Empowering Women
We believe that women can accomplish anything. Equipped with the resources and tools necessary to thrive, our programs focusing on gender parity strive to empower women and to support them as they become leaders in their respective fields. Our programs are designed to cultivate collaborative leadership and to provide women with a flourishing and supportive community and network of peers. We believe in the power of mentorship and lending a helping hand to those that come after us. And by doing so, we are working to create a pipeline of talented women who look out for one another, inspire and mentor future generations.
Discover our programs working towards achieving gender equity
BOLD Women’s Leadership Network
90
Completed Fellowships
Established in 2016, the BOLD Women’s Leadership Network is a pioneering program cultivating courageous leadership in young women, during the college years and beyond. BOLD facilitates opportunities for women’s career development and networking through different types of funding.
BOLD Scholarships are awarded to college women their junior year, in cohorts of at least 7 BOLD Scholars, who have demonstrated leadership potential. Dedicated BOLD Directors and volunteers help Scholars develop their leadership skills, clarify their career objectives, and provide experiences that will help them become leaders in their lives and careers after college. BOLD Scholars are also eligible to apply for a post-graduate “Helen Fellowship”, which allows them to bring their own salary to a non-profit organization of their choice. Additionally, cohorts at each school may apply for a ‘Magic Grant’ from the Foundation to support projects that will transform their immediate campus or the surrounding community.
Our current partner institutions are Rutgers University-Newark, Middlebury College, Ithaca College, The College of Saint Rose, University of Connecticut, and Colby-Sawyer College. Our partner schools must have a woman President at the time of selection and demonstrate a commitment to gender equality within their administrative leadership.
35%
of Fellowships that led to job offers
61%
Average tuition covered per scholar
BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle
Established in 2018, the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle is a community of women-identifying artistic directors in professional theaters across the United States. The BOLD Circle addresses issues preventing women from advancing in theater leadership by offering significant support for artistic initiatives focused on women artists, designers, and writers. The Circle’s formal mentorship program trains and prepares future artistic directors to lead, create, and innovate and aspires to enhance the place of theater in the American culture. Through an RFP process, theaters are selected to receive a grant that supports:
Women writers, directors or designers
A new Associate Director role within their theater for a woman to be mentored and trained by the Artistic Director
The development of a new piece of musical theater by at least one woman artist among the creative team
This visionary initiative was founded to bridge the career gaps that still exist for women in the American theater and to empower women artistic directors to advance in theater leadership.
11
BOLD Associates have gone on to become an Artistic Director (or equivalent)
68
Honors & Awards recieved
89
new works produced
The Helen Gurley Brown Presidential Initiative at Dana-Farber
The Helen Gurley Brown Presidential Initiative at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute was established in 2016 to address the unique challenges that women in science face. While great strides and progress have been made in support of women in science, there is still much left to do when it comes to leadership. The HGB Presidential Initiative at Dana-Farber recognizes these challenges and funds fellowships for women in academic science, known as Helen Fellows. The Fellowship covers two years of funding for the fellows’ salary, research, and professional development (including attendance at scientific conferences). Moreover, each Helen Fellow is paired with a Helen Mentor, a more senior female scientist who can provide guidance related to research as well as career advice. Beyond mentorship, this initiative also provides professional development in the form of semi-annual meetings with all the fellows, mentors, and President of Dana-Farber, Dr. Laurie Glimcher. Every year, the HGB Initiative proudly presents the Helen Gurley Brown Presidential Summit, which focuses on the career paths of women in science.
37
Papers published in academic journals
79%
Fellows have gone on to be mentors in their fields
GLASSBREAKER FILMS
Established in 2017, Glassbreaker Films finds, funds, and supports women in short-documentary filmmaking. Our goal is to provide financial resources to support women telling great and diverse stories that inspire audiences. We recognize that solely providing financial resources is not enough. Beyond providing start-up financial support, we sustainably empower women through our funding model which allows all rights to remain with the artist, where they belong.
Glassbreaker Films celebrates Helen’s and David’s spirit of innovation and their commitment to transformative storytelling. Historically, we have focused on early-career filmmakers, and innovative shorts as audience interaction and engagement with shorter-form videos grows. However, we also award grants to established filmmakers working on feature-length documentaries for whom a Glassbreaker Films grant would make a difference. Glassbreaker Films have received Academy Award nominations, Emmy awards, Tribeca and Sundance Festival selections, amongst many other honors.
“Women want what men want – to be treated equitably, to be cherished, respected, adored, and encouraged in their work.”
— Helen Gurley Brown