About the WLF
Mission Statement:The DNC’s Women's Leadership Forum engages women in our democracy by organizing regional and national events -- providing women with information, contacts and inspiration for further involvement -- while generating significant financial support for the Democratic Party.
Current Activities:The WLF is working to fulfill its mission by offering the following opportunities, all with an emphasis on substantive information, discussion and action:
- Annual National Issues Conference
- Regional events that share/present policy initiatives, raise political awareness and cultivate new members
- Conference calls with policy and political leaders
- Email updates and calls to action
In May 2010 the WLFpresented its 16th Annual National Issues Conference with a keynote address by First Lady Michelle Obama. Leading up to the Midterm elections, WLF organized fundraisers in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco-- these events were hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama and several well known hosts. During Get Out the Vote, WLF participated in a DNC organized conference call with the First Lady; Dr. Jill Biden; Alice Germond, Secretary of the DNC; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC Vice Chair and actress Kerry Washington
During the 2008 presidential election WLF partnered with Women for Obama to launch the National Women’s Leadership Initiative, a joint effort to recruit and engage women leaders from across the country to work together and raise money in support of President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.
In October 2008 the WLF and Women for Obama hosted approximately 1500 women in Chicago for a two-day conference featuring President Barack Obama, the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Oprah Winfrey, and many other issue experts, elected officials, and senior campaign advisors. In addition to raising more than $5 million on behalf of women across the country, the National Women’s Leadership Issues Conference served to highlight the role and significance of women’s leadership in electing President Barack Obama, presented important policy and campaign strategy updates, and provided field tools for women to take back to their communities.
Based on the success of the “Take Five” program, WLF and the Women’s Vote Center launched “Take Six in ‘06” which asked women to educate and encourage six women to join them at the polls on Election Day in 2006. The following year Nancy Pelosi was elected as the first woman Speaker of the House and Kirsten Gillibrand, the WLF NY Network Chair, took office as the first WLF member elected to Congress.
In 2004 the WLF and the Women’s Vote Center rolled out the “Take Five” program which encouraged every Democratic woman to bring five women to the polls on Election Day. The WLF partnered with Women for Kerry to reach as many women possible during this election cycle.
In 2003 the WLF celebrated its’ 10th Anniversary with events across the nation and at the Annual Issues Conference with the theme “It’s Time to Tell the Truth… The Real State of the Union.”
In 2001, the WLF founded the Women’s Vote Center, a new DNC initiative to recruit and train women to serve as effective political advocates and future leaders and engage with grassroots leaders across the country.
In 1994, Tipper Gore was named the first WLF Honorary Chair. In the year leading up to the 1996 re-election, Hillary Clinton and Tipper Gore hosted dozens of WLF events across the country. In the years leading up to the 2000 election the WLF hosts networking events in several cities, as well as an annual conference bringing together thousands of women and raising a record-breaking $7 million during the 2000 election cycle.
In 1993, Tipper Gore and 36 women gathered to discuss ways to give women a greater voice in the National Party. The outcome: a new DNC finance council called the Women’s Leadership Forum. with its mission to maintain a viable women’s program that is an integral part of the Democratic National Committee. Since its formation, the WLF has established a strong record of outreach and fundraising for the Democratic Party through briefings, events across the nation and the annual National Issues Conference.
