While women remain significantly underrepresented in government, there is at least one adjacent field in which they have achieved gender parity in leadership: the universe of democracy reform and bridge-building organizations.
In its 2021 Diversity Report, the Bridge Alliance found that half of the executives leading its 100 member organizations are women. (Disclosure: The Fulcrum is a program within the Bridge Alliance, which brings together organizations working toward a healthy democracy.)
To mark Women’s History Month, The Fulcrum is spotlighting just some of the women leading these organizations.
Karen Suhaka
Founder and President, Bill Track 50
"I founded BillTrack50 to make our democracy more democratic by helping everyone understand and participate in the legislative process. I really admire Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, for her practical approach to getting everyday people involved in improving our government, and Jennifer Briney, of the Congressional Dish, podcast for helping us all understand Congress."
![Jacki Salit, IndependentVoting.org](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/jacki-salit-independentvoting-org.jpg?id=29531900&width=980)
![Karen Suhaka, Bill Track 50](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/karen-suhaka-bill-track-50.jpg?id=29531908&width=980)
![Sara Gifford, Activote](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/sara-gifford-activote.jpg?id=29534344&width=980)
![Lindsay Bressman, Civic Spirit](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/lindsay-bressman-civic-spirit.jpg?id=29534350&width=980)
![Justine Williams, Care Lab](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/justine-williams-care-lab.jpg?id=29534363&width=980)
![Mary-Lee Smith, Renew America Together](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/mary-lee-smith-renew-america-together.jpg?id=29534376&width=980)
![Cheryl Graeve, National Institute for Civil Discourse](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/cheryl-graeve-national-institute-for-civil-discourse.jpg?id=29534378&width=980)
![Jillian Youngblood, Our Civic Genius](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/jillian-youngblood-our-civic-genius.jpg?id=29534393&width=980)
![Susan Muller, Mainstream Nation](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/susan-muller-mainstream-nation.jpg?id=29534431&width=980)
![Meg Heubeck- Youth Leadership Initiative](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/meg-heubeck-youth-leadership-initiative.jpg?id=29534442&width=980)
![Louise Dub\u00e9](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/louise-dub-u00e9.jpg?id=29534493&width=980)
![Sarah Bonk](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/sarah-bonk.jpg?id=29534496&width=980)
![Jennifer Walker Thomas and Emma Petty Addams](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/jennifer-walker-thomas-and-emma-petty-addams.jpg?id=29534529&width=980)
![Wendy Willis](https://thefulcrum.us/media-library/wendy-willis.jpg?id=29534538&width=980)