"If you want to lift up humanity, empower women. It's the most comprehensive, pervasive, high-leverage investment you can make in human beings. "
- Melinda French Gates, The Moment of Lift
How Empowering Women Changes the World
Our
Story
At the heart of Mothers' Day Movement lies a profound realization: Love transcends borders, and empowerment can spark change. In his New York Times column on May 8, 2010, Nicholas Kristof made the case for moving the apostrophe in Mother’s Day so that it honors not just one mother, but mothers around the globe. Mothers’ Day was his idea. Further inspired by Kristof and WuDunn's tales of women's resilience in their book Half the Sky, we started the Mothers' Day Movement. We want to create a world where the commercial gift-giving of Mother's Day can be harnessed for real, transformative impact. We embarked on a journey seeking to redirect the billions spent on fleeting gifts to create lasting ripples of change for mothers globally. This is not just our story; it's an ongoing tale of global solidarity and love.
Join us, and let's redefine the essence of Mother's Day, together.
WE ARE MOTHERS HELPING MOTHERS
Mothers' Day Movement has only one goal, to shift the priorities of giving for Mothers’ Day. We urge familes who celebrate Mother's Day to shift their gift-giving habits and to make a donation in honor of their mothers, friends, sisters, or any special women in their lives.
Founded in 2011
Inspired by the book "Half the Sky" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, a group of dedicated women established the Mothers' Day Movement (MDM) to combat the oppression of women and girls globally.
Future Direction
Inspired by the book "Half the Sky" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, a group of dedicated women established the Mothers' Day Movement (MDM) to combat the oppression of women and girls globally.
Creating a Movement
MDM evolved, standing as an independent force with a passion to redirect the substantial $35.7 billion spent on commercial Mother's Day gifts in the U.S., channeling these funds for a more profound global impact.
Shifting Spending
In 2023, Mother’s Day spending in the US topped $35.7 billion on gifts, meals and flowers with American families spending, on average, $180. By comparison, $30 billion can fund an education for 60 million girls in the developing world.
Empowering Mothers Globally
Over the years, MDM has championed various causes, working tirelessly to empower and uplift mothers and their communities around the world, turning commercialized gestures into transformative actions.
Stronger Together
Our movement unites people to shift their gift-giving priorities to bring life-changing funds to women and their families in need. We have raised nearly $1 million creating positive change for maternal health, education, safety and economic empowerment.
HOW IT WORKS
1
Collaborative Research & Selection
Every year, we research small to mid-sized 501(c)(3) charities dedicated to education, healthcare, and safety issues that uplift women and their families globally. Our choice is based on stringent selection criteria, for an organization that showcases substantial reach and demonstrates success in fostering positive transformation for women, their families, and communities.
2
100% of Your Donation Goes to the Charity
100% of your donation funnels straight to our chosen charity. With no overhead costs, our team, fueled by passion, consists of volunteers dedicated to ensuring every cent you donate amplifies meaningful initiatives. We believe in direct impact, the funds we raise go quickly and directly to our beneficiary.
3
Shifting The Paradigm of Mother’s Day Giving
Our mission is clear and singular: to redefine Mother’s Day gift-giving priorities. Allocating a fraction of US spending on Mother’s Day gifts toward transformative projects leads to tremendous global impact. Honor the special women in your life by making a donation. Together, we can changes lives.