Our Empowering Youth program area provides the tools needed for young people to develop into their best selves through mentorship, education, and guidance during their formative years.

Empowering Youth

Our Empowering Women program area aims to create pathways that unlock the potential of mentorship, workforce preparation, career guidance, leadership and beyond.

Empowering Women

Our Empowering Innovation program area works with partners to find, fund, and deliver innovative projects that seek new ways to change the world.

Empowering Innovation

Stories from our participants – in their own words.

As an equestrian in progress I feel as if meeting horses was the most amazing thing to happen to me. For the last year I have been meeting new people and making connections with all of the horses at the farm. I genuinely like the lessons. I like how the coaches have a different response to each rider. I think that the fun times we had were when we learned how to do backflips. I feel as if all the practice has made me a better person overall.”
Raven
9th Grade Rider | BridgeUP GiddyUP
This space, this moment, these women … they make me feel so seen.

They make me feel like I am enough.
Millie
BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Graduate
The sisterhood of advice, council, and encouragement, fundamentally prepared me for the search process and ability to confidently step into this new role.
Tinashe Kajese-Bolden
Artistic Director, Alliance Theater | BOLD Women’s Leadership Circle

HELEN AND DAVID

The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation was established in 2010 as The Pussycat Foundation, named after Helen’s favorite term of endearment, and thanks to the trust of David and Helen Gurley Brown. Since then, the Foundation has been actively awarding grants to individuals and to fund programs from their inception.

  • LATEST updates

    Community Impact Projects, Theater Adaptations, and Youth-Driven Newsrooms: February 2026 Updates!

    February has been a month full of meaning and momentum at the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation. On February 18th, Helen’s birthday, we paused to celebrate the woman whose vision continues to fuel everything we do. Helen Gurley Brown didn’t wait for doors to open — she created them herself. From a secretary’s desk in Los Angeles to the helm of one of the world’s most iconic magazines, she proved that ambition, resourcefulness, and an unwavering belief in yourself could take you anywhere. Her spirit lives on in every grant, scholarship, and program we support.  Helen’s legacy is still making magic.…

    Read more

    Community Impact Projects, Theater Adaptations, and Youth-Driven Newsrooms: February 2026 Updates!