Outgoing Ms. Foundation CEO reflects on fight for equality

Teresa Younger says the pursuit of political equality in the U.S. is far from over as she prepares to step down after leading the organization through the #MeToo era.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:41pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Teresa Younger, the outgoing CEO of the Ms. Foundation, the first national philanthropy run by women and for women, reflects on her tenure leading the organization through the #MeToo movement and the rollback of national abortion rights during Donald Trump's second presidency. Younger says the fight for political equality is far from over, but believes feminism is still alive and well, having been "the preservation of democracy and our constitutional rights" over the past 12 years.

Why it matters

The Ms. Foundation has played a key role in supporting grassroots groups serving marginalized populations and pioneering new funding models that have influenced the broader philanthropic sector. Younger's departure comes at a critical time, as the pursuit of equality faces significant challenges.

The details

As CEO, Younger took on domestic abuse by professional football players, expanded the foundation's investments in grassroots groups in the South and Midwest, and raised more than $100 million for its endowment. In 2018, the foundation embraced a strategy to advocate for resources to go to girls and women of color, which Younger says was a long time coming but resonated differently under her leadership as a Black and Indigenous woman.

  • Younger's term as CEO of the Ms. Foundation spanned the #MeToo movement and the rollback of national abortion rights.
  • Younger is set to step down from her role as CEO in June 2026.
  • The Ms. Foundation was founded in 1973 by Gloria Steinem, Patricia Carbine, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, and Marlo Thomas.

The players

Teresa Younger

The outgoing CEO of the Ms. Foundation, the first national philanthropy run by women and for women.

Ms. Foundation

The first national philanthropy run by women and for women, founded in 1973.

Gloria Steinem

One of the founders of the Ms. Foundation in 1973.

Lucia Woods Lindley

A photographer and heir to a wealthy Nebraska family whose fortune came from telecommunications and coal, who left the Ms. Foundation $50 million in her estate, the largest gift the foundation had ever received.

Melinda French Gates

Has committed billions to benefit women and girls through her philanthropic work.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I believe feminism is still alive and well. In fact, it has been the one thing that has been the preservation of democracy and our constitutional rights in some way over the past 12 years.”

— Teresa Younger, Outgoing CEO, Ms. Foundation (The Associated Press)

“There were new groups that were trying to help women where they were, to really understand what was going on in the home and to try to give women choices about what they could do if they were in an abusive situation.”

— Sunny Fischer, Co-founder, Chicago Foundation for Women (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The Ms. Foundation plans to announce Younger's replacement as CEO later this spring.

The takeaway

Younger's departure from the Ms. Foundation comes at a critical time, as the fight for political equality in the U.S. faces significant challenges. However, her tenure has shown the continued importance of feminist organizations in preserving democracy and supporting marginalized communities, even as the philanthropic sector as a whole remains slow to direct resources to women and girls of color.