National NOW Times >> Summer 2006  >> Article

Equality Action Fund Monthly Donors Support NOW's Work

By Rebecce Trinite, Development Associate

Over the past year, NOW's monthly giving program, the Equality Action Fund, has grown by leaps and bounds. Equality Action Partners make a monthly contribution to NOW, and these gifts provide a vital, reliable income that allows NOW to take immediate action whenever the need arises. "In order to maintain NOW's independence to take action on any issue affecting women, we do not rely on corporate donations or government grants to fund our work," said NOW Membership Vice President Latifa Lyles. "That means that we depend on individual gifts from out members to keep us going, and Equality Action Partners provide the consistent income that is our lifeblood."

The NOW Equality Action Fund was started during the Equal Rights Amendment campaign more than 25 years ago, and the name of the program came from that struggle. As NOW battled to include women's equality in the United States Constitution, it became clear that having a steady flow of funds allowed more time and energy to go toward the campaign itself instead of constantly fundraising for it.

Longtime Equality Action Fund contributor Karen Godshall says, "There have been times that my activism has waxed and waned, but this [program] has been a constant; complementing my activism in the busy times and assuaging my guilt when my time or enthusiasm for activism was more limited." Now, with the dire political climate and women's rights in peril, more and more NOW members are choosing to support our work in this way. The number of Equality Action Fund partners has doubled over the past year, and continuing that trend will strengthen us for the challenging times ahead.

NOW's Political Action Committee also accepts monthly 'sustainer' contributions, and NOW members have stepped up to the plate in unprecedented numbers to give monthly donations to NOW PAC. (Under federal elections law, only NOW members may contribute to the NOW PAC.)

"I am thrilled that more NOW members are becoming Equality Action Partners and joining the PAC sustainer program," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "The more contributors we have, the more effective our campaigns will be."

To become a monthly donor to NOW, visit the NOW web site at www.now.org/sustainer or call 202-628-8669 ext. 128 or write to sustainer@now.org. To become a monthly contributor to the NOW Political Action Committee, call 202-628-8669 ext. 121 or write to poldir@now.org.