WMF has evolved a lot in the last 15 years, but our board is always working hard to stay true to our mission. Recently, we found ourselves at a crossroads—struggling with recognition and the ability to attract necessary funding. Our mission-driven leadership ultimately led us to make a hard, but crucial, decision to change our name.
To make the decision, the WMF leadership team leaned into our mission-driven approach. We engaged in deep reflection, revisited our core values and connected with diverse stakeholders to better understand how we could strengthen our impact. Through this process, a pivotal realization emerged: our name, while once meaningful, had become a barrier to growth.
Guided by this insight, we embarked on a renaming effort. With input from board members, donors, and partners we developed a new name that more accurately reflects our work and vision for the future.
While the journey was not without its challenges, WMF leadership demonstrated that mission-driven decision-making can support and enable bold changes. By staying true to our purpose and being willing to evolve, we are strengthening our ability to make a lasting impact.