Advancing gender equity for women in nonprofit
It’s not just the right thing.
It’s the smart thing.
%
of nonprofit professionals are women
%
of CEOs in the country's largest nonprofit organizations are women
%
wage gap for nonprofit women at every level
Women make the nonprofit world go ’round. Just not at the highest levels. The research is conclusive: when women are equally represented in leadership, organizations are more innovative, more productive, and more profitable.
You do the math.
Closing the wage and leadership gaps isn’t just right, it’s smart.
And it’s time.
Our mission is to level the playing field and advance gender equity in the nonprofit space.
Our vision is a strong and equal nonprofit sector where everyone’s efforts have greater impact.
The Founders
Erica Helphand
Erica has been a recognized leader in the Peer to Peer space for nearly 20 years. A relentless advocate for women and girls, she proudly serves on the Board for Girls on the Run. As Managing Partner and COO of a women-owned event production and fundraising consulting agency, Erica is all too familiar with gender disparity in the nonprofit space and all the ways it holds women back. Though LA-based now, this born and raised New Yorker was hooked on events after donating to cyclist friends—then joining them as a volunteer lead—on the Boston New York AIDS Ride. Beyond her extensive event production and fundraising consulting experience, Erica's passion for people—coworkers, client partners, event volunteers, and participants alike— is what drives her commitment to continuous improvement. Her teams have created two of the industry's most successful fundraising event series, but it's her background—steeped in development from the very beginning—and her focus on the highest level of customer service that keeps those fundraisers coming back. Erica was recently nominated for LASSO's "Top Women in the Event Production Industry" awards.
Cathy Kestler
Cathy is a brand, marketing and fundraising strategist, partnering with nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and board executives to spark innovation and grow their brands. Cathy’s career is a true amalgamation of strategizing, planning, and executing compelling fundraising, marketing, and leadership development programs that either position brands as market leaders or develop the next generation of business leaders. Cathy spent 18+ years working with some of the country’s largest health organizations raising funds and awareness in the fight against diseases — from HIV/AIDs and breast cancer, to Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and muscular dystrophy. No matter the cause, her goal is simple — to empower organizations and thought leaders to differentiate themselves and drive results in pursuit of their mission. Part of that differentiation is internal. “I’ve been lucky to work with some truly visionary women at the highest levels who insisted on market-based salaries and leadership development, two contributing factors in the nonprofit gender gap.” Cathy is a passionate advocate for women in the workplace. She didn’t have to think twice when Erica approached her to partner on Ellementary.
Our Partners
