Melanie R. Bridgeforth, MSW
President and CEO
About
Overview
A U.S. Chamber of Commerce report from late October of 2022 stated that Alabama had 143,000 job openings, but only 53 unemployed workers for every 100 open jobs. It hasn’t gotten any better. With more than 80,000 women missing from the state’s workforce, helping women get to work is a critical part of the solution to this crippling economic problem.
Our mission
Women’s Foundation of Alabama is the leading voice and philanthropic engine for women in the state, driving a mission of gender and economic equity. A trusted leader in the philanthropic sector for more than two decades, in recent years, we have strategically expanded power and influence beyond Greater Birmingham and even beyond philanthropy, creating systemic change through ground-breaking research and legislative advocacy statewide.
The Women’s foundation of Alabama has invested more than $8 million in initiatives, research, and policy to strengthen our community by building equitable opportunities for women.
Driven by research, we identify and fund innovative solutions to address critical needs and remove barriers to create deep, lasting change for our region and state.
As Alabama’s first and only philanthropic foundation focused solely on addressing the needs of women and girls, we leverage the resources of generous individuals, nonprofits, corporate partners, and community leaders to build a world where all women thrive.
By accelerating opportunities for all women, we also strengthen entire families and communities today and for generations to come.
Mission: Women’s Foundation of Alabama is a community-driven foundation impacting the world around us by accelerating economic opportunity for women.
Vision: We envision a society where power and possibility are not limited by gender, race, or place.
Values: Insight, Advocacy, Impact, Equity, and Inclusion
About us
Team
We are proud to have assembled a mighty and diverse team of women all of whom are committed to growing our impact across the state of Alabama.
President and CEO
Chief Operating Officer
Vice President, Philanthropy and Learning
Director of Development
Program Officer
Senior Program Officer
Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer
Communications and Grassroots Coordinator
Development Coordinator
Executive Assistant
Alliance Development
Board
Recruited from businesses, organizations, and communities across the state, our Board of Directors provides insight and guidance to our team, helping us to achieve our mission.
Regions Bank | Trussville
Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Philanthropy and Partnerships
Law Offices of Robert Simms Thompson, P.C. | Tuskegee
Attorney
Community Volunteer | Birmingham
Highland Associates | Birmingham
Managing Director
Uniti | Spanish Fort
Chief Development Officer
Huntsville City Schools | Huntsville
Director of Public Development
Ram Tool | Birmingham
Former Chair
Friedman Law Firm, P.C. | Birmingham
President
Thank You Books | Birmingham
Owner
LBH Designs | Mobile
Owner
Walmart | Mountain Brook
Vice President of Walmart GoLocal
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama | Hoover
Vice President, Claims & Benefit
Administrator
Tessa Commercial Real Estate | Birmingham
Principal
Protective Life Corporation | Birmingham
Senior Vice President
Capitol Scholars Program, The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa
Executive Director
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court | Montgomery
Judge
Alabama Power Company | Birmingham
Senior Vice President, Governmental
and Corporate Affairs
Jefferson State Community College | Birmingham
Dean of Economic Development
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP | Birmingham
Attorney (Partner)
Hampton Stephens Design | Birmingham
Designer
Consultant | Chunchula
UAB | Birmingham
Retired Nurse