Womenstrong International
WomenStrong International is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation dedicated to advancing gender equity by partnering with grassroots women-led organizations worldwide. Founded in 2014, the organization works in solidarity with local feminist leaders to amplify their capacity to drive meaningful change in their communities. The organization operates without geographical limitations and currently works with 19 partners across 17 countries.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$681K
-35.6% YoY
Grant Count
27
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-21.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: WomenStrong centers the work of local feminist leaders and amplifies their capacity to drive meaningful change in their communities. Together, they are building a world where all women and girls can thrive.
Vision: A just and inclusive world where all women and girls are free to prosper and to live their lives in dignity and peace.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Women and girls' health
- Girls' education and empowerment
- Prevention of violence against women and girls
- Economic opportunity and security for women and girls
The organization's approach is rooted in the belief that local women leaders are best equipped and positioned to serve their communities. This philosophy emerged from observations during work with Columbia University's Millennium Cities Initiative across sub-Saharan Africa, where local women leaders consistently demonstrated knowledge of what their communities needed despite lacking technical and financial resources.
Grantmaking
WomenStrong employs a trust-based grantmaking model that differs from traditional philanthropy:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WomenStrong has no geographical limitations and funds organizations globally. Current partners operate across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Colombia, and the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
WomenStrong International is a certified 501(c)(3) organization committed to trust and responsible stewardship. The organization is a non-political, non-governmental, tax-exempt private operating foundation that relies on donations and partnerships to fund its work.
Tax ID: 47-1707505
Audited Financial Statements Available:
- 2019 Form 990-PF
- 2020 Form 990-PF
- 2021 Form 990-PF
- 2022 Form 990-PF
- 2023 Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dr. Susan M. Blaustein - Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Blaustein founded WomenStrong International based on observations from over 10 years of work across the sub-Saharan region with Columbia University's Millennium Cities Initiative.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR SUSAN M BLAUSTEIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | — |
| HEATHER GOLDBERG MENDELOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOYCE MALOMBE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBIN SMALLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE LEE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR GEETA MEHTA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAMELA SCHUTZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PEGGY SHEPARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN KASS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR HOWARD C MANDEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CYNTHIA NIMMO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NICKY LEROUX | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDINE SUTARJARDI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HELEN YANG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TIFFANY GREEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
WomenStrong has announced funding opportunities for climate and environmental justice work, welcoming new climate and environmental justice grantees to its partner network. The organization released a 2025 Evaluation exploring its impact and approach.
Funding for Climate & Environmental Justice: Open CallThe organization continues to expand its partner network and has published "A Funder's Playbook" addressing what women-led organizations need to thrive, reflecting its commitment to redefining philanthropy and shifting control to partners.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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