NEW YORK — A historic leadership transition is taking place at one of America’s most influential women’s organizations, as Tracy Sturdivant prepares to become the new president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation.
Sturdivant will replace Teresa Younger in leading the nation’s first major philanthropy created by and for women. The announcement was made Tuesday during the foundation’s annual gala in New York City, where activists including Tarana Burke, who founded the #MeToo movement, received recognition.
The incoming leader noted the unusual nature of her appointment, observing that it’s uncommon for one Black woman to take over a major nonprofit organization from another Black woman. Even more unusual, she added, is inheriting an organization in strong financial condition.
Under Younger’s leadership, the Ms. Foundation built an endowment exceeding $100 million while deliberately focusing resources on women and girls of color. Younger described the organization as prepared for future challenges rather than facing any crisis.
“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 shared during an interview.
The Detroit-born executive arrives at the foundation after leading The League, an organization she established to promote civic participation through cultural initiatives. Her previous collaboration with former Ms. Foundation president Marie Wilson, who helped create “Take Our Daughters to Work” day, shaped her understanding of large-scale efforts to change public narratives.
Wilson’s mentorship came through their joint work on the White House Project, which focused on advancing women into leadership roles across various industries and sectors.
Sturdivant believes changing public narratives has become increasingly critical as conservative movements across the country work to eliminate funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs. She views the Ms. Foundation, established in 1973 and having survived numerous cultural changes, as well-positioned to connect with today’s feminists through contemporary communication methods.
As an example of emerging voices she wants to amplify, Sturdivant highlighted Blair Imani, a historian and content creator recognized at Tuesday’s event. Imani produces “Smarter in Seconds,” a popular online series that provides progressive education on racial and gender topics through brief 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 explained.
The new leader is exploring ways to increase grant funding for initiatives addressing equal pay, family leave policies, and childcare access. These issues were central to her work co-founding the Make it Work Campaign, a three-year effort to improve women’s economic circumstances nationwide.
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows men’s wages are increasing more rapidly than women’s earnings, with the gender pay gap expanding for two consecutive years. A recent poll by the Associated Press and NORC found that most working women in America feel disadvantaged regarding competitive compensation, though the nation remains split on addressing these inequalities, with many men holding different perspectives.
“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 stated. “That’s going to be the work of the foundation under my tenure.”
Sturdivant emphasized her commitment to continuing the foundation’s “unapologetic” support for marginalized communities while simultaneously working to bring new allies into the movement for economic equality and reproductive rights.
