Forward Feminism: A Multi-Faceted Campaign to Ensure the Future Strength of Our Movement

National NOW Foundation Times >> Fall 2007 >> Forward Feminism: The Time Is NOW

Forward Feminism: The Time Is NOW

photo by Sue Rumph

Muriel Fox, a founder of NOW and the first chair of our national board, has once again led the way by making the very first contribution to the Endowment Fund, to help ensure a strong financial base for our future.

2006 was an important year for celebration and reflection as we looked back over 40 years of fearless feminism since the founding of NOW in 1966 and the NOW Foundation in 1986.

We experienced a deep sense of pride in our movement, with roots going back more than 150 years in U.S. history, and accomplishments that have changed women's lives forever.

2006 was also an important time to look forward, to face the future and the very real concern that so many of our accomplishments are being pushed back and rolled back under a sustained and well-financed attack by a conservative minority.

Although we have high hopes for political change in the coming years, we know that it will take a strong and active movement to protect the gains we've made and ensure equality for future generations. It quickly became clear that we needed to take immediate action to strengthen and grow our organizations so we can take on the challenges we face, both now and in the years to come.

Now is the time for us to realize our full potential and power as the premier women's rights organization in this country. Current challenges cry out for our leadership and our organizing muscle, which means that NOW and the NOW Foundation must be bigger, stronger and more influential than ever before.

We must step up to the plate in a new way, as deeply-resourced, broadly-based, politically-savvy institutions that can truly lead the movement for the full equality and the full empowerment of all women in this country.

To reach that goal, we created Forward Feminism, a comprehensive, long term, fund raising campaign of NOW and the NOW Foundation designed to provide a strong and stable financial framework for both organizations. The campaign has three primary goals:

1. To enhance our ability to undertake national issue-based campaigns to create significant change for women and girls.

2. To build an endowment fund that can support our work into the future.

3. To invest in the purchase of a permanent headquarters for both organizations in Washington, D.C.

NOW members and friends have a critical role to play in advancing feminism, for ourselves and for future generations. By generously supporting Forward Feminism with current gifts (such as cash, stock or other securities) or deferred gifts (such as bequests or other planned gifts), you can help make our vision of full equality the everyday reality of women and girls across the country and around the globe.

Our hopes, our dreams, and the aspirations of future generations depend on our success. Please see the accompanying articles for ways that you can join us.

Organizing For Our Future: The NOW Foundation Endowment

Charitable Gift Annuities: An Exciting New Way to Both Give and Receive

Expires Dec. 31: A Singular Opportunity to Make a Year-End Gift