Tracy Sturdivant, the incoming president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation, has set her sights on broadening the coalition of supporters for gender justice. She will take over from Teresa Younger, marking a rare transition of leadership from one Black woman to another at a major nonprofit that is also financially robust.
Strong Foundation for Future Growth
The Ms. Foundation, the first national philanthropy run by and for women, introduced Sturdivant at its annual New York City gala on Tuesday. Younger described the organisation as “not in crisis” but “ready for what’s to come” under Sturdivant’s leadership. During Younger’s tenure, the foundation built an endowment exceeding $100 million and prioritised women and girls of colour.
Expanding the Coalition
Sturdivant sees an opportunity to invite more people to join the fight for gender justice. While many funders are disinvesting from Black-led nonprofits, she is committed to “unapologetically” supporting marginalised groups while encouraging others to participate in the struggle for economic equality and bodily autonomy. “We need all hands on deck to make sure that we're supporting women in the midst of what I call this perfect form of instability that they're experiencing,” Sturdivant told the Associated Press.
A Background in Civic Engagement
Originally from Detroit, Sturdivant founded The League, a nonprofit that inspires civic engagement through culture. She credits former Ms. Foundation president Marie Wilson, who launched “Take Our Daughters to Work” day, with demonstrating the power of large-scale narrative change. Together, they worked on the White House Project, which aimed to advance women’s leadership across sectors.
Modern Storytelling for a New Generation
Narrative change has become increasingly important as conservative movements seek to prohibit funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sturdivant believes the Ms. Foundation, a legacy institution that has weathered many cultural shifts since its founding in 1973, is well-positioned to engage the next generation of feminists through contemporary storytelling. She highlighted Blair Imani, a historian and creator honoured at the gala, whose viral web series “Smarter in Seconds” offers progressive education on race and gender in short-form videos. “They are leading the culture and being able to take some of our cues from them, I think, is gonna be really helpful,” Sturdivant said.
Focus on Economic Justice
Sturdivant is also considering increasing grantmaking around equal pay, family leave, and childcare—issues she championed as co-founder of the Make it Work Campaign. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that men’s earnings are rising faster than women’s, and the gender wage gap has widened for two consecutive years. A recent AP-NORC poll found that most working women in the U.S. believe they are disadvantaged in earning competitive wages, though the country remains divided on how to address these disparities. “We're really talking about what does it mean for folks to be able to lead a life where they are not just surviving but thriving, they feel safe and they're secure,” Sturdivant said. “That's going to be the work of the foundation under my tenure.”
