FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About Us

How is WPLN funded and by whom?

• WPLN is a 501(c)(3)-designated nonprofit funded by individuals like you, corporations, and foundations. To date, we have received generous support from Democracy Fund, Pivotal Ventures, Hess Corporation, Verizon, and others. We are actively seeking corporate and foundation partners to support our ongoing efforts to produce and distribute resources to women wherever they are in their political journey.

When was WPLN founded and by whom?

• The organization was initially cofounded in 2017 by Larissa Martinez, Rina Shah, and Cameron Kilberg as Women’s Influencer Network (WIN).  Through the hard work of an active and dedicated board, their vision gave birth in 2019 to Women’s Public Leadership Network with an expanded commitment to building a pipeline of women entering public service and running for office through a combination of trainings and grants, and access to a nationwide network of organizations, practitioners, and individual members.

Is there a specific or general platform of issues that WPLN supports or focuses on?

• We do not take specific policy positions or support specific political platforms. Our organization’s priority is equipping and inspiring women who seek pragmatic commonsense solutions to enter public office and be effective advocates for the policies and platforms that matter most to them.

How can an organization be nonpartisan and right-leaning?

• When we say center- and right-leaning, right of center, or center-right, we are referring to ideology, not political parties. We are a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and we do not take any specific policy positions or endorse any candidates, nor do we directly endorse, engage, or affiliate with any political parties. 
  
  And while it is no secret that women remain underrepresented in political leadership, the data supports that there is a lack of center- and right-leaning women in public office. In fact, a 2021 Gallup poll found that 69% of women identified their political ideology as conservative or moderate. Yet in Congress, only one out of every four women lean right. WPLN is working to address that imbalance by training and equipping women from across the political spectrum to serve in public life, so that all women’s voices are represented.

Who is a center-right woman?

• Center- and right-leaning are not partisan terms but are used to identify a certain ideological leaning. A center-right woman self-identifies as seeking commonsense, pragmatic policy solutions and wants to be an effective public servant, not just a politician. We have observed that women who identify as center- and right-leaning in their ideological beliefs experience different challenges than their peers on the left. We want to help address these barriers and encourage more women in leadership roles at every level across the country.

Why was WPLN created? And why does the organization only focus on women? 

• WPLN was created as a response to the need for educational resources and mentor support in order to mitigate the barriers that are unique to women seeking leadership positions. Across the board, women are being encouraged and empowered by their communities to seek public leadership roles. WPLN provides the resources and support to seize those opportunities. We focus specifically on women because they are underrepresented in policy-making spaces, and we believe that increased diversity among decision-makers and leaders produces better outcomes for all Americans.

Does WPLN have state or local chapters? 

• We do not have local and state chapters. We are a national 501(c)(3) organization with staff all over the country, but we do partner with state-based training organizations around the country. If you’re looking for more information about WPLN State Partners, advisors, or practitioners in your area, visit our State Partner Network page or email hello@womenspublicleadership.net.

State Partner Network

What are the criteria to receive a grant?

• Funding is by invitation-only. To be invited to apply, an organization must first demonstrate alignment with our mission. Second, an organization must participate in WPLN Network programming. Organizations must also file with the IRS under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. To learn more about becoming a member of WPLN’s State Partner Network, please contact us.

Can individuals apply for grants or just the state partner organizations?

• We do not fund individuals at this time. Only 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) organizations are invited to apply. To get more information about grants, please contact hello@womenspublicleadership.net.

WPLN Partners, Practitioners, and Advisors

How many State Partners do you have?

• WPLN currently has 11 state partners, and we are looking to expand as the organization grows. Eligible state partners may apply for funding to help further their mission and outreach. We offer Operational & Program Grants (OPG) to existing partner states, and New Development Cohort (NDC) grants for newly recruited state partners. Organizations must be invited to apply for WPLN grants.

Are WPLN State Partners aligned with a specific political party, and is that a requirement to partnership?

• No, we are a nonpartisan organization, and therefore do not claim any party affiliation or influence who our partners or the public are voting for. Our objective is to offer training, grant-making, and marketing resources to women who want to advocate for commonsense, pragmatic solutions and serve as leaders in their communities; and we believe all viewpoints should be represented.

How can my organization become a WPLN Partner?

• To become a National or State Partner with WPLN, your organization must demonstrate alignment with WPLN’s Mission of supporting more women in positions of leadership—whether they are running for office, seeking appointment, or working behind the scenes, and shared values, including integrity of conduct and respect for all people. Partner organizations may include corporate sponsors, professional associations, and nonprofits, to name a few. Not all partner organizations are eligible to apply for grants. Organizations must be invited to apply for WPLN grants. To learn more about the process to become a partner or grantee, please contact Maureen McInerney, Director of Development.

How can individuals be involved in WPLN’s work?

• Practitioners: Issue-area experts that WPLN has vetted and invited to teach online courses or recommend to partner groups as an expert speaker. Practitioners are featured on course materials and the WPLN website. These practitioners are selected by invitation only. If you’d like to be considered, please email us.

• Advisory Council: Trusted advisors to provide feedback on WPLN performance and help identify market trends. This group is a complementary force to the WLPN Board of Directors by providing additional insights from different states and networks on the strength and health of WPLN initiatives. Click here to learn more about our Advisory Council and apply.

• Mentors: Women leaders who have currently or have previously held elected or appointed office are invited to become a mentor to the next generation. If you’d like to share your expertise with other women throughout their political journey, please contact us.

Are any elected officials and leaders already involved with this effort?

• We have a number of men and women from across the country and political aisle involved with the work WPLN is doing—from former elected officials to practitioners in political campaigns, marketing, etc. We will be updating our website as our Impact Council grows and we add members to our Board of Directors.

Contact & Donations

How can I sign up to receive WPLN emails and updates?

• Thanks for your interest in helping women seek public office at every level! To sign up for exclusive updates please visit our contact page and subscribe.

Where can I find out about jobs and internships at WPLN?

• We love that you’re interested in joining our team! You can find information about current openings and opportunities to join our team here. 

How do I make a donation to WPLN? Do you have a PayPal option?

• If you would like to contribute, please visit our donation page. All of our website donations are securely processed through Anedot. If you’d like to set up a monthly recurring donation, you can also do this on our website. PayPal donations can be made on Anedot’s secure link. If you have specific questions about your contribution, please contact Anedot Donor Support at (225) 250-1301.

• If you’d like to contribute from your donor-advised fund, you may do so by clicking here. Our EIN is 82-3608509.

Are donations to Women’s Public Leadership Network tax deductible?

• Yes, WPLN is a non-profit organization organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by law.

What is the best way to contact WPLN?

• To sign up to receive regular updates, including our monthly newsletter, subscribe here. Media inquiries and speaker requests should be directed to media@womenspublicleadership.net. All other inquiries should be sent to hello@womenspublicleadership.net. 

WPLN Training Curriculum & Online Platform

Does it cost anything to participate in the training?

• No, WPLN aims to keep our online training platform free for anyone who would like to take our courses and engage our network. You can sign up for free by visiting training.womenspublicleadership.net.

What courses are available?

• Currently, we offer three courses:

  • Is Running Right for Me?

  • Campaign Laws & Requirements

  • Fundraising

  To learn more about our courses, you can also visit our Individual Resources page.

WPLN Store

I have a question about an order I placed in the WPLN store. 

• Please visit Bonfire's Buyer Help Center for questions about merchandise purchased through WPLN's Bonfire Store. You can also track your order and request additional help on the Bonfire website.