This collection consists of reference and promotional materials from other organizations divided into eight record groups: Record Group I, Institutions; Record Group II, Periodicals; Record Group III, Monographs; Record Group IV, Conference and Agency Reports; Record Group V, Reference Materials; Record Group VI, "How-To" Manuals; Record Group VII, Audio-Visual Material; Record Group VIII, Miscellany.

The Global Fund for Women was established in 1987 by New Zealand-born Anne Firth Murray, its founding president and first CEO. According to its website, she and co-founders Frances Kissling and Laura Lederer were “determined to address the lack of funding available to women activists worldwide with the creation of a global foundation dedicated to their support. Dame Nita Barrow, former governor general of Barbados, and a leading figure in the global women's movement was the fourth founding member of the Global Fund. In September 1996, Murray retired and was succeeded by Kavita N. Ramdas.” Ramdas, the current president and C.E.O. of the Global Fund, received an honorary degree from Mills College in 2009. The Global Fund for Women describes itself as “an international network of women and men committed to a world of equality and social justice. We advocate for and defend women's human rights by making grants to support women's groups around the world. We are part of a global women's movement that is rooted in a commitment to justice and an appreciation of the value of women's experience. The challenges women face vary widely across communities, cultures, religions, traditions and countries. We believe that women should have a full range of choices, and that women themselves know best how to determine their needs and propose solutions for lasting change. The way in which we do our work is as important as what we do. This philosophy is reflected in our flexible, respectful and responsive style of grantmaking. The Global Fund makes grants to seed, strengthen and link women's rights groups based outside the United States working to address human rights issues that include: * Ending Gender-Based Violence and Building Peace * Ensuring Economic and Environmental Justice * Advancing Health and Sexual and Reproductive Rights * Expanding Civic and Political Participation * Increasing Access to Education * Fostering Social Change Philanthropy”

69 linear feet

Contact the Special Collections Curator, F. W. Olin Library, Mills College for copyright and permission to publish information.

Collection open for research.