MomsRising is a Seattle-based left-of-center advocacy group focusing on issues facing women, such as paid family leave, health care, and nutrition. The group works to educate the public on these issues and to mobilize grassroots actions to assist at the federal, state, and local levels.¹ MomsRising is part of the progressive movement, having led efforts to resist President Trump following his election in 2016.²

In addition to the work in government policy, MomsRising campaigns against businesses, charging that they discriminate against women and mothers, and that their products are sometimes unsafe.³

Initiatives

In early 2017, MomsRising urged its members to take action on several left-wing priorities, including opposing President Donald Trump’s cabinet appointments, pressing Congress to adopt national paid family and medical leave legislation, defending Obamacare, and pushing Nickelodeon to stop accepting advertising for junk food.⁴

The group helps lead progressive protests. The group helped organize the “Women’s March” in Washington following President Trump’s inauguration. A few dozen women and children wore capes featuring MomRising’s logo inside the Maryland State Senate building on February 2, 2017, in support of the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, a bill to allow employees to earn paid “sick and safe leave.”⁵ PBS reported the group was “hoping to harness the energy of the anti-Trump movement” following the 2016 election, and trying to create multiple ways for its members, who lead busy lives, to get involved.⁶

Criticism of Trump Administration

MomsRising signed a letter condemning the immigration policy of the Trump Administration and urging American CEOs not to employ anyone involved with the policy. It accused these officials of being directly guilty for physical abuse, sexual assault, and even the death of illegal immigrant children. The letter was titled “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs” and was dated April 6, 2019. ⁷

People

Also see MomsRising Education Fund (nonprofit)

The members of the Board of Directors of the MomsRising Education Fund, the fundraising arm of the organization, include National Domestic Workers Alliance executive director Al-jen Poo, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law president and executive director Barbara Arnwine, and Hispanics in Philanthropy vice president Julene Perez-Gonzalez. MomsRising co-founders Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner and Joan Blades also serve on that board.⁸

Rowe-Finkbeiner also serves as executive director and has been a political activist for two decades. In addition to her work with MomsRising, she wrote the books The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy and The Motherhood Manifesto. She also has hosted radio shows and been a frequent public speaker on issues pertaining to women.⁹ She received total compensation of $141,400 in 2014, according to the organization’s IRS 990 form.¹⁰

Funding

MomsRising reported total revenue of $3,578,663 and expenses of $3,379,362 in 2014. The top expense in the program service accomplishments category on the group’s 2014 IRS 990 form is listed simply as “Early Learning,” with $270,927 in expenditures. MomsRising put an additional $230,064 toward its program Raising All Voices according to that document.¹¹ The program works to increase civic engagement of all cultures to advocate for a family-friendly America.¹²

The MomsRising Education Fund reported giving MomsRising $1,810,809 in grants for its programs in 2014.¹³

1. “About MomsRising.” MomsRising. Accessed February 6, 2017. https://www.momsrising.org/page/moms/aboutmomsrising
2. “Take Action on our Hottest Campaigns.” MomsRising. Accessed February 13, 2017. https://www.momsrising.org/page/moms/take-action
3. “About MomsRising.” MomsRising. Accessed February 6, 2017. https://www.momsrising.org/page/moms/aboutmomsrising
4. “Take Action on our Hottest Campaigns.” MomsRising. Accessed February 13, 2017. https://www.momsrising.org/page/moms/take-action
5. Brodsky, Jake. “Families Dresses as Superheroes Lobby for Sick-Leave Bill.” CBS Baltimore. February 2, 2017. Accessed February 7, 2017. http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/02/02/families-dressed-as-superheroes-lobby-for-sick-leave-bill/
6. Frazee, Gretchen. “Can the Women’s March organizers maintain momentum?” February 6, 2017. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/can-womens-march-organizers-maintain-momentum/
7. “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs.” Restore Public Trust. April 6, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/04/Restore-Public-Trust-Open-Letter-Asylum-04.2019.pdf
8. “The members of the MomsRising Education Fund Board of Directors.” MomsRising. Accessed February 13, 2017. https://www.momsrising.org/blog/users/the-members-of-the-momsrising-education-fund-board-of-direct
9. “About the Authors.” MomsRising. Accessed April 3, 2017. https://www.momsrising.org/page/moms/manifesto/authors
10. Guidestar: MomsRising IRS 990 Form 2014. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/204/448/2014-204448446-0be29e4f-9O.pdf
11. Guidestar: MomsRising IRS 990 Form 2014. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/204/448/2014-204448446-0be29e4f-9O.pdf
12. Guidestar: MomsRising profile. Accessed February 13, 2017. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/7036548
13. Guidestar: MomsRising Education Fund IRS 990 Form 2014. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/452/499/2014-452499952-0c278a45-9.pdf