- "Women's issues" policy analysis organization
- Works in unison with the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, which is composed predominantly by female Democrat Representatives
Women's Policy, Inc. (WPI) states that it "champions the interests of women throughout the [United States] on the most significant social, economic, and health issues across the public policy spectrum." A member of the National Council of Women's Organizations, WPI describes itself as a "nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose sole focus is to help ensure that the most informed decisions on key women's issues are made by policymakers at the Federal, state, and local levels. Audiences include elected officials, regulators, women's groups, labor groups, academia, the business community, the media, and the general public." Toward this end, WPI produces legislative policy analyses, impact assessments, issue summaries, and educational briefings.
Though it claims to be nonpartisan, WPI identifies a substantial number of politically motivated, almost exclusively leftist activist groups and unions as its affiliate organizations. Among these are the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Teachers, Amnesty International, the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Center for Women's Policy Studies, the League of Women Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Abortion Federation, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Committee on Pay Equity, the National Education Association, the National Council of La Raza, the National Organization for Women, the National Women's Law Center, the National Women's Political Caucus, the Older Women's League, People for the American Way, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Service Employees International Union, Women's Action for New Directions, and Population Connection (formerly Zero Population Growth).
WPI was founded in 1995 to serve as the legislative and policy research branch of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues (CCWI). As of January 2005, the Caucus was composed of 41 Democrats and 14 Republicans. A number of CCWI members also belong to the radical Progressive Caucus, including: Barbara Lee, Hilda Solis, Tammy Baldwin, Corinne Brown, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Nydia Velazquez, Maxine Waters, Cynthia McKinney, Lynn Woolsey, and Nancy Pelosi. The founders of WPI were Marjorie R. Sims, who is currently the Executive Director of the California Women's Law Center, a Los Angeles-based organization that supports women's right to taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand; Leslie Primmer, a vocal advocate of "more contraceptive options" for women; Susan Wood, the former Director of the Office of Women's Health at the Food and Drug Administration; former Maryland Congresswoman Connie Morella; and current New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey.
WPI's current Board Chair is Lorraine Thelian, who is also a Senior Partner for the Ketchum public relations agency. WPI's Board Vice-Chair is Angela Oh, an attorney, teacher, and lecturer who in 1997 was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the President's Initiative on Race.
WPI raises its revenues, in part, by charging $495 for annual subscriptions to its newsletter and publications. It also receives funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Heinz Family Foundation, and the Fannie Mae Foundation. In 2004, WPI received a total of $577,150 in grants and had expenses of $215,870. Its net assets totaled $343,275.
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