2023-2024 Annual Report
Building A New Guard
A Resilient Democracy Requires a New Generation of Leaders
A LETTER FROM OUR CEO
As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for the strides we’ve made in advancing our mission to build the next generation of powerful civic and political leaders. In this report, you’ll meet just a few of the thousands of young women who have found a sense of purpose and community through IGNITE. Their stories give me hope for a brighter future and firmly dispel the myth that young people are apathetic or uninformed.
With your partnership, IGNITE continues to help young women-identifying, nonbinary, and gender expansive youth understand the power of their voices at every level of civic and political leadership. In a time of deep political polarization and disengagement, we are building a pipeline of resilient young leaders who are running for office, advocating for transformative policy change, and mobilizing a new generation of voters and civic participants. Our community is steadfast in its commitment to protecting democracy and shaping a future that works for all of us.
As we look ahead, IGNITE will continue to foster a community where all young women feel safe, valued, and prepared to tackle the challenges ahead. Our robust state and national advocacy agenda will continue to champion issues such as women’s rights, voting rights, and more. At the same time, we will work to uplift inspiring young voices and shift cultural narratives that limit or underestimate young women’s political power.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are building a movement that ensures young women participate in our democracy and take the lead in shaping its future.
— Sara Guillermo, Chief Executive Officer, IGNITE
"IGNITE helps young women understand why their voice matters.”
IGNITE’s Mission Has Never Been More Critical
We are a national movement of 40,000+ women-identifying, nonbinary, and gender expansive youth who are ready and eager to own their political power. We train, mentor, and support the next generation of political and civic leaders to run for office, advocate for policy change, and mobilize their peers to participate in the political process.
During our fiscal year 2023-2024, a survey of our participants indicated:
57%
of IGNITE participants increased time spent volunteering on campaigns or in election work.
89%
of IGNITE participants have a better understanding of how the US government works as a result of their experiences with IGNITE.
69%
of IGNITE participants feel more driven to run for office one day as a result of their experiences with IGNITE.
About Our IGNITE Leaders
34%
identify as part of the LGBTQ community
Training a new guard of political leadership
Through IGNITE’s cohort-style trainings, participants gain the networks, skills and confidence to shape a political landscape that reflects their values and priorities. IGNITE training programs teach young women how to run for office, work on campaigns, serve on boards and commissions, contribute as policymakers, and mobilize voters. For example, our Boards and Commissions bootcamp teaches them how to seek and secure public positions in their communities. These roles serve as valuable entry points into public service, from city planning commissions that shape local development to bike commissions that enhance street safety for cyclists.
IGNITE Fellow Gabriela López-Castillo not only led one of these trainings but also applied for a position on her Bay Ridge local community board in New York City—and was successfully appointed in June 2024.
Sylvia Soto, a schoolteacher from San Antonio, ran for Texas State Representative in District 124. Her first experience with IGNITE was at our IGNITE the Capitol event in Austin, Texas in 2023. She then continued attending IGNITE trainings, such as Young Women Run, our annual national conference, and Run Now, a training for those intending to run for office in 12 to 24 months. When the Texas legislature failed to pass an education budget, causing 17 local schools to close and impacting teachers and families close to her, Soto’s decision to represent her district crystalized.
IGNITE Alumni who ran for office in 2024:
Sasha Renee Perez,
California State Senate
Katie Chan, City Council,
Alhambra, California
Christine Hernandez,
Union High School District, Huntington Beach, California
Christina Haswood,
Kansas State Senate
Jessica Navarro,
Minnesota State House
Mary Black, Raleigh City Council, District A, North Carolina
Sylvia Soto,
Texas State House
Amilia Heredia,
Wisconsin State Assembly
IGNITE events made my political aspirations real. When you’re around women leaders and they tell you ‘you can do it,’ and how they did it, and you’re in the Capitol, you’re seeing yourself there. It’s not a fantasy. It becomes reality. Being around encouraging women leaders showed me I can do this.”
– Sylvia Soto, IGNITE alum, candidate for Texas State House
1,158 young women participated in 40 political leadership trainings.
20 fellows ran 47 educational events, including 20 boards and commissions trainings.
107 young women attended our national conference featuring 12 congresswomen as speakers.
Politics in Action: IGNITE’s Young Women Run Conference
In July 2023, over 100 participants attended our national conference Young Women Run in Washington, DC. Programming included a keynote fireside chat with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and remarks by 12 Congresswomen. During the three-day conference, attendees participated in training sessions on fundraising, public speaking, and legislative advocacy, including a day at the U.S. Capitol meeting legislators and their staff to advocate for the Women’s Health Protection Act and the Menstrual Equity for All Act.
BUILDING COMMUNITY ON CAMPUSES
Student-led IGNITE college chapters and high school clubs offer a space for young women to engage in political and civic discourse and action on campuses across the country. Chapters and clubs offer members an introduction to politics and ways to engage with their community through voter registration drives, policy workshops, and events that often feature electeds as a way to demystify what it means to step into public service.
When Ava Stork started at the University of Iowa she noticed most political forums were dominated by men. She joined IGNITE’s campus chapter to discuss political issues in a welcoming space, where nearly 30 members share an interest in how today’s politics connect to history. Recent Iowa abortion bans galvanized members of the chapter, leading them to engage in legislative advocacy and campus voter mobilization during the 2024 election.
From the first IGNITE meeting I attended, I knew I had found my political home. While we may not always agree politically, as young women, we are committed to creating a space for discussions about the state’s future where we aren’t being talked over by men.”
Mi Tang attended the IGNITE the Capitol event in Sacramento in 2023 as a high school student. Inspired by the experience, she launched an IGNITE club at her school, which has since grown to over 50 members. In April 2024, club members traveled to Sacramento for IGNITE the Capitol, where they connected with other high school students from across the state to discuss community issues and share best practices on forming IGNITE clubs. Over the past year, Mi’s club organized successful events, including a career panel and a Women in Government Panel. Now a freshman at UC Berkeley, Mi Tang continues to organize and stay politically active.
I can't believe the impact we created at the Balboa IGNITE club and that’s why I want to continue creating another chapter here at UC Berkeley. I'm passionate about public service and I want to serve so that the policies we create in government actually meet the needs of marginalized communities. From inspiring my high school classmates to advocating on policy in California and beyond, IGNITE has given me a taste of things to come.”
Meet Our 2023-2024 Dr. Anne Moses Fellows
Dr. Anne Moses Fellows play a critical role in driving IGNITE’s mission by helping to grow and sustain our college programs in communities across the United States. As ambassadors for IGNITE, they also amplify the message that it's time for young people to own their power and change the face of political leadership. Each of our twenty Fellows in 2023-2024 played a critical role in supporting our robust college chapter network, leading conversations on priority issues for Gen Z, and hosting events around civic engagement and voter mobilization ahead of the primaries.
Meet our 2023-2024 CohortSan Diego Fellow Akshita Goswami turned a local affordable housing ballot measure into a learning opportunity for her college chapter, hosting an event to explore how elections shape housing policies at local and state levels. Through her leadership, attendees gained valuable insights into the power of civic engagement. During her time with IGNITE, Akshita co-authored IGNITE’s legislative advocacy report and traveled to Sacramento to advocate for policy change. Today, she works as a Legislative Research and Policy Coordinator at a nonprofit in San Diego.
Women-centric equity is so important in housing policy, especially as many women flee their homes due to domestic abuse. The advocacy I did at IGNITE is directly relevant to my work now. From local issues to statewide and beyond, IGNITE showed me how civic engagement and advocacy can shape my life and career.”
Denver Fellow Milad Abdulla led several IGNITE the Vote programs in the spring of 2024. The initiatives included a session for local chapter leaders held at the Denver Office of the Clerk & Recorder, where seven students were trained and certified as circulators, enabling them to legally register voters in Colorado. Milad, in collaboration with the Denver University IGNITE chapter, organized a voter registration event just before Colorado’s presidential primary. She also led a tour of the Denver City and County Elections office.
Ohio Fellow Cameron Tiefenthaler first heard about IGNITE in high school when her mother— who had herself run for office — saw a social media post about an IGNITE event encouraging young women to become politically involved. Cameron attended the event and was “floored by how excited people were to be there.” Later, as a student at Miami University in Ohio, she restarted the IGNITE chapter and advised on the launch of a chapter at the University of Akron. As a Fellow, Cameron recruited students across Ohio to sign up for political leadership trainings and registered hundreds of young people to vote
When my mom ran for office, I didn’t understand why. Now, I see she was setting an example for me. If you want something to change, you have to be the changemaker, and IGNITE connected me with a community of women who are ready to do the work.”
Many of our past Fellows remain actively involved with IGNITE as they pursue their unique political and civic paths. Monica Sibri, a member of the inaugural Dr. Anne Moses Fellowship cohort in 2016, exemplifies this ongoing connection. Through the fellowship, she gained critical leadership skills and built a network of politically driven peers, empowering her to advocate for herself and her community. Monica later managed a successful state Senate campaign for Catalina Cruz, the first DREAMer elected to the New York State Assembly. Now, she runs a consulting business focused on the intersection of fundraising and civic engagement. Her journey highlights the transformative impact that is possible at the intersection of politics, education, community, and action.
This year, I’ve been involved in a project using music to engage Latino voters in Spanish, and we found that engaging people where they feel most comfortable has led to increased interest in voting.”
Safeguarding Democracy through Legislative Advocacy
Through our legislative advocacy program, IGNITE starts engaging young people as early as middle school on the legislative process. Students then utilize their political literacy to champion policy change at the local, state and national level. Our advocacy programs prioritize protecting women’s rights and voting rights. To maximize our impact, IGNITE collaborated with organizations, including PERIOD., the National Diaper Bank Network, and the YouthInGov coalition.
In 2024, the following bills IGNITE championed were signed into law.
AB 2608 - Comprehensive Title IX Trainings (CA)
AB2229 - Know Your Period Act (CA)
AB810 - Post Secondary Education: Hiring Practices (CA)
HB24-1164 Free Menstrual Products to Students (CO)
H. 669/S. 422 - Campaign funds for childcare (MA)
SB554 - Restraining order jurisdiction (CA)
Shaping state policy
IGNITE advocacy efforts resulted in substantial progress on 30 state-level policies, including:
- In New York, IGNITE organized a legislative day to support A4091/S4400, a bill that mandates all State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) institutions to provide at least one vending machine dispensing emergency contraception.
- In California, IGNITE co-sponsored 3 bills : AB1138 to increase the accessibility of rape kits; SB953 to classify menstrual products as essential medical devices for individuals covered by Medi-Cal; and AB2608 to ensure comprehensive Title IX training.
Shaping federal policy
IGNITE engaged in federal legislative advocacy, focusing on 20 bills, including:
- The Campus Accountability and Safety Act to improve the safety of college campuses by changing incentives to protect students and by professionalizing the response to sexual assault reporting.
- The For the People Act to enhance voting rights, reform campaign finance laws to limit the influence of money in politics, curb partisan gerrymandering, and establish new ethical standards for federal officeholders.
- The Youth Voting Rights Act designed to strengthen the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18, and safeguards against age discrimination in voting access.
Activate Your Advocacy Bootcamps
In partnership with PERIOD., IGNITE trained 150 young women to advocate on a single issue, menstrual equity, in order to see how legislative advocacy works so that they can then use those skills to advocate for any piece of legislation at the local, state, or national level. After completing the training, IGNITE also supported participants in securing internships or jobs in policy-making.
IGNITE helped 11 trainees secure internships with policymakers across 10 states.
IGNITE the Capitol
IGNITE the Capitol advocacy days help young women translate their passion into action. The program demystifies legislative advocacy and teaches young people to champion change through hands-on training and the opportunity to meet legislators at their state capitols. This year, IGNITE organized six IGNITE the Capitol events across California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Utah, where we engaged 320 high school and college students in meaningful policy discussions with over 100 legislators.
Sriya Srinivasan, a high school student in California, organized for menstrual equity and successfully helped pass legislation that would make menstrual education available to students in her state. Inspired to act by her own health experiences and conversations with her peers around their menstrual cycles, Sriya noted that California schools weren’t required to teach students about menstrual health. If they had been, she would have identified her own condition much sooner. She attended 2023’s IGNITE the Capitol in Sacramento, and then partnered with IGNITE, menstrual health advocates, and legislators to lobby for and pass a bill mandating that California schools educate students about their periods. In 2024, Sriya spoke at IGNITE the Capitol and participants lobbied for her bill, which passed later that same year.
I saw lawmakers sit up in their seats as I spoke and they connected the dots. I didn’t know how the legislature worked; I was just passionate about politics. I learned so much, and we’ve passed the law. What matters now is making sure it’s implemented effectively.”
Bolstering Democracy: Activating First-time Voters for Elections to Come
In spring 2024, IGNITE launched IGNITE the Vote, mobilizing 150 Ambassadors to lead voter engagement efforts from the primaries through the general election. Our digital campaign empowered young people ages 18 to 29 with training, resources, peer-to-peer messaging, and social media content to drive voter registration and break down voting barriers. The campaign reached 270,000 Gen Z women of voting age 1.4 million times with targeted messages by trusted peers to dismantle myths around voting and empower them with knowledge and resources to vote. Key events like the Gen Z Votes Forum in Texas, the IGNITE the Vote Summit in Las Vegas, and a National Day of Action in September inspired action across the country.
Strategic partnerships with brands like Levi Strauss & Co. and Glossier, alongside organizations like Students Learn Students Vote, amplified our impact, engaging students at 350+ colleges and institutions nationwide. IGNITE is ensuring young voices are heard at the ballot box—and beyond.
270,000
young women eligible to vote reached
1.4 million
times messaging reached young people with resources to vote
350+
campuses engaged
Advancing Research on Gen Z Political & Civic Engagement
IGNITE’s Research Hub is critical to understanding how to engage young people in the political process. By prioritizing data and academic research, IGNITE is better able to shape our programs and messaging to respond to the specific concerns and needs of young people today.
“IGNITE’s research tackles the data gender gap and is crucial to understanding the political perspectives of Gen Z women, femmes and gender-expansive youth. Insights will go a long way in elevating the critical role that Gen Z plays in advancing just and democratic futures, and help us all better understand what is needed to fully leverage their power and promise.”
– Maheen Kaleem, Vice President of Operations and Programs for Grantmakers for Girls of Color
In the Fall of 2023, IGNITE released a cross-generational comparative study, Gen Z Voting & Political Engagement, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Mary Washington. The release included interviews on Sirius XM and a 7-minute segment on MSNBC’s The Katie Phang Show, adding to growing coverage of our research in outlets like The New York Times, NPR, The Hill and The Washington Times. IGNITE CEO Sara Guillermo also presented these findings at the Gender and Politics Conference at Radcliffe College in a panel alongside Jennifer Lawless and other leading researchers.
In June 2024, IGNITE released the report Catalyzing Gen Z Political Power, which showcased findings from a series of focus groups ahead of the general election to better understand young people’s sentiment around candidates, issues and voting.
Some of Our Findings:
- Gen Z wants more diverse candidates who speak to their issues. Roughly 70% of women and non-binary Gen Zers say they would be more likely to vote if there was more diversity among candidates regarding gender, race, and age, as well as candidates speaking to the issues young people care about.
- Focus groups offered a deeper, more nuanced look into Gen Z sentiment around politics and voting. It is clear that Gen Z feels frustrated with the current political climate, saying everything feels too “extreme” and absolutist with no room for discourse.
- Gen Zers are split by gender on how to prevent gun violence. Gen Z men, by a narrow margin, say improving mental health care should be the priority to prevent gun violence. Gen Z women, by a 2 to 1 margin, prefer restricting access to guns as the primary method to combat gun violence. In addition, they have increasingly rated mental health as a critical issue, particularly since the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Shifting Culture to Normalize Gen Z Women’s Political Ambition
At IGNITE, we know that training young women as leaders is just the beginning. To truly transform the political landscape, we must shift culture so they see themselves—and are seen by others—as powerful political leaders. In 2023-2024, IGNITE prioritized shaping narratives and amplifying the voices of young women unleashing their political power. We secured dozens of media placements, including op-eds on critical issues, showcasing the real stories of young leaders driving change. Each feature is part of our broader strategy to challenge stereotypes, inspire representation, and normalize young women as the political leaders of today and tomorrow. Highlights include: Creating a Seat at the PolicyMaking Table for Young Americans, Why We Need to Let Parents Use Campaign Funds for Childcare, Closing the ‘Gen Z Enthusiasm Gap’ and Abortion Access as a Galvanizing Force for Young Women.
A Thank you to our Donors: This work would be impossible without you
As a woman in technology, I'm very accustomed to the fact that you need women at the top to make real change. More recently, I've come to realize that getting young women involved at all levels, local & national, and helping women understand and own their political voice is the foundation to having a more equitable world. I am so grateful and excited for this next generation of women to shape what's to come! I'm rooting for you, and us!”
— Beckie Wood, Product Director at Google Search
“We are committed to driving systemic change and empowering communities by advancing reproductive and gender justice and opposing regressive laws. At Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, we proudly invest in organizations like IGNITE, which builds a pipeline of young, diverse leaders to transform our world. Strong, intersectional leadership is key to achieving America’s ideals, and we are honored to partner with IGNITE in shaping a more equitable future.”
— Brook Kelly-Green, Senior Director, Gender and Reproductive Equity Grantmaking at Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Donors
Trailblazers
$50,000+
- Michelle Mercer & Bruce Golden
- Anne Morriss & Frances Frei
- Dr. Sophia Yen
$25,000-$49,999
- Quinn Delaney & Wayne Jordan
- Ms. Stasia Ann Obremskey & Mr. Daniel A. Carroll
- Jennifer Risher
15,000-$24,999
- Anonymous (2)
- Stacey Keare
- Maureen Pelton & Charlie Hartwell
- Jennifer & Ryan Sweeney
$10,000-$14,999
- Bendit Family Foundation
- Drusie Davis
- Everett Family Fund
- Nancy Wiltsek
- Rebecca Wood
$5,000-$9,999
- Luna Barrington
- Kathleen Burke & Ralph Davis
- RoAnn Costin
- Julia Cuba Lewis
- Carol & Bruce Cumming
- Diane & Jerry Cunningham
- Susan & Charles Dorn
- Enid & Jerry Draluck
- Cara Fields*
- Ann Fischer Hecht
- Karen Grove
- Elaine Hahn
- Sharon Harris
- Stepanie & Timothy Ingrassia
- Jill Faherty Lloyd
- Eddie & Bo Lycke
- Tamarra Matthews Johnson
- Sydney McQuoid
- Sherry & Gerald Merfish
- Ginni Mithoff
- Laurie Poston
- Mahalakshmi Pula
- Yolanda Shashaty
- Diana Strassmann
$2,500-$4,999
- Arthur & Toni Rembe Rock
- Chrysta Castaneda
- Carol & Joe Dingman
- Chana Fitton*
- Megan Hanson
- Lisa Honig & Dale Schroedel
- Anne MacDonald
- Brett Merfish & Christina Gorczynski
- Teri Olle & John Comerford
- Jane Scholz*
- Kathy Williams
$1,000-$2,499
- Alafi Family Foundation
- Anonymous
- Lynne Benatovich & Michael Baekboel
- Torry Bennett
- Maureen Blanc
- Katherine Bostick
- Hon. Dr. Harryette Ehrhardt
- Melodye Feldman
- Erica Fite Gatch
- Sara Guillermo*
- Kristina Hahn
- Marae Hartwell
- Celina Hurley & John Beardmore
- Jill Kauffman Johnson
- Marge Magner
- Leslie Milloy
- Anne Moses
- Sean Peake
- Gina Pell
- Stephanie Pietromonaco
- Gretchen Schoenstein
- Gail Stephens
- Mary Taylor
- Mary Wolfe
Spark Circle*
- Zunera Ahmed
- Aaron Baggs
- Elizabeth Bourgeois
- Maureen Cassidy
- Rosie Chevalier
- Robert & Kate Collins-Adams
- Teresa Finnila
- Suzanne Hammond
- Theda Jackson-Mau
- Nan Lefforge
- Heidi Munson
- Roche Schlegel
- Kristen Schreder
- T.M. Tait
- Ardith Talbott
- Shaina Vora
- Anne Marie Wonder
- Alice Wysocki
- Aileen Zhong
- Amy Zucchero
Foundations
- The Adventures for the Mind Foundation, Inc.
- Crimsonbridge Foundation
- Dallas Mavericks Foundation
- David L. Klein, Jr. Fund
- The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation
- The Elevate Prize Foundation
- Erol Foundation
- Ford Foundation
- Grantmakers for Girls of Color
- Half My DAF
- Henderson Family Foundation
- The Herb Block Foundation
- LaureL Foundation
- The Libra Foundation
- Long Ridge Foundation
- Marsal Family Foundation
- Orchid Giving Circle Fund
- Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation
- The Philanthropy Workshop
- Present Progressive Fund
- Red Butterfly Foundation
- Redekop Family Endowment
- ReflectUS
- Valentine Foundation
- Voices United on the Road Forward
- Way To Rise
- YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula
Corporations
- AT&T
- Berkeley Repertory Theatre
- Gilead Sciences, Inc.
- Levi Strauss & Co.
- Nia Impact Capital
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP
Government
- City and County of San Francisco Department on the Status of Women
In-kind
- Perkins Coie
- Kate Purcell
Financials
For more information visit ignitenational.org/finances.
In 2021, IGNITE entered a period of high growth, fueled by a three-year, $1.5M annual grant from Equality Can’t Wait (ECW) to expand Gen Z women’s political power. This funding enabled us to double our impact from 20,000 to 40,000 participants. However, with the grant set to expire in June 2024, we anticipated a $1.5M budget reduction and took proactive measures to adjust.
Given the challenging philanthropic landscape—marked by economic uncertainty, the war in Gaza, and the presidential election year—IGNITE lowered expenses mid-year in 2023-24, including staff layoffs in February, to prepare for a smaller $2.5M budget in 2024-25. Our $577K budget deficit in 2023-24 was largely due to pass-through funding from a $700,000 grant with the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women (DOSW) to co-host the SHIFT Happens Policy Summit for 599 participants. While this grant increased revenue, it also significantly raised expenses, as IGNITE was responsible for managing the event’s financial resources. Additionally, the timing of pledge accruals impacted our books, with funds recorded in the current fiscal year instead of the prior year.
Despite these financial hurdles, IGNITE remains committed to sustainability and long-term impact, ensuring young women have the tools to lead in our democracy.
