AAUW National Educational Foundation (EF)

Rosemary Baker, Educational Foundation Chair
ef@aauwpa.org

AAUW’s Educational Foundation provides about $3.5 million annually to advance education, research and self-development for women, and to foster equity and positive societal change.

On January 6, 1958, the AAUW Board of Directors resolved to form a nonprofit corporation to facilitate the acquisition of land in Washington, DC, for the purpose of building an educational center for university women. On January 17, 1958, the certificate of incorporation was signed under the Nonprofit Corporation Law of the District of Columbia and the AAUW Educational Foundation was established.

At the Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, the Association on June 22, 1959, ratified the establishment of the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation on January 17, 1958. The Educational Foundation is the philanthropic organization through which AAUW carries out its charitable, educational, and public service endeavors.

Let's Read Math Grant Available

Description of Grants [PDF]
AAUW Published Research [PDF]

EF Recipients from PA 2006-2007 [PDF]
Summary of AAUW EF/LAF Research Reports [WORD]- a summary of the research reports that AAUW EF and LAF money has paid for.
Contribution Report Form [WORD]

AAUW LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

Despite gains over the past decades, women and girls continue to be underrepresented in leadership and key professional positions.

In 2003, AAUW launched the Leadership and Training Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization within the Association, to increase its commitment to these issues. Through institute programs, women and girls acquire the skills they need to succeed and assume leadership roles in their academic, professional, and personal lives.

The institute offers programs to promote the total woman: economic self-sufficiency, leadership development, career advancement, and technical skill development.

History, Structure, and Tax Status
AAUW’s Leadership and Training Institute (LTI) is a 501(c)(3) corporation created as a supporting organization for the Association to accept tax-deductible corporate and foundation grants, federal grants and contracts, and gifts from individuals.  Without this entity, the Association, as a 501(c)(4) corporation, did not have an effective source of revenue beyond member dues.

Purposes
AAUW’s LTI was created to deliver the same mission as AAUW.  The primary focus of programming was envisioned for: (1) Leadership development and Management training; (2) Career advancement; and (3) Economic sufficiency and security.

Governance
LTI is a separate corporation with a board of directors, consisting of the Association’s Executive Committee four members plus the Educational Foundation president and AAUW executive director serving ex officio.  LTI has distinct bylaws, policies, and meetings.

Supporters
In addition to gifts from generous individual members and bequests, LTI has been supported by corporate partners and government grants.  In honor of AAUW’s 125th Anniversary, the commemorative pins and Founding Leaders campaign contributions were dedicated to LTI.

Current 2007 Programs and Events

1. National Conference of College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL)

      Designed for college and university women in campus or community leadership roles — and those who have leadership aspirations — this annual conference offers students an opportunity to gather the information, skills, and resources needed to embrace today's leadership challenges. Students from across the nation attend to interact with top women professionals; hone skills in leadership, advocacy, civic engagement, networking, and career planning; build relationships with peers and other women who can support their professional and personal growth; and create practical solutions to challenges on their campuses and in their communities.

1. AAUW Campus Action Projects (CAP)

      To give campus professionals and students the necessary tools to help improve campus environments, the institute supports projects at universities around the country by providing small grants and technical assistance. The goals of this initiative are to create action on campus through exceptional projects and to provide an avenue for ongoing leadership training and support of women leaders.

1. Leadership Development – Members and Non-Members

      The institute offers resources to support women in their personal and organizational leadership development. Topics include communication, team building, running effective meetings, technology/computer usage, decision making/consensus building, and volunteer management. These skills are transferable to a variety of venues and, therefore, can augment individual growth in voluntary leadership, the workplace, and elsewhere.

1. Financial Literacy

      Financial skills are critical to women’s economic security and will invariably impact community development and the wider society. Thus, the institute has embraced financial literacy for women as a key part of its mission. The main objective of this initiative is to empower women to become economically self-sufficient and financially savvy. The program, under development, will offer comprehensive financial literacy training for women in all stages of life. Recognizing that financial literacy is an evolving process, we are developing a multi-faceted program to address women’s financial situations across the lifespan — college women, at the crucial stage of establishing financial habits; middle-aged women, juggling careers, the needs of their children, and perhaps the care of aging parents; and retirees, women striving to remain financially fit — and offered at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels of understanding.

To learn more about the institute go to www.aauw.org and click on About AAUW, Leadership and Governance, then Leadership and Training Institute.

Behind the Pay Gap – EF Latest Research Report Released April 2007

In the report, Behind the Pay Gap, the AAUW Educational Foundation found that just one year after college graduation, women earn only 80 percent of what their male counterparts earn. Ten years after graduation, women fall further behind, earning only 69 percent of what men earn. Even after controlling for hours, occupation, parenthood, and other factors known to affect earnings, the research indicates that one-quarter of the pay gap remains unexplained and is likely due to sex discrimination. Over time, the unexplained portion of the pay gap grows. >>more

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Women and Girls
National Girls Collaborative Project

Numerous programs and initiatives to create gender equity in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have been implemented only to lose effectiveness or fade away. Had these programs had the benefit of collaboration with other girl-serving projects, organizations and institutions, and tools to assess and evaluate the impact of their efforts, their capacity for continuation and/or broader impact could have been substantially increased. >>more

EF Community Action Grant Awarded to Let’s Read Math

The West Chester-Chester County Branch (PA) was awarded an Educational Foundation Community Action Grant to Spread Let’s Read Math. The grant is for the period July 1, 2007-June 30, 2009, and is structured to support a limited number of Pennsylvania and Middle Atlantic Region AAUW branches in starting up the successful Let’s Read Math program developed by Dr. Claire Passantino of the Makefield Area PA Branch. >>more

The Association—with more than 100,000 members, 1,300 branches, and 550 college/university institution partners nationwide—advocates education and equity. The Association's voice has long influenced legislative debate on critical social issues such as education, sex discrimination, civil rights, reproductive choice, affirmative action, Title IX, welfare reform, vocational education, pay equity, family and medical leave, and health care reform.