2011-2012B i e n n i a l R e p o R t

W O R L D W I D E

“• OuradvocacyplayedakeyroleintheWhiteHouse,theStateDepartment,andtheU.S.AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID),prioritizing gender equality, andensuringthat100%ofUSAIDdollarsimprovethelivesofwomenandgirls.

• WomenThriveempowered women to be their own advocateswithpolicymakersintheircountries,andalsoamplifiedtheirvoicesinWashington,D.C.

• WomenThriveis recognized as a leading voice in Washington, D.C.advocating24/7onbehalfofwomenandgirlslivinginpoverty,andbringingtogetheradiversecoalitionformaximumimpact.

Women Thrive Worldwide successfully put women and

girls at the center of billions of dollars in U.S. international

assistance in 2011 and 2012.

No one knows their way

around the policy world

in Washington, D.C. better

than Women Thrive. The

work they do to bring the

voices of women living

in poverty to the most

powerful decision makers

in the U.S. government is

astounding and incredibly

effective.

Maria Bello, Actor and Haiti Activist

Having Women Thrive visit

Members’ offices, and talk

to them about priorities,

can make an extraordinary

difference in building

support for foreign aid.

Nita M. Lowey, (NY)Ranking Member,House Appropriations Committee“

““

”

””

“Women Thrive’s work with local women’s groups in the countries where we operate has been invaluable in ensuring that MCC projects meet the highest standards for gender integration and inclusion, and boost economic opportunity for men as well as women.

Daniel W. Yohannes,Chief Executive Officer,Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)

2012wastheyearpolicymakersreallyheardwomen’svoicesandmadetheirempowermentofficialU.S.policy.

USAID’snewPolicy for Gender Equality and Female EmpowermentmakeswomenandgirlscentraltoallU.S.internationalassistance,worthbillions of dollars:whetherinhealth,education,foodsecurity,economicgrowth,democracy-building,orhumanitarianassistance.

Insteadofmakingsmallinvestmentsinseparate“women’sempowermentprojects,”theU.S.Governmentis now accountable for ensuring that all of its aid programs include women and girls,whoarehalftheworld’spopulationandthemajorityoftheworld’spoor.

Thischangeistransformativeandhas the potential to impact hundreds of millions of womenthroughthousandsofprojectsallovertheworld.

WomenThrivehaschampionedsuchanapproachsinceitsinceptionin1998,leading the advocacy efforts of the international aid community andpushingtomakegenderintegrationU.S.law.

This is the power of advocacy.

Gender Equality at the Center of All U.S. Assistance Programs

USAID

How Policy Change Transforms Women’s Lives

Lookingahead,wewillmonitortheseprogramsintandemwithourpartnersaroundtheworldtoensurethattheyarecreatingrealchangefortheworld’spoorestwomenandgirls.

Separate Women’s Empowerment Projects

Impact on Women Impact on Women

Gender Integration Across the Board

BEFORE 2012 AFTER 2012USAID

USAID ProgramsUSAID Programs

Gender-basedviolencetakesmanyforms:domesticabuse,sexualviolence,trafficking,childmarriage,andrapeusedasaweaponofwar.Itisperhapsthe greatest human rights violation around the world,affectingoneinthreewomenglobally.

Butwomenandgirlsnowhaveanewally.The2012WhiteHouseStrategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence GloballyputstheweightofU.S.diplomacyandinternationalassistancebehindendingviolenceagainstwomen.

ThepolicyappliestotheentireU.S.governmentincludingtheStateDepartment,USAID,theCentersforDiseaseControl,andmanyotherswithinternationalprograms.It promotes locally-based solutions,bysupportingsuccessfulprogramsbywomen’sgroups,community-basedorganizationsandfaithleaderswhoareworkingtoendviolenceagainstwomenandgirls.

WomenThrivehas co-led a coalition of more than 200 organizations since 2005topushforsuchacomprehensiveapproachtoaddressgender-basedviolence.InCongress,we have championed the International Violence Against Women Act,legislationthatmakesendingglobalviolenceagainstwomenandgirlsnotjustthepolicyofonePresident,butthepermanentlawoftheland.

Violence Against Women and Girls: No More Business As Usual

”Left: The U.S. Government’s new strategy to end gender-based violence, released in 2012.

“ For years, Women Thrive

has worked to ensure

that women and girls

remain a central focus

of development efforts

around the world. I have

welcomed the deeply

meaningful and valuable

role they play in making

sure there is sustained

attention to the importance

of women’s empowerment

in global development.

Raj Shah, Administrator, USAID

Ending Hunger And Promoting Food Security

Long-termagricultureandnutritionprograms that prevent food crises, instead of solely shipping food aid tofamine-strickenareas,arethefocusofthenewPresidentialinitiativeFeed the Future.

Thisiscrucialforwomen,whoarethemajority of small farmers worldwide.Womenalsoholdprimaryresponsibilityforfeedingtheirchildrenandfamilies,andofteneatlastandleast.

WomenThriveadvocatedtoensurethatFeed the Futureincluded women not as a ‘special group’, but as a central focus.

Wewillnowworkwithourpartnersaroundtheworldtoensurethatwomengainaccesstotheland,seeds,fertilizer,credit,marketsandothersupportthattheyneedtosucceed.

“

”

Food security is an issue

that crosses gender lines

and affects all nations,

races and ages...more

and more women are on

the front lines of efforts

to end hunger

Senator Amy Klobuchar, MN at Women Thrive’s 3rd International Women’s Day event, March 2011

“

Lydiagrewupfarming,likemanyyounggirlsinGhana.Herfamilyneverhadenoughtoeat.Determinedtochangethat,she started the Development Action Association (DAA), bringingtogetherwomenin50communitiestopushforchange.

In2010,DAAteamedupwithWomenThrive.WetrainedLydiaandherstaffonhowtoadvocateforthewomentheyrepresent.Sharingmanyofourtried-and-trueadvocacytactics,wehelpedLydiastrengthenherabilitytohelphercommunity.

Hervoicehasrungtrueandclear.LydiatraveledtoWashington,D.C.threetimestomeetwithU.S.policymakersandpushfortheneedsofwomenfarmersinU.S.assistanceprograms.ShehasaddressedpolicymakerforainNewYorkandGeneva,andisavaluedpartneronwomenandagriculturewiththeGhanaiangovernment.Shecontinuestotrainhundredsofwomentospeakupfortheircommunities.

Partner Spotlight

Women Thrive and DAA all work as a team, as a family, which has inspired me. Whatever I learn, I bring it

back (to Ghana). Lydia Sasu, Founder, DAA, on her work with Women Thrive Worldwide

Lydia Sasu: Farmer, Advocate, African Leader

”

“

In2011,underpressuretoreducethedeficit,Congress proposed steep cuts to global programs focused on the poorest, the majority of whom are women.WomenThrivePresidentRituSharmajoinedAmbassadorandformerCongressmanTonyHallandtwootherNGOCEOstolaunchHungerFast,fastinginsolidarityuntilthecutswerereversed.TheyattractedmajormediacoverageandwerejoinedbyseveralMembersofCongress,40NGOs,andover30,000individuals.Mostofthebudgetcuts,totalingabout$4billion,werereversed.

Thoughsmallinsize,WomenThriveexcelsatbringingtogetherdiverseorganizationstoadvocateonbehalfofwomenlivinginpoverty.Ourcoalitionhasunitedmorethan250organizationsoverthepasttwoyearstospeakwithonevoice.Herearetwoexamplesofourcollectiveimpact.

Leading through Partnership and Coalition

Tokeepupthepressure,WomenThrivehostedanAdvocacyDayinFall2011where individuals, veterans, people of faith, business leaders, and our organizational partners metwithCongressionalofficesresponsibleforbudgetdecisions.Raisingthesepowerfulanddiversevoicesinsupportofwomenensuredthatcriticalprogramsremainedintact.

Top: Women Thrive President Ritu Sharma (third from right) with five women Members of Congress who fasted against budget cuts during Hungerfast, April 2011

Left: Women Thrive staff with constituents, NGOs, business and faith leaders met with Congressional offices to protest harmful budget cuts during our Advocacy Day, October 2011

Our partner Edna Adan Ismail, founder of Edna Adan Hospital in Hargeisa, Somaliland, speaks in Washington, D.C., March 2012

Our partner Pooja Taparia, Founder and CEO of Arpan, India, receives a national NGO award from the Indian government, August 2012 for her work on child abuse

Our Global Partners: Keeping Our Advocacy Grounded

Ourpartnershipswithorganizationsindevelopingcountriesinformourentireadvocacyagenda.WomenThrive’snewGlobalPartnershipNetwork,launchedinFall2012,alreadyincludes50organizationsinover20countriesaroundtheworld,allworkingtoempowerwomen.Forafulllistofourpartnersvisitwww.womenthrive.org/global-partnership-network.

Speaking Out for Women Worldwide

Raisingthevoicesandconcernsofwomenaroundtheworld,andkeepingthemontheagendaofpolicymakersandthepublic,arecoretoWomenThrive’smission.Wehavereceivedunprecedentedmediacoverageinthelasttwoyears.

Judy Woodruff, Anchor, PBS Newshour, speaks during Women Thrive’s 4th Annual International Women’s Day event, March 2012

HumanitariansBloomingdale’s Brightline InteractiveFull Circle Living, Inc.GlobalGiving Foundation Hagerty Consulting, Inc.Joseph Keefe Pam Grissom  Susan B. Plimpton 

ChampionsAdriana Quinones Alonzo Fulgham Benjamin Fund, Inc. The Brzezinski Family

Foundation Carol Bilzi Carol Head Carol Pearson Corby CollectionCreative Associates

International Daffy’s Foundation, Inc. Doyle Collection Eileen Fisher FoundationEILEEN FISHER COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION

Elizabeth Colton Eugenia McGill Fontheim International, LLC Foundation Beyond Belief Girls Rights Project Glickenhaus Foundation Hamed Borhanian International Association of

Machinists and Aerospace Workers 

The Joan & David Hadden Charitable Gift Account

Linda and Sheldon Zelizer Marjorie Randolph Mary Kay, Inc.Michael Stars and Cohen

Family Foundation Michael Stars, Inc. Microsoft Giving Campaign Nancy Reier Nancy Van Sciver Neiman Marcus Tysons

Galleria Paola Gianturco The StylelinerT. Beck Foundation 

Trade, Aid & Security CoalitionThe William Davidson Institute

at the University of Michigan 

Women’s Division, Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church

AdvocatesAhmad Mesdaq Amelia Scharrer Amy Reed Andrea O’Connell Anita Taylor Anne Johnson Annie Biggs Anonymous Anonymous, via City of Seattle

employee giving programAshley McCown Audrey Huon-DumentatBarbara Franklin Batamaka Somé Belinda Walker Bob and Janet Neary Carey F. Head Carin Giddings Carmita Sanchez-Fong Carol Larsen Carol McIntyre Carol Wood Carole Egigian-Nichols Carrie Elston Catherine Lockman Catherine Raphael Cecelia Puz Charlene Ellington Charles Miles IIIChristine A. JacobsColleen Keenan Concepcion Gaxiola Connie Fenchel D&A Industries Daniel and Evelyn Rappaport Daryle Burke David Rodgers Debora Granneman Democracy In Action Denise Berger Denise Cavanaugh Dianne Stebbins Dolores Perera Donna Manning 

Dr. Darcy Ashman Ecolab Foundation Edan SchwarczEleanor Powell Stanley Elizabeth Devlin-Foltz Elizabeth Sawi Emily Derstine Emily Kahn Estelle Parsons Farhiya Noor Frankie Van Horn Harris Gary Matthews Glenda BeckerGoodSearch Greer Goodman Greg Curtin Gretchen Stuart Hannah and Louis Herman Hannah EkoHarriett Harper Heather Beach Helene Solomon Henry Lerner Hollister & Co.  Holly Roettger J. Sage Wheeler James Kelly Janet Davis Jean-Marie GaulJeffrey Pukatch Jennifer Hall Jennifer Tomkins Joan Stringfield Jodi Ecker Detjen John PickardJon CaseyJulian Chachula Jr. Karen Davenport Karen Martin Karin Bartimole Karl Costenbader Kate Snyder Kathleen McQuiggan Kathryn Hirt Kathy Rulon Kayann Short Kehinde Togun Kim Hjort Kimberly OxholmLauren SupinaLeslie Levine Linda Beg Linda Luke 

Linn Kincannon Lois Stovall Lori Shindler Marcy Shaffer Margaret Cliggett Reynolds Mary Chris Gay Mary Leskovac Matthew Law Mei Powers Melissa Bruhl Melissa CableMichelle MattisonMolly Moen Namae Ntumae Nandkishor Lamture Pamela CollinsPhyllis Beatty Prince Communications Priscilla Petrosky Prospect Hill Foundation Randal Mason Rhonda Landis Richard Porter Robert Karem Robin Byler Thomas Sandra Bornstein Sarah Frankel Sharon Hake Sivaramya Rajakumar St. Peter Catholic Church St. Timothy Church Women of

the ELCA Stephanie Eglinton Stephen Skolozynski Su Ann Ng Susan Hadler Suzanne Biegel Suzanne Smith Tasneem Ismailji Teresa Van Hoesen Trinh Nguyen-PhanTumbleweed Bead Co. Tyra Brown Victoria Jaycox Walter Locke Wendy Goulston Will Kanteres Zona Hostetler

*Also thank you to the additional 356 donors giving at the Friend level.

American Sun Yat-Sen Spartacus Charitable Remainder Unitrust (ASYSS CRT) 

Anonymous

The Clara Fund 

Combined Federal Campaign 

Coxe Fund, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation 

The Dobkin Family Foundation 

Eileen Fisher, Inc.

Eileen Mancera 

Elise Fiber Smith 

Elizabeth K. Blake 

Ford Foundation 

French American Charitable Trust

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation 

Land O’Lakes, Inc. 

Mark Blackden 

NoVo Foundation 

Open Square Charitable Gift Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund

Oswald Family Foundation 

Pax World Management LLC 

The Peter C. Cornell Trust

Stephenie Foster 

Suzanne Lerner 

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation 

Visionaries

2011 and 2012 Donors

Women Thrive Worldwide Leadership

Board of Directors 2011-2012

Officers

Co-Founder and Founding ChairElise Fiber Smith

ChairJoseph Keefe

Vice Chair Trevor Tomkins

SecretaryCarol Head

TreasurerEileen Kotecki Mancera

Pro Bono CounselCarol Bilzi

MembersAdriana Quinones

Alonzo Fulgham

Asif Shaikh

Batamaka Some

Cathy Novelli

Elizabeth Blake

Farhiya Noor

Eugenia McGill

Mark Blackden

Mike Caggiano

Stephenie Foster

Susan Plimpton

Suzanne Lerner

Staff Leadership Team

Ritu SharmaCo Founder and President

Melanie RichardsonChief Operating Officer

Elise YoungVice President, Policy and Government Affairs

Anugraha PalanVice President, Communications and Partnerships

Lauren SupinaVice President, Organizational Advancement

Our Vision

Our Mission

Women Thrive Worldwide

advocates for change at the U.S.

and global levels so that women

and men can share equally in

the enjoyment of opportunities,

economic prosperity, voice, and

freedom from fear and violence.

We ground our work in the realities

of women living in poverty, partner

with locally-based organizations,

and create powerful coalitions to

advance the interests of the women

and girls we serve.

Women Thrive Worldwide works to create a world in which women and men work together as equals so that they, their families and their communities can thrive.

Women Thrive Worldwide 1726 M Street NW Suite 1075 Washington, D.C. 20036

T: 202.999.4500 F: 202.999.4455 E: thrive@womenthrive.org

facebook.com/womenthrive

twitter.com/womenthrive

youtube.com/womenthriveworldwide

www.womenthrive.orgPhoto Credits: Claude Renault David Johnson and Silent Images Darcy Keifel Maggie Szymanek

Design: Manu Badlani, By-line

When Women Thrive, the World

Thrives