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And the 11th Anniversary LEAD Award goes to...Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt!

11th Anniversary LEAD Award recipient Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt

An activist within the women's funding movement for the past 20 years, Helen LaKelly Hunt has been named the winner of the 2007 LEAD Award. The award is presented to individuals representing foundations or corporate giving programs in recognition of significant accomplishments in developing and supporting creative programs or practices that promote equity and diversity for women and girls.

When notified that she would be receiving the LEAD Award - placing her among the ranks of previous LEAD Award recipients: Susan Berresford, Jean Fairfax, Katherine Acey, Susan Notkin & Jai Lee Wong (awarded together), Jing Lyman, John Kostishack, Kavita Ramdas, Liz Bremner and Adisa Douglas - Dr. Hunt responded:

"Receiving the LEAD Award honors the collective vision of women's funds, which is transforming the face of philanthropy. I am inspired by these trailblazers whose work has expanded women's funding into a global connection."

Dr. Hunt is founder of The Sister Fund, a private women's fund dedicated to the social, political, economic, and spiritual empowerment of women and girls, and has helped establish a number of other women's funding institutions, including the Dallas Women's Foundation, the New York Women's Foundation and the National Network of Women's Funds (now Women's Funding Network). She has also served on the Boards of Directors of the Ms. Foundation for Women, Women & Philanthropy, and the New York City Women's Agenda.

Helen LaKelly Hunt is someone who understands and promotes the ideal that funding and leadership for gender, diversity and equity are essential components of effective philanthropy. Committed to building society that invites the full participation of all, Dr. Hunt has long recognized the need to strengthen women's rights and leadership. It is this commitment coupled with her steadfast efforts to create new and innovative ways to channel resources to the women's funding community that captured the attention of this year's LEAD Award Selection Committee.

"Helen's leadership in galvanizing women philanthropists to make million dollar gifts to women's funds has tremendous implications for the women's funding movement - indeed, for all of philanthropy. " -- Tori O'Neal-McElrath, Chair for the LEAD Award Selection Committee.

For more information about Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, The Sister Fund, or any of her other endeavors, please visit www.helenlakellyhunt.com, www.sisterfund.org and www.faithandfeminism.org.


Endowed by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 1997, the LEAD (Leadership, Equity, and Diversity) Award honors outstanding philanthropic leadership that pushes the boundaries of traditional grantmaking by prioritizing the needs of women and girls and the importance of diversity in philanthropy and at all levels of leadership. LEAD Awardees are selected through an annual nomination process followed by a rigourous committee selection process. Click here for a list of the 2007 LEAD Award Selection Committee.

Recipients of the LEAD Award:

Seven LEAD Award recipients - Elizabeth L. Bremner, Katherine Acey, Susan Notkin, Adisa Douglas, Susan Berresford, Marie C. Wilson, and Kavita N. Ramdas
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