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Women’s Foundation of Alabama announces the February 2025 resignation of President and CEO Melanie R. Bridgeforth, punctuating one of the most transformative eras in the foundation’s rich 28-year history. Named chief executive in 2018, Bridgeforth catapulted the organization from a regional women’s fund to a philanthropic powerhouse and statewide influencer advancing women’s economic power.
“Melanie is one of the most consequential leaders in Alabama. For the past six years, her vision and leadership has not only inspired, but activated a broad base of thousands of philanthropists, business and civic leaders, and elected officials to build, invest, and scale proven initiatives and public policies that grow economies by removing barriers to women,” said Lajuana Bradford, Board Chair, Women’s Foundation of Alabama and head of Corporate Philanthropy for Regions. “But she didn’t just transform the mission of Women’s Foundation of Alabama, she transformed our business with record growth in revenue, assets, size, and market presence statewide. Her track record, combined with a strong board and team, positions the organization to win for women now and in the future.”
Under Bridgeforth’s leadership, revenue increased by 174 percent, culminating in a transformative capital raise bringing in $9.4 million in just over a year. Marked revenue increases positioned Women’s Foundation of Alabama to scale programming and double grantmaking to $1,000,000 annually to nonprofit organizations across 40 Alabama counties. Bridgeforth wielded her decades long career as a lobbyist and strategist to bring Women’s Foundation of Alabama off of the sidelines and into the game of public policy resulting in three defensive victories and six pro-women legislative wins, including the state’s first Equal Pay Statute, a $2.25 million cumulative state budget appropriation to partner in preparing women for in-demand careers, and the 2024 Child Care Tax Credit – an historic $67.5 million public investment in the critical infrastructure and workforce that keeps Alabama working.
“Alabama won’t win until our women do. Even if we all agree on this notion, our state still needed a catalyst with vision, bold new ideas and solutions, and the ability to galvanize state leaders around a common goal of growing our state’s economy by removing the barriers that impede women. Melanie is that catalyst,” said Quentin P. Riggins, Board of Directors, Women’s Foundation of Alabama and senior vice president of Governmental and Corporate Affairs at Alabama Power. “As she steps into her next chapter of building her own social enterprise, Melanie’s impact will continue to be felt in and beyond Alabama, as will the impact of Women’s Foundation of Alabama as we continue the charge to move 10,000 women into the workforce and on the path to economic mobility by 2027.”
In recognition of Bridgeforth’s transformational impact, the Board of Directors for Women’s Foundation of Alabama is proud to announce the establishment of the Melanie R. Bridgeforth Power and Possibility Fund. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, all contributions up to $250,000 will be matched dollar for dollar for total of $500,000. This endowed fund will continue her legacy and Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s legacy as the leading voice for women in the state for generations to come. For more information, visit the website.
The Board of Directors of Women’s Foundation of Alabama also announced it will launch a national search with support of a volunteer-led Transition Committee to assist them in identifying the next leader of the foundation.
Bridgeforth will serve as president and CEO until February 28, 2025.
