By Christine Schmitz, Vice President, AAUW Maryland Funds

AAUW has played an important role in working toward equality for women.   Many achievements have been made but there is still much to be done to gain full equality with men.     Women are still on average paid only 78 cents for every dollar men are paid.   Only 20% of the members of Congress are women and only 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.    I know that as an AAUW member you are familiar with these statistics.

Because of the work AAUW has done over the years in these areas, it is well positioned to work on taking these challenges to the next level.   Hence, the campaign “Charting the Course”.    This campaign is geared to raising $1,000,000 in unrestricted funds by December 31, 2016.     Because these funds are unrestricted, AAUW will be able to put the money to programs where the need is greatest.    Only one of AAUW’s programs – fellowships and grants – is fully funded through restricted gifts.   Every other program such as research, leadership development and advocacy relies on unrestricted gifts.     Recently, Tech Trek, $tart $mart, and Elect Her-Campus Women Win have been launched on a national scale because of unrestricted gifts.

These unrestricted funds also give AAUW the flexibility to act quickly in the face of any new challenges facing women and girls.   Just a note, membership dues cover just 30% of AAUW’s expenses.

I am pleased to report that to date over $600,000 in contributions have been made to this campaign.   More than 400 donors have participated thus far.   How can you participate?   The easiest way is to go to www.aauw.org/chartingthecourse and click on the donate button.

Branches will be recognized as “Charting the Course” Navigators if ten or more branch members make individual gifts totaling $25,000 or more by December 31, 2016.  If a Branch or State makes a $25,000 gift from its treasury by the deadline, they also will be recognized as a Navigator.

Please consider how you can participate in this important venture.