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Women's Campaign Fund
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| Women's Campaign Fund | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | Political action committee |
| Top official: | Georgia Berner, Chair |
| Year founded: | 1974 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Women's Campaign Fund is a nonpartisan political action committee (PAC) that aims to increase the number of women elected to public office. The group operates in cooperation with an affiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, She Should Run.
Mission
According to the organization's website, the Women's Campaign Fund has the following mission:
| “ | The Women’s Campaign Fund is a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to dramatically increasing the number of women in elected office. We commit to achieving a more perfect union through 50% representation of women in elected office nationwide by 2028. WCF was the first PAC in the country to support women candidates. For 40 years, we supported women candidates based on their commitment to key issues that empower women in their lives. WCF has grown to support women candidates who can make life significantly better for all Americans.
WCF does not need to speak for all women, nor for all topics. WCF champions the ability of more women to speak for themselves, to reflect the reality of their right, working in equal numbers with men, to decide for themselves how their lives should be governed. To contribute their abilities and perspectives to men, women, children, and institutions by serving in elected office. The Women’s Campaign Fund commits to advancing good government using 100% of America’s talent, wisdom, and skill.[1][2] |
” |
Background
The Women's Campaign Fund (WCF) is the oldest political action committee in the nation that aims to support only female candidates. The organization was founded in 1974 following the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. The group seeks to increase the number of pro-choice women elected to public office, regardless of partisan affiliation, by recruiting female candidates, supporting candidates through the election process, and working to advocate for an increase in female elected officials.[1][3][4][5]
As a political action committee (PAC), the WCF can make financial contributions within legal guidelines to candidates, committees and other PACS. The organization applies its resources in support of female candidates across the political spectrum who embrace "common ground solutions." The WCF is nonpartisan, but candidates must satisfy the criteria of supporting "reproductive health choices for all."[1][6]
The WCF operates in cooperation with She Should Run, an affiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to motivate women to run for public office through research and education.[7]
Work
The Women's Campaign Fund (WCF) endorses candidates at the federal, state and local levels. The organization has supported over 2,000 female candidates since 1974. As of July 2016, the group's roster of endorsed candidates who are currently serving in public office includes 74 federal officeholders, 10 statewide officeholders and 92 locally-elected officials.[8]
The organization supports candidates that meet three criteria.
| “ |
1. 50% Representation of Women in Elected Office! The candidate commits to advancing the concept that women should hold elected office in equal numbers to men nationwide. 2. Common Ground. The candidate commits to common sense and common good as the essential factors driving good governance and can demonstrate, through specific achievements, the ability to reach common ground solutions. 3. Viability for Election. The candidate shows the ability to work toward common ground and has the personal, professional, and political capabilities required to win the office and govern effectively.[9][2] |
” |
In addition to providing candidate support, the WCF publishes a weekly email newsletter, MsRepresentation, which outlines "the week’s latest news on women in politics with a humorous, irreverent point of view."[10]
Political activity
- See also: Political action committee
As a political action committee, the Women's Campaign Fund can raise and spend money on elections, but is not run by a party or individual candidate. The PAC can donate money to parties or candidates it supports.[11]
2018 elections
The Women's Campaign Fund published a list of 13 candidates it endorsed in the 2018 election cycle. Click here to see the list.[12]
2016 elections
As of July 2016, the Women's Campaign Fund had not released a list of endorsed candidates for the 2016 election cycle.
2014 elections
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the Women's Campaign Fund contributed to the following federal candidates during the 2014 election cycle:[13]
Leadership
The president and CEO of the Women's Campaign Fund is Betsy Mullins.[7]
The following individuals serve on the board of directors of the Women's Campaign Fund:[14]
- Georgia Berner, Chair
- Jamie Covello
- Lorie Masters
- Carla Reed
- Laurie Westley
- Sherilyn Wright
- René Paradis
- Candis Hewitt
- Betsy Hawkings
Finances
The following table outlines the Federal Election Commission's financial reporting data for the Women's Campaign Fund:
| Cash summary for the Women's Campaign Fund, 2010-2014[15] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reporting Period | Total Contributions | Total Disbursements |
| 2015 | $140.97 | $15,309.44 |
| 2013-2014 | $106,256 | $96,453 |
| 2011-2012 | $202,886 | $218,674 |
| 2009-2010 | $170,953 | $161,371 |
| 2007-2008 | $188,950 | $194,299 |
| 2006 | $37,461 | $36,291 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Women's Campaign Fund'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Women's Campaign Fund homepage
- Women's Campaign Fund on Facebook
- Women's Campaign Fund on Twitter
- She Should Run homepage
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Women's Campaign Fund, "About," accessed November 1, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Women's Campaign Fund statement of organization," May 10, 2006
- ↑ Carroll, Susan. (1994). Women as Candidates in American Politics: Second Edition. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. (page 172).
- ↑ Ford, Lynne. (2008). Encyclopedia of Women and American Politics. New York, NY: Facts on File Inc. (page 504).
- ↑ Facebook, "Women's Campaign Fund—About," accessed January 27, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Roll Call, "Betsy Mullins Named President and CEO of Women’s Campaign Fund, She Should Run," June 24, 2014
- ↑ Women's Campaign Fund, "Our candidates," accessed January 27, 2016
- ↑ Women's Campaign Fund, "Endorsement criteria," accessed November 1, 2018
- ↑ Women's Campaign Fund, "MsRepresentation," accessed January 27, 2016
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Quick answers," accessed July 3, 2016
- ↑ Women's Campaign Fund, "2018 Candidates," accessed November 1, 2018
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Contributions to federal candidates, 2014 cycle," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ Women's Campaign Fund, "Board of directors," accessed July 6, 2016
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Details for Committee ID : C00424150," accessed July 6, 2016
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