What is the AAUW Fund? How Does it Affect Me?

What is the AAUW Fund? How does it affect me? The AAUW Fund covers all the mission-based funds of AAUW. It’s a general fund for donations, that can be used when and where it’s most needed. This prevents having some programs that are overfunded and some that are underfunded. By donating to the AAUW Fund, you are helping grow our highly successful, community-based, mission-driven programs, such as Tech Trek, Start Smart and Work Smart, Elect Her, the Legal Advocacy Fund, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, research, and more.

The AAUW Fund can never be used for administration, advertising or anything except our mission-based programs. Unrestricted donations to the AAUW Fund mean the money can go to any mission-based program. You may wonder where the Educational Funds are now. They’re a specific part of the general AAUW Fund.

One of the world’s largest sources of funding for graduate women, AAUW provided more than $3.7 million in funding for more than 241 fellowships and grants to outstanding women in the 2015–16 academic year. Due to the longstanding, generous contributions of AAUW members, a broader community of women continues to gain access to educational and economic opportunities — breaking through barriers so that even more women have a fair chance.

In the past, AAUW’s national membership dues covered the costs of managing and running mission-based programs. Though membership numbers have remained steady the past several years, membership dues have also remained the same, while program costs have risen annually. AAUW national membership dues now cover just 30 percent of the funds needed to support mission-based programs. Why is donating to the AAUW Fund important? “In short, the programs it supports get results for women and girls. And that’s AAUW’s top priority, now and in the future.”