The Ms. Foundation for Women has appointed Tracy Sturdivant as its new President and CEO, marking a key leadership change at one of the most established feminist funding institutions in the United States. The announcement was made on April 28, 2026, during the organization’s Women of Vision Awards Gala in New York, a major annual gathering focused on gender justice.
Sturdivant succeeds Teresa Younger, who led the foundation for more than a decade and played a central role in strengthening both its financial position and strategic direction. The transition stands out as a rare instance of a major national nonprofit being led by one Black woman directly after another, a leadership continuity that remains uncommon at this scale.
The organization has made it clear that this is not a response to instability. Instead, the shift reflects a planned transition at a time when the foundation is operating from a position of strength.
Stable Financial and Organizational Position
The Ms. Foundation enters this transition with a strong financial base, including an endowment of more than $100 million built during Younger’s tenure. This level of stability places it among the more secure institutions in the nonprofit sector and allows leadership to focus on growth rather than recovery.
Over the years, the foundation has sharpened its focus on supporting women and girls of color, aligning its priorities with broader structural issues around equity and access. This direction has shaped the organization’s identity and influence.
Because of this foundation, the current leadership change is not centered on fixing gaps. It reflects a continuation of an established strategy with an emphasis on extending its reach.
Feminist Funding Coalition
The central development in this announcement is Sturdivant’s stated plan to expand the feminist funding coalition. Her approach focuses on increasing participation from a broader range of funders, institutions, and stakeholders involved in gender justice work.
This includes widening the funding ecosystem beyond traditional philanthropic networks and bringing in new allies at a time when some diversity-focused funding streams are facing pressure. The shift reflects a move toward building a larger and more inclusive funding base.
Sturdivant has also highlighted concerns around reduced support for Black-led and marginalized community organizations. Expanding the coalition is positioned as a direct response to these funding gaps, with the goal of increasing both access and scale.
Policy Priorities and Economic Challenges
The foundation will continue to focus on key economic issues affecting women, including equal pay, paid family leave, and access to affordable childcare. These priorities align with Sturdivant’s previous work and remain central to the organization’s approach.
Recent economic data reinforces the urgency of these issues. U.S. Census Bureau findings show that the gender wage gap has widened for two consecutive years, with men’s earnings increasing at a faster rate than women’s.
This broader context keeps the foundation’s work grounded in structural challenges, with continued attention on long-term financial stability and workforce participation for women.
About the CEO
Tracy Sturdivant brings experience from her role as founder of The League, a nonprofit focused on civic engagement through culture and storytelling. Her work has involved building cross-sector partnerships and connecting public engagement with policy-driven initiatives.
She has also contributed to national efforts around economic equality, including work on paid leave and workplace equity. This background aligns closely with the foundation’s current priorities and funding direction.
Her appointment follows a structured selection process led by the foundation’s board, reflecting a deliberate leadership choice rather than a reactive shift.
Conclusion
The appointment of Tracy Sturdivant represents a leadership transition at a financially stable institution with clearly defined priorities. The core development centers on expanding the foundation’s funding coalition and strengthening its role in supporting gender justice initiatives. With an established financial base and a focused strategy, the organization is continuing its existing direction while working to increase the scale and reach of its funding network.