Ms. Foundation for Women is devastated by the loss of our co-founding mother, Gloria Steinem, whose tremendous impact on the feminist movement will be felt for generations to come. Ms. Foundation exists because Gloria believed in the power of women and introduced a then-revolutionary idea that women’s leadership is essential to this nation becoming a true democracy.
At a time when women in the United States weren’t even allowed to take out a bank loan, Gloria and our founding mothers acted on the belief that women needed to fund our own movements for liberation by creating Ms. Foundation. Gloria knew that every issue is a women’s issue, and she lived into her purpose of advocating for all women until her final days.
“Gloria created a roadmap when it wasn’t popular for women to lead or to advocate. Today, her charge is just as urgent. She showed us how to be unapologetic about equality and equity, especially when it’s hard, and she inspired and empowered generations of women, me included. I’m humbled to carry Gloria’s torch into this next era of Ms. Foundation. In the years to come, she will continue to be a guiding light for the movements she fought for her entire life,” said incoming President & CEO Tracy Sturdivant.
Throughout her lifetime, Gloria set the bar and shattered glass ceilings while championing women’s rights and fiercely advocating for bodily autonomy, both in the U.S. and globally. Since she first shared the story of her abortion in 1969, she used her voice to uplift the voices of women everywhere. In 1973, Gloria founded Ms. Foundation for Women alongside Patricia Carbine, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, and Marlo Thomas with the intention of building power and wielding it to address the issues impacting women’s lives. As the nation’s oldest women’s foundation, this remains a core part of our mission today.
“Gloria Steinem shaped the ground I stood on for 13 years at Ms. Foundation,” said former President & CEO Teresa C. Younger. “She gave us a different kind of voice: one that listened as hard as it spoke, and that turned that listening into action. She will live on in our hearts and in the next generation of people who see change as a possibility. I’m heartbroken today, and grateful beyond words. Her work isn’t finished, and neither is ours.”
Gloria was a feminist icon, a friend to many, and a perpetual optimist. In the face of what can feel like insurmountable challenges, Gloria kept hope. Her words continuously spoke volumes, that “hope is a form of planning. We know progress is cyclical and we have way more folks who believe in equity than don’t, whether or not our government represents us. Most of all, the future will be what we want it to be, if we vote, speak, and act.”
“Gloria’s voice, her actions, and her very existence serve as a guiding light that shaped the path that so many of us took, mine included,” said Board Chair Kaberi Banerjee Murthy. “We find ourselves today in a moment where many of the gains Gloria made throughout her life are under attack. It is Ms. Foundation’s responsibility to safeguard the rights we have, build back the ones we have lost, and push for even more, so we can all live into the fullness of the life that Gloria saw for us.”
It’s impossible to capture the breadth of Gloria’s impact on the world and on Ms. Foundation. The Foundation is part of a strong ecosystem of organizations affiliated with Gloria’s legacy that span media, philanthropy, advocacy, and academia. Her leadership will continue to inspire the next generations of trailblazing feminists. We are so grateful for her contributions and her support of our foundation for more than 50 years.
“Gloria believed in the power of women’s organizing and leadership to change the world. She, along with our founding mothers, created Ms. Foundation to resource and build women’s movements and make that vision a reality. Gloria’s leadership in the movements for gender and racial equity shaped them fundamentally. I am profoundly saddened by this loss, and grateful for her guidance and voice. She changed my life,” said former President & CEO Sara Gould. “Now, we have the imperative to be fierce in her memory. She’s banking on us doubling down on our work to create a just and safe world for everyone.”
Our hearts are heavy from this loss, and we extend our sincere condolences to Gloria’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time.