OUR MISSION

We elect pro-choice Democratic women to office.



OUR VISION

BALANCE THE VOICE OF POWER.

Our vision is a government that reflects the people it serves, and decision makers who genuinely and enthusiastically fight for greater opportunity and better lives for the Americans they represent. We will work for larger leadership roles for pro-choice Democratic women in our legislative bodies and executive seats so that our families can benefit from the open-minded, productive contributions that women have consistently made in office.

“…Every day. Every election victory. We are helping to put women into office who have the power to put progressive change to work…”

- Ellen R. Malcolm, Founder and Chair

ELECT LEADERS WHO IGNITE CHANGE.

EMILY’s List’s vision is to be a driving force of change in America. By electing more pro-choice Democratic women to national, state and local office, EMILY’s List will consistently infuse our government with leaders who will drive change. Change that truly matters today, tomorrow and forever.

“…EMILY’s List isn’t just about funding elections to get women elected. Our focus is on putting the right pro-choice Democratic women into office who will balance the face of the government, and make decisions that really improve societies across the country…”

- Stephanie Schriock, President

ENGAGE AND BE HEARD.

A community of more than five million. Over 1,200 election victories. All with a single focus — progressive change that matters.





OUR VALUES

REJECT APATHY AND THE STATUS QUO. REPEAT DAILY.

EMILY’s List is committed to driving progressive change throughout our country by winning elections that put pro-choice Democratic women into office. We will:

Remember why change matters.

Knowing the people who will most benefit from progressive change is how we will develop candidates and winning campaign strategies. We will continually learn about the people our elected women serve to make sure that progress moves in the right direction to help improve their lives.



Not participate. Lead.

Stand on the frontline and be first to identify opportunities, processes and delivery channels. Be excited by emerging technologies and ideas. Embrace what others anxiously avoid, and be a champion for giving good ideas a shot.



Provoke and instigate.

Combine enthusiasm and strategy to unlock the motivators that convert “change wishers” to “change drivers,” and provoke people into action.



Be an authority.

Communicate with confidence, rationale and clarity. Answer questions with answers, not more questions, and demand the same in return. Be attentive. Be understood. Understand.



Relentlessly dismiss the comfort zone.

When everyone gets settled and comfy, trouble brews and opportunities are missed. Constantly monitor policy and its usefulness to the people who need it most, knowing that yesterday’s decisions are for just that. Yesterday.



Champion diversity.

As the face of our country changes, embrace diversity as a catalyst for the progressive change that will benefit all families. Listen to and celebrate the points of view that different cultures and histories bring to our societies, and work towards making every space an inclusive one.



Celebrate liberally.

Celebrate our election victories. Not for the victories themselves, but for what they will deliver — thoughtful, progressive elected women who will roll up their sleeves and drive change.



Embrace difference and use it to our advantage.

Learn from our adversaries, people with whom we are unfamiliar, and those we teach. Question ourselves with open minds and confidence.



Respect the past. Change the future.

Honor the dynamic women who got us here, and know that they want us to get back to work.

EMILY’s List Diversity & Inclusion Mission Statement

EMILY’s List counts Diversity & Inclusion as a key goal of our organization — for our candidates, membership, partners, board of directors and staff. We are committed to creating a space where people are valued regardless of sex, age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, national origin or religious affiliation — and we celebrate the diverse geographic, economic, and family perspectives that help a movement meet the needs of the people it seeks to serve.

EMILY’s List is proud to support nearly every Democratic congresswoman of color currently serving in federal office, as well as women up and down the ballot who identify as lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. We are proud to have helped elect the first openly gay senator, the first Buddhist and Hindu in Congress, the first Latina to ever serve in the Senate, the first and second African American women senators, the first Asian American woman senator, the first Indian American woman to serve in the House, and the first Mexican American and Puerto Rican women serving in Congress; and we recognize the principal role that Democratic women have always played in bringing diversity to our caucus.

As an organization whose mission is to increase diversity in our elected officials, it is even more important that we recognize our responsibility to do so within EMILY’s List. We expect our leaders to prioritize an inclusive process when hiring staff and consultants, investing resources, holding trainings, and recruiting candidates.

We still have far to go not just within government, but also within the progressive sphere and the women’s movement, to build a community where diverse perspectives are put to work creating a more progressive America. We are committed to practicing an intersectional feminism that acknowledges the complex relationships between discriminatory structures — and moving forward together towards a morally just and equitable society.

Diversity is a strategic goal as well as a just one. Diversity creates better policies. We are a multi-generational community committed to progress, and every year we understand better that progress will not be fast enough, or reach its potential, unless we include the voices of everyone who shares our common values. We will expand our partnerships with allies to find new ways to meet these goals, with the understanding that this work does not have a finish line.