Women's Public Leadership Network
Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is an Alexandria, Virginia–based public charity that works to make seeking public office and engaging in the political process more accessible to women. It provides training, resources, and support for women pursuing elected or appointed roles and other forms of civic and political engagement.
Women's Public Leadership Network at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,407,703
- +529.6% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $1,171,026
- +56.6% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $864,335
- -15.5% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Women's Public Leadership Network
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 26354, Alexandria, VA 22313
Phone: (703) 375-9959
Website: https://womenspublicleadership.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Women's Public Leadership Network
Who Women's Public Leadership Network funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 6 grants of 10 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WPLN’s State Partner Grants have a national scope in the United States and support state-based organizations. Its website describes a network of organizations working at the state and local levels.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 10 grants totaling $429K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition Alexandria, VA | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $63,000 |
| California Women's Leadership Association San Diego, CA | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $60,000 |
| Colorado Women's Alliance Foundation Golden, CO | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $60,000 |
| Rise New Mexico Inc Albuquerque, NM | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $60,000 |
| The University of Texas Foundation Inc Austin, TX | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $60,000 |
| Pocketbook Project Inc Boston, MA | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $60,000 |
| Colorado Women's Alliance Denver, CO | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $16,500 |
| Louisiana Women Lead Baton Rouge, LA | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $16,500 |
| Voteher Inc Atlanta, GA | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $16,500 |
| She Holds the Key Inc Holt, MI | Facilitate Women's Particiation in the Electoral Process | $16,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,407,703 | $1,171,026 | $864,335 | — | — |
| 2023 | $223,604 | $748,004 | $1,023,419 | — | — |
| 2022 | $504,390 | $1,222,822 | $954,259 | — | — |
| 2021 | $257,884 | $759,872 | $763,527 | — | — |
| 2020 | $243,620 | $183,212 | $1,116,663 | $429,000 | 10 |
| 2019 | $1,115,726 | $1,130,000 | $115,441 | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
WPLN’s stated mission is to provide women with the knowledge and resources to make seeking public office and engaging in the political process more accessible. Its programs include free online resources, training and leadership development, a network of state-based organizations, and connections to practitioners, experts, and mentors.
Through State Partner Grants, WPLN supports existing and emerging state organizations working to prepare women to seek elected or appointed office or engage in political processes in their communities. Its stated priorities include building infrastructure and programs at the state and local levels, expanding existing programs, and identifying and removing barriers to mentoring and training for center-right women. Eligibility criteria include established 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status, active work in public policy and civic engagement, work with women leaders on women’s empowerment, and a commitment to diversity in leadership, programming, and participation.
WPLN’s 2020 grantees included Louisiana Women Lead, which describes its mission as engaging more center-right women in politics and increasing the number of women elected or appointed to leadership positions in Louisiana. The University of Texas Foundation described its mission as advancing education through financial support of the University of Texas System.
Grantmaking
WPLN’s IRS filing reports zero grants in each of 2022, 2023, and 2024. The available grant examples are from 2020: the University of Texas Foundation received $60,000, and Louisiana Women Lead received $16,500. These examples do not establish a typical grant size or total giving for that year.
WPLN describes two State Partner Grant program types: Operational & Program Grants for existing state partners to build capacity, and New Development Cohort grants for newly recruited state partners. The cohort includes monthly meetings and check-ins with WPLN staff and other grantees. WPLN’s grant-program listing describes State Partner Grants as currently open. The listed eligibility criteria are summarized above; no application materials or deadline are stated.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Larissa M. Martinez as president and co-founder; Joel Noyes as chair; Valerie Dowling as vice chair; Michelle Phillips as secretary; Matthew Ralston as treasurer; and Liz Bowman and Jenifer Sarver as directors.
Women's Public Leadership Network is led by Larissa M. Martinez, President & Co-Founder since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Larissa M. Martinez
President & Co-Founder
Executive Director → Executive Director & President, 2020
Executive Director & President → President & Co-Founder, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$40K (2019) → $139K (2024)
Joel Noyes
Chair
Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenifer Sarver
Director
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Liz Bowman
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Dowling
Vice Chair
Board Member & Secretary → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Phillips
Secretary
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Ralston
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Amy Whited (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Jessica Rubie (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Matt Ralston (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jerri Ann Henry (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Dee Dee Bass Wilbon (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Cameron Kilberg (2019–2020) — Co-Founder & Treasurer
- Former: Sarah Curran (2019–2020) — Former Board Member
- Former: Rina Shah (2019) — Co-Founder
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $139K, to Larissa M Martinez (President & Co-Founder).
Frequently asked questions about Women's Public Leadership Network
How large is Women's Public Leadership Network?
Women's Public Leadership Network reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What does Women's Public Leadership Network fund?
WPLN’s stated mission is to provide women with the knowledge and resources to make seeking public office and engaging in the political process more accessible. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Women's Public Leadership Network?
Women's Public Leadership Network has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check womenspublicleadership.net for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Women's Public Leadership Network make grants?
WPLN’s State Partner Grants have a national scope in the United States and support state-based organizations. Its website describes a network of organizations working at the state and local levels.
What is Women's Public Leadership Network's EIN?
Women's Public Leadership Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3608509. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 30, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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