Sara K. Gould

President and
Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Foundation for Women

SARA K. GOULD is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ms. Foundation for Women, the leading women’s foundation engaged across the United States to build women’s power to drive social change. Under Ms. Gould’s leadership, the Foundation delivers strategic grantmaking to support, develop, and connect women’s policy and organizing infrastructure at local, state, tribal, and national levels. With a long history of bringing the leadership and perspectives of women living at the margins of society to the center, the Foundation uses its deep insights and analysis to develop strong organizations and leaders across the nation. The Foundation connects people, strategies, advocacy, and knowledge to build a true democracy of equity and inclusion for all.

A leading expert on women's economic security, Ms. Gould brings to the Ms. Foundation for Women more than 25 years of experience in pioneering programs that create economic opportunities for women and their families. This expertise brought Ms. Gould to the Ms. Foundation in 1986. She led the Foundation’s work in women’s economic development for 10 years, spearheading the Collaborative Fund for Women's Economic Development, a pioneering grant-making initiative that has provided more than $10 million in support of organizations creating jobs for low-income women. Ms. Gould also created the Institute for Women's Economic Empowerment, which has provided thousands of grassroots leaders with the skills and resources to help women achieve greater economic independence.

Prior to joining the Ms. Foundation, Ms. Gould held positions with the Corporation for Enterprise Development, Women's Action Alliance, and Massachusetts Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.

Ms. Gould currently serves on the boards of the Center for Community Change; the Proteus Fund; Women's Funding Network; Women & Philanthropy; and The Challenge Machinery Company, a 134 year-old family-owned business in Michigan.

Ms. Gould received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1973 from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, and holds a master's degree in city and regional planning from Harvard University, awarded in 1977.

Originally from Grand Haven, Michigan, Ms. Gould now resides in Brooklyn, New York, with husband, Rick Surpin, president of Independence Care System, and their son, Jacob.

Download the Sara K. Gould Bio.