In 2005, while documenting the historicity of visionary donors pledging a million dollars or more to women and girls, Helen LaKelly Hunt received an important call. Her sister, Ambassador Swanee Hunt, made a grand financial pledge for Helen’s use to “raise the bar on women’s giving.” To Swanee’s pledge, Helen added one of her own, and this spark capital catalyzed a major global funding initiative Women Moving Millions.
Women Moving Millions created a global contagion of committed, purposeful individuals making unprecedented gifts of $1 million or more for the advancement of women and girls. Raising funds as well as their voices, this concept inspired other donors to join with them toward amplifying the voices of women worldwide. Phase I of the Women Moving Millions initiative (April 2007 to April 2009) was launched in partnership with the Women’s Funding Network (WFN) and history was made as $182 million was pledged by 102 donors to 41 WFN member funds.
Since 2007, Women Moving Millions has inspired bold levels of giving, creating a new culture in breakthrough philanthropy. To date over 180 donors have pledged $260 million plus to organizations and initiatives of their choosing that share WMM’s commitment to the advancement of women and girls throughout the world.
Women Moving Millions became a 501(c)(3) independent tax exempt entity and public charity in June, 2011.
WMM is a diverse community of extraordinary individuals committed to funding the advancement of women and girls around the globe. Members are passionately committed to mobilizing unprecedented resources and donate at levels of $1million or more, in the process sparking a larger movement of trailblazing philanthropists working to enhance the potential of half the world’s citizens.