair long-term solutions with responses to urgent needs.

Throughout this complex and uncertain moment, members turned to WMM as a vital space for connection, moral support, and strategic thinking.

shared that collaborations had resulted in them giving in new or different ways reported that their collaborations have led them to give more boldly than they would have on their own agree that working with their WMM peers has had a positive impact on their philanthropic practice say that collaborations expanded their relationships with other members report that collaborations strengthened their sense of belonging to the gender equality movement

My giving to women and girls has grown exponentially. It was a combination of community and education and mentorship that enabled it to happen.

— HOLLY FOGLE, WMM BOARD MEMBER

They expressed a desire for more education, deeper peer relationships, and collaborative funding opportunities, underscoring that these challenges are too great for any one philanthropist to tackle alone. As one member noted, this moment demanded “creating spaces for people to connect and share from the heart about how all this is impacting us and support one another in discerning what is each of ours to do.”

We responded with robust programming that helped members navigate rapid shifts while staying anchored in their commitment to gender equality. Through peer-to-peer learning opportunities, our “Meeting the Moment with Urgency and Purpose” series, the Annual Summit, and more, we offered real-time insight from civic and philanthropic leaders on how organizations have been adapting to an increasingly hostile anti-rights environment and where philanthropic support was needed most. These conversations gave members sector-specific context, clarity on emerging threats, and grounded guidance for decision-making.

What emerged was a portrait of a community practicing bold, adaptive philanthropy—leading together, taking risks together, and demonstrating that the power of collective women’s leadership is equal to the urgency of this moment.

Catalyzing Community and Collaboration

The story of WMM is a story of becoming. Our leadership has been built through community, knowledge, peer networks, and the confidence that emerges as members learn and act together.

Everything we have invested in over the years—every program, every cohort, every connection—has prepared us for this moment, shaping a journey rooted in shared sensemaking, mutual mentoring, and pathways for contribution that extend far beyond financial resources. Along the way, members have tested ideas, reflected with peers, and stepped into a deeper understanding of what it means to show up authentically. That is the essence of becoming, and how we’ve met this moment with clarity and strength.

Flagship Programs

This year, our journey of becoming has manifested in our flagship programs. In the layered learning of our signature Philanthropic Leadership Program (PLP), members explored their values and sharpened their leadership practice. At

our Annual Member Day and Summit, inspiration, strategy, and community converged as members and partners connected, learned and planted the seeds for future collaboration. Through ecosystem events, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, the UN General Assembly, Climate Week, SXSW, and the Skoll World Forum, members connected with movement leaders, experts, and other funders to build shared context, and better understand emerging threats and opportunities for individual and collective action.

Responsive Learning

We curated responsive programming with more than 75 programs and convenings—a record number— around the country and online. We launched international giving and women’s health member groups to hear from leaders such as Michelle Nunn of CARE on the global humanitarian crisis impacting women and girls.

Through our “Meeting the Moment with Urgency and Purpose” series, we heard from Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward on legal strategies for defending democratic institutions, and Laila Alodaat of Prospera International Network of Women’s Funds and Sarah Hendriks of UN Women on the current global funding crisis facing frontline women’s rights organizations.

New Initiatives

We launched a new outreach initiative for LGBTQ+ women-identifying philanthropists, expanded our programming for impact investors, curated family dynamics breakfasts, and convened our growing NextGen community. We also continued our inspiring book club series featuring authors such as Dr. Loretta Ross on transforming conflict into connection and Jen Risher on her memoir exploring the complexities of wealth and its impact on identity and relationships.

Bespoke Opportunities

WMM seeded new opportunities, like our Art Catalyst Matching Fund launched at the end of the year, which will mobilize $20 million for women artists working at the intersection of gender equality and democracy.

Members came together to pool resources for women political candidates, guaranteed income initiatives, documentary film, women’s health research, venture funds, and more. They responded to urgent crises unfolding in real time—from rising food insecurity to efforts to ban child marriage. Whether supporting a women-led birth control delivery service or a groundbreaking research study on extreme pregnancy nausea, members gave boldly to causes introduced by peers, made possible by the trust long-built within this community and the deep relationships WMM has built with cross-sector partners.

Annual Member Day & Summit

At the 2025 Annual Member Day & Summit, under the banner Our Future is Collective, we were reminded of our collective power at this critical moment.

Bringing together nearly 300 attendees and speakers in Brooklyn, we explored the forces disrupting progress, examined evidence of scalable and lasting impact, identified breakthrough investment opportunities, and embraced a call to collective leadership. It was a Summit defined not by fear, but by determination and possibility.

On Member Day, 75 members came together to explore their leadership, vision for impact, and how to translate their values into action. Together, members challenged themselves to consider how they, collectively and individually, show up to propel this movement forward.

Nearly 80 speakers participated in the mainstage and breakout sessions, addressing the moment head on with candor and hope. From climate action and systems change to reproductive rights, economic inclusion, impact investing, and women’s leadership, our

interdisciplinary and intersectional panels and sessions covered the most pressing issues in gender equality today facilitated by leaders in their fields like Chelsea Clinton, Monique Couvson, Happy Mwende Kinyili, Shannon Watts, Emma Bloomberg, and Ambassadors Melanne Verveer and Geeta Rao Gupta.

We were honored to hear from Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, who received the WMM Catalyst Award, in conversation with Pat Mitchell, and Former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, who received the inaugural WMM Gender Equality Champion Award, in conversation with co-host of PBS Newshour Amna Nawaz.

Their speeches underscored the message that reverberated throughout Summit and echoes the very heart of WMM: Community is our greatest tool, and the greatest catalyst for change. Together, we are unstoppable.

Being in community and feeling solidarity when the backlash against women and girls has intensified, and strengthening the resolve to act boldly in this period of time was very powerful.

— S. MONA SINHA, FMR. WMM BOARD CHAIR

The Philanthropic Leadership Program

2025 marked the sixth year of the Philanthropic Leadership Program (PLP), WMM’s signature cohort experience designed to amplify the leadership and influence of women philanthropists committed to advancing gender equality.

This year, a remarkable group of members, the “Fearless Foxes”, gathered in the Hudson Valley for four immersive days of community building, facilitated learning, and deep reflection.

Participants considered the role and impact of women's philanthropy, the power of gender lens giving, and their own philanthropic identity. Together, they clarified their vision and ambitions, cultivated their philanthropic leadership, and deepened their understanding of power dynamics and systems change.

I will be thankful for taking that step for years to come because PLP is one of those transformative, catalytic, soberingly reflective experiences that reinvigorate and give you new perspectives.

— ELSA SODERBERG, WMM BOARD MEMBER

Through open conversation and deep contemplation, they embraced what it means to lead with authenticity and purpose. These transformational four days are just the beginning of what becomes a years-long intimate and supportive community, which WMM helps facilitate by holding monthly, virtual gatherings for each alumni cohort where past participants can reconnect, share their work, and celebrate their progress. Past cohorts continue to cite their PLP sisters as some of their closest allies and collaborators, offering support, guidance, and a sense of belonging in this community within a community.

This year, WMM expanded the suite of offerings under this program, including the introduction of a new alumni program, The PLP Mixer, and the Philanthropic Visioning Series, a year-long series designed to support members in setting clear, values-aligned goals for advancing their gender lens giving and investing through a reflective and strategic planning process.

We’ve multiplied impact by turbocharging each other’s initiatives.

— PATTI LEE-HOFFMANN, WMM BOARD MEMBER

Catalyzing Change Report 2025

Catalyzing Change 2025, released in October, is our second annual report on WMM members’ philanthropic giving. It captured how, even in a year of massive upheaval for women’s rights, our members deepened their commitment—advancing bold ideas, strengthening movements, and amplifying their collective impact across the gender equality ecosystem.

Estimated amount donated to gender equality causes by WMM members—a 10% increase from 2023

Median amount given to gender equality by WMM members in 2024 82% 75% 65%

Among the most striking results: member giving to women and girls had increased by 10% over the prior year, with 91% of members giving unrestricted dollars for some or most of their giving. The report reaffirmed the essence of what our unique community offers—greater connection, confidence, and opportunities for collaboration that de-risk giving and support members to lean into leadership, creating impact that reaches far beyond individual contributions and into the larger gender equality landscape.

These findings built on our inaugural report, Catalyzing Change: Powering the Movement through Community & Collaboration, which affirmed our theory of change and deepened our understanding of how WMM strengthens members’ personal growth, leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking.

Members who used their financial resources to advance gender equality in ways beyond charitable giving Members who donated to international causes

Members who completed their $1 million commitment as of 2024

Catalyzing Change revealed a community of women stepping forward with boldness— funding courageous ideas, backing movement leaders, challenging the status quo, and harnessing unprecedented economic power.

Quite simply, my journey as a philanthropist has radically changed because of my engagement with WMM. Before I joined, I would never have boldly owned the label “philanthropist”, remaining quietly behind the scenes instead...I now solidly give voice to my role as a philanthropist and activist with a focus on gender equity because I belong to WMM.

— KYLIE SCHUYLER, WMM MEMBER

Accelerating the Power of Philanthropy

WMM’s mission and work is to power the movement for gender equality. In addition to nurturing and growing our dynamic community, we seek to accelerate the power of philanthropy through bold commitments that demonstrate how strategic investment can shift systems and spark lasting change.

This fall, alongside our Annual Summit, we launched the groundbreaking $10 million Women Moving Millions Art Catalyst Matching Fund that will ignite $20 million for women artists. We strengthened global LGBTQ+ movements through a $10 million pledge as part of the Global Philanthropy Project's Fund Our Futures campaign. We advanced climate responsibility by completing our first emissions audit and moving toward carbon neutrality.

Our growing media presence ensured that the voices, leadership, and impact of women philanthropists shaped the public conversation when it mattered most.

Together, these efforts showcased the extraordinary power of the WMM network, and the potential of collective giving to accelerate progress, expand justice, and transform the future for women and girls everywhere.

Amplifying the Voices of Women Artists

The Women Moving Millions Art Catalyst Matching Fund--the first bold initiative in our $1 billion campaign to advance gender equity by 2030--will unlock $20 million for women artists working at the intersection of gender equality and democracy. It was made possible with a groundbreaking investment of $10 million from WMM Member Maja Kristin.

Investment in women and art through the first-ever WMM Art Catalyst Matching Fund

Part of our Women & Democracy Impact Initiative, this fund recognizes that art is a powerful catalyst for social change—a spark that ignites activism and opens the door to deeper cultural and political transformation. It affirms that culture is not peripheral to the fight for gender equality, but the beating heart of the movement with the power to meet the moment head on. By amplifying the voices of women artists, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, the fund seeks to advance equity, elevate women creatives, and shift narratives around gender, power, and democracy.

The vision of the Women Moving Millions Art Catalyst Matching Fund is to nurture an artistic ecosystem that uplifts women artists so they can thrive. This fund honors the power of art to build bridges, heal, inspire, and connect us across differences, offering hope and inspiration to communities and the world around us.

This fund is at the heart of WMM’s strategy to move from backlash to breakthrough, to reclaim narrative power and propel the movement for gender equity forward. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the power of collective action and offer this community a chance to act with vision, courage, and creativity.

— SARAH HAACKE BYRD, WMM CEO

Standing Strong with the LGBTQ+ Community

As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies intensified across the country and around the world, it became more urgent than ever to stand in solidarity with communities whose rights, safety, and dignity were under threat.

In response, WMM proudly joined the Global Philanthropy Project’s Fund Our Futures Campaign with a commitment to mobilize $10 million in new funding from members over the next three years to support global LGBTQ+ movements. Our pledge reflected both our belief in the power of community and our responsibility to show up with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Our investment also anchored a new initiative within WMM to intentionally engage LGBTQ+ women philanthropists and investors, inviting them into a growing global community united by a shared commitment to move capital with a gender lens. In a moment of rising threats and deepening polarization, we remained determined to create spaces for connection, leadership, and solidarity, and to back those commitments with action.

Women Moving Millions walks the talk for queer community. We know that when your strategy intentionally funds LGBTQ+ women-led organizations and intersectional programs, you get better outcomes for the most marginalized, you strengthen community resilience, and you multiply the social return on your grants. From LGBTQ+ women's dinner salons across the country, to queer-focused panels and dedicated space at the Summit, to our bold commitment to catalyze $10M for LGBTQ+ causes, I'm proud to be a part of Women Moving Millions as we work in community toward the future we are all fighting for.

— JEN RAININ, WMM BOARD MEMBER

Committing to Climate Action

Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time and it disproportionately impacts women and girls, particularly those in marginalized communities around the world.

That recognition drove us to undergo a rigorous emissions audit with our partners at Carbon Footprint to assess our environmental impact and take meaningful steps to offset our emissions. This milestone would not have been possible without the leadership and vision of WMM Board Member Judy McFarlane, whose steadfast commitment sparked and shaped this work from the beginning.

As Judy reminded us, “There is no planet B. There is only one planet we know, that we need to love and care for as if our lives depended on it."

While our operational footprint is modest, our responsibility to act is not. We will continue to contribute annually to offset our emissions, and more importantly, remain committed to reducing them wherever possible. It’s one of many steps we’re taking to align our operations with the world we want to help create.

Shaping the Narrative SPOTLIGHT

In a major moment of recognition, CEO Sarah Haacke Byrd was named to the inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list, honored as an innovator shaping the future of giving. Her presence on the red carpet at TIME’s gala was a powerful signal that gender-focused philanthropy is now recognized as a driving force for change.

Throughout the year, WMM cemented its presence on world stages, speaking and hosting convenings at Axios Giving Tuesday, SXSW, the Social Innovation Summit alongside the UN General Assembly, the Global Philanthropy Forum and the Skoll World Forum. Across these platforms, we ensured that women and girls were centered in global conversations, prompting more than one observer to remark, “WMM was everywhere!”

As the news cycle covered how nonprofits and foundations were responding to deep financial cuts, WMM’s voice led the conversation.

The threat to the civic fabric of this country requires more than an emergency response but coordination, coalition building and crosssector collaboration.

— SARAH HAACKE BYRD IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES

We were featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, highlighting bold member insights from our rapidresponse survey, and in the Financial Times, where we made clear that this moment demands bold, unified action—not retreat—as gender equity and democracy come under threat. Our perspective was also elevated in Forbes, Ms. Magazine, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Devex and more, spotlighting stories of women’s leadership, bold giving, and catalytic impact.

Financials 2024*

WMM operates on a strong and sustainable financial foundation, made possible by the generous support of our members. This stability is further enhanced by our corporate sponsors, foundation partners, and program revenue. For transparency and accountability, 990 tax filings are accessible on our website. Fully audited financial statements are available upon request.

*Our most recent audited year

Breakdown of 2024 Expenses:

Board of Directors

Stacey Keare BOARD CHAIR

Dana Su Lee VICE CHAIR

Holly Fogle TREASURER

Judy McFarlane SECRETARY

Dr. Kristin Blakely

Vanessa Evans

Karen Keating Ansara

Patti Lee-Hoffmann

Monika Parekh

Jen Rainin

Jennifer Risher

Elsa Soderberg

Sarah Haacke Byrd CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

& Team

Sarah Haacke Byrd

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Kimberly Abbott CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS

Lucero Quiroga CHIEF OF PROGRAMS AND LEARNING

Renee Saedi CHIEF OF PHILANTHROPY

Amanda Griffin DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Shar Jaidev DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Michelle Kulikauskas PROGRAM MANAGER

Olivia Muenz COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Kat Zhao MEMBER ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATE

Ana Silva EXECUTIVE SUPPORT AND OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE

Kristin Hayden SENIOR ADVISOR

Tracy Mack Parker FACULTY ADVISOR

Anil Chhugani ACCOUNTANT

Onward

The story of Women Moving Millions is one in which the impossible becomes possible when a community of women refuses to accept the world as it is and insists on shaping the world as it should be.

The momentum we built in 2025 has brought WMM to an inflection point—and we intend to use it. Over the next five years, we will pursue our 2030 vision of mobilizing the next $1 billion for gender equality by strengthening our visibility and influence, growing and diversifying our membership, deepening member engagement, and building the organizational capacity to scale sustainably.

In the coming year, we will continue to demonstrate that women’s philanthropy offers a better path forward and ensure that our community, and the movements we support, are seen and understood as a vital force for progress when it is most urgently needed.

We will grow and diversify this network across geographies, identities, and generations, creating spaces where members feel a deep sense of belonging and are equipped to lead with courage and clarity. We will expand the spaces where members can wrestle with complexity, imagine boldly, and move from insight to decisive action. We will offer multiple pathways for members to deploy capital with intention, urgency, and accountability to the broader gender equality ecosystem.

Together, we will turn momentum into a movement-scale leap: aligning resources, expertise, and imagination to shape a future in which all who identify as women have the freedom, safety, and power to thrive. We begin this next year with clarity and confidence, knowing that this community is one of the most potent forces for change—and that, together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.