The Cindy Marano Memorial Fund

A donor-advised fund to change policies that will improve the lives of low-income women and their families.

On April 28, 2005, we lost a great advocate and beloved leader for economic justice. Cindy Marano waged a fierce five-month battle with cancer and died at the age of 57. She spent her entire working life creating and implementing strategies that improved the lives of low-income people, particularly women. Cindy was a determined fighter for social justice. She was a colleague, a friend and a mentor to many.

Cindy’s commitment to achieving economic equity for women and low-income workers marked a career spanning 36 years, from her tenure as Director of Public Affairs at the National Federation of Business and Professional Women to her most recent role as Director of the National Network of Sector Partners. Cindy served as Executive Director of Wider Opportunity for Women between 1985 and 1997, joining WOW in 1980 as its Director of the National Workforce Network. During her 17 years at WOW, Cindy advocated for the development of federal policies that improved the outcomes for women of job training, welfare-to-work, and vocational education—four of which were adopted into federal law. She also played a leadership role in launching the Family Economic Self-Sufficiency (FESS) Project, now in 36 states. Cindy was named to the national advisory commissions of three Secretaries of Labor, was a member of the DC Private Industry Council and was awarded the Gloria Steinem Award for Women’s Economic Justice.

Throughout her career, Cindy focused on the development of strategies and the implementation of policies that would impact the lives of low-income people. She moved back and forth between the state, national and international levels, always holding a clear vision of improving the lives of low-income people. Because of her life-long focus on policy work, a fund has been created in her honor and memory to further this work.

The Cindy Marano Memorial Fund will support immediate and strategic actions to influence policies that will improve the lives of low-income people, particularly women. It is designed to be a rapid response fund that can meet critical needs quickly and will also respond to longer term efforts. 

Tax-deductible contributions may be made to the Women’s Foundation of California, earmarked for the Cindy Marano Memorial Fund. Contributions may be made online or by mailing a check to The Women’s Foundation of California, 340 Pine Street, #302, San Francisco, CA 94104.