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Sign up now to join the growing global movement to end the international child marriage crisis.
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Take the Pledge
As a company that celebrates love, we support VOW for Girls.
Because #LoveIsOurBusiness, we believe every girl should be able to choose love on her own terms and no child should ever be a bride.
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Your Choice Gives Girls A Choice
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CREATING A WORLD WHERE
NO CHILD IS
EVER A BRIDE
VOW for Girls is a growing global movement that partners with brands, individuals, and the wedding industry to end the international child marriage crisis and support girls to live lives they love.
Our Story
Mabel van Oranje, an avid human rights activist, had an aha moment at a wedding where a couple asked for donations in lieu of gifts. What if she could marry the wedding industry to the cause she championed and end the international child marriage crisis? Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, got on board. Enter VOW for Girls, the growing global movement that partners with brands and individuals to end child marriage. VOW for Girls is a vow for the future.
The Child Marriage Crisis
12
MILLION
girls a year become
child brides
THAT’S
1 GIRL
every
3 SECONDS
IT'S A
GLOBAL
PROBLEM
spanning
countries, cultures, and religions
How VOW Helps
Innovative Fundraising
Brands
Brand partners build creative collaborations including, custom products and experiences to support girls.
Individuals
Couples make their celebrations of love even more meaningful by incorporating VOW into their weddings, bridal showers, and anniversaries.
Wedding Industry
Wedding professionals commit to using their businesses to raise awareness of child marriage and funds to help end it by joining the VOW Pro network.
Together with brands, couples, wedding industry professionals, and everyday supporters, we are growing a global movement to end child marriage.
Learn how you can get involved
GO DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS TO END CHILD MARRIAGE.
Efforts include advancing girls’ rights by providing education, job training, and vital life skills. Over 177 community-based organizations in six countries currently receive grants, and 85% of those grantees are women-led organizations.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR IMPACT
Grassroots Solutions at Scale
VOW is filling a funding gap in the global push to end child marriage: supporting efforts at the local level by focusing on effective, yet overlooked grassroots organizations that directly engage in the day-to-day lives of girls. We find, qualify, and fund these organizations with our sister organization and granting partner, the Girls First Fund.
Key Partnerships
VOW for Girls is made possible by these generous donors.
Meet the VOW Team
Our Board
Darren Walker
Ford Foundation President and VOW Co-Founder
Darren Walker is president of the Ford Foundation, a $16 billion international social justice philanthropy. Under his leadership, the Ford Foundation became the first nonprofit in US history to issue a $1 billion designated social bond to stabilize nonprofit organizations in the wake of COVID-19. Before joining Ford, Darren was Vice President at Rockefeller Foundation. Previously, he was COO of Harlem’s Abyssinian Development Corporation. Darren co-founded both the US Impact Investing Alliance and the Presidents Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy. He serves on many boards, including the National Gallery of Art, Carnegie Hall, the High Line, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, and Committee to Protect Journalists.
Darren Walker
Ford Foundation President and VOW Co-Founder
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Mabel van Oranje
Board Chair and VOW Co-Founder
Mabel van Oranje is a serial entrepreneur for social change working globally to advance equality, freedom, and justice. During the last decade, she played a catalytic role in the global movement to end child marriage, including the creation and growth of three entities central to efforts to support girls’ futures: Girls Not Brides, the Girls First Fund, and VOW for Girls. Mabel is currently a board member of Fondation Chanel and the Sigrid Rausing Trust. She is also an advisor to Apolitical Academy Global, Co-Impact’s Gender Fund, Global Witness, and The Elders. Mabel is a global champion of Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage, and a co-founder and chair emeritus of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Mabel van Oranje
Board Chair and VOW Co-Founder
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Margaret Hempel
CGRE Executive Director
Margaret has the privilege of being the first Executive Director for CGRE. Prior to this, she served nine years as the Director of Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice at the Ford Foundation and, before that, was Vice President for Programs, American Jewish World Service, and earlier, the Vice President for Programs at the Ms. Foundation for Women. Earlier in her career, she helped design the Ford Foundation’s Reproductive Health program, worked at the Quaker United Nations Office and for Women of China Magazine based in Beijing, China. Margaret holds an M.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University, and is a Columbia Business School/Teachers College certified leadership coach. She is the proud mom of two, an avid reader, is dedicated to catching up on old TV series, takes pleasure in trying to grow things, and deeply believes change is necessary and possible.
Margaret Hempel
CGRE Executive Director
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Minjae Ormes
VP of Marketing, LinkedIn
Minjae Ormes is the VP of Marketing, Global Brand, Consumer Product Marketing, and Market Research at LinkedIn, and is the newest addition to VOW’s board of directors. With 20 years of experience in marketing, technology, digital media, and entertainment, Minjae provides our Board with a variety of knowledge and expertise that will help impact our growing movement to end the global child marriage crisis. Minjae has been recognized as one of Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs, Campaign US CMO 50, Adweek Women Trailblazers, Business Insider’s 20 CMOs to Watch, as well as Gold House’s 100 Most Impactful Asians of the Year.
Minjae Ormes
VP of Marketing, LinkedIn
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Our Staff
Anika Patel
VP / Head of Finance & Operations
Anika heads Finance & Operations for VOW where she oversees operations including finance, fundraising, compliance, recruitment, and human resources. Prior to VOW, Anika served as an interim CFO and advisor to venture-backed early/ mid-stage companies on various strategic initiatives including fundraising, finance, and business development and has over a decade of experience working in corporate finance and consulting, most recently at Deloitte. Anika has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and an MBA in Finance from Fordham University. Outside of work, you can find Anika attempting to try every restaurant in NYC, getting more stamps in her passport, horseback riding, and recently has rekindled her love of Legos. When Anika was a child, she dreamed of being a fashion designer or a spy (which was a result of watching too much of the cartoon Danger Mouse).
Anika Patel
VP / Head of Finance & Operations
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Cameron Bartlett
Vice President, Digital Fundraising & Marketing
Cameron leads the digital fundraising and marketing team at VOW, where he finds creative ways for us to connect with donors and grow our cause. Cameron has led award-winning digital marketing campaigns for social good. Over the past decade, he’s helped to grow causes like IJM, Compassion, Cure, New Story and more. He loves sharing the secrets of digital fundraising and creativity at conferences, on podcasts and was a digital marketing instructor at UNC Chapel Hill. He enjoys building community around good coffee and new ideas. And loves setting out on adventures with his wife Kaitlin + their kids, Ellie and Shia. As a kid, Cameron knew he wanted to help people — to use the challenges he faced to support others.
Cameron Bartlett
Vice President, Digital Fundraising & Marketing
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Clay Dunn
CEO
Clay is the Chief Executive Officer of VOW for Girls. Clay joined VOW as the organization’s first CEO in 2019. Under his leadership, VOW has significantly expanded its team, community of supporters, and funding partners, and has set a bold strategic plan for the next phase of the organization’s growth. Prior to VOW, Clay spent nearly a decade at the No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in America, where he was part of the founding team. During that time, revenues grew to more than $80 million annually. Before moving into more purpose-driven work, Clay was a marketing and entertainment executive, most recently at National Geographic Channels. A native of Kentucky, Clay lives in Brooklyn with his husband and spends his free time exploring all that New York City has to offer. Despite his inability to draw, Clay dreamed of being an artist when he was a child.
Clay Dunn
CEO
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Leslie Bowles
Vice President, Development
Leslie provides leadership, direction and coordination for all fundraising strategies and activities that enables VOW to support girls to live the lives they love. Prior to joining VOW Leslie served as the Senior Director at the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, a CICF Fund. In this role she was responsible for the strategy, direction and oversight of fundraising for the organization and leading equity and inclusion efforts. Leslie has over 15 years of experience in fundraising for nonprofit organizations, universities and foundations. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Marian University and a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University. She lives in Indianapolis, IN with her husband, three children and Bernedoodle puppy King. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. When Leslie was a child she dreamed of being the next Janet Jackson.
Leslie Bowles
Vice President, Development
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Tara Cruise
Business Development Manager
Tara works to build VOW’s pipeline of corporate brand partners and initiate new business conversations in order to advance girls’ rights around the world. Before joining the VOW team, Tara served as Director of Marketing & Engagement at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation and Partnership Manager at Bright Pink. In her previous roles, she focused on brand collaborations and advocating for women’s health. Before pursuing her passion for philanthropy full-time, Tara worked in corporate retail at brands such as Nordstrom, DSW, and Kendra Scott. A native of Ohio, Tara lives in Chicago where she enjoys exploring new parks with her rescue puppy, attempting DIY projects in her new home, and taking in as many comedy shows as the city has to offer. As a child, Tara dreamed of being an interior designer.
Tara Cruise
Business Development Manager
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Our Ambassadors
Mwai Yeboah
Exalt Africa
Mwai Yeboah
Exalt Africa
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Estelle Bogaert
Madame Wedding Design
Estelle Bogaert
Madame Wedding Design
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Arun Bablani
Luxury Wedding Planner (UAE)
Arun Bablani
Luxury Wedding Planner (UAE)
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Verena Krenn
Wedding Planner (Austria)
Verena Krenn
Wedding Planner (Austria)
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Sarah Haywood
Sarah Haywood Weddings
Sarah Haywood
Sarah Haywood Weddings
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Nadine Metgenberg
Fine Weddings & Parties (Germany)
Nadine Metgenberg
Fine Weddings & Parties (Germany)
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Our Advisory Council
Tanya Pushkine
The Vow Whisperer
Sabrina Hersi Issa
Be Bold Media
Rebecca Yale
Rebecca Yale Photography
Neela Montgomery
Consumer Retail Leader
Michelle Wisson
Girls Not Brides
Maya Jain
Tyrian Purple
Lotte Groosman
With Lotte
Lisa Gooder
Former Editor of BRIDES
Leontyne Green Sykes
Wayfair
Leonie Maruani
Vauban Infrastructure Partners
Kristín Ólafsdóttir
Klikk
Justin Warshaw
Justin Alexander
José Rolón
José Rolón Events
Jenifer Willig
WRTHY
Fanta Toure-Puri
Girls First Fund
Esther Lee
The Knot
Emily Campbell
Go Bella Design & Planning
FAQs
Why the Wedding Industry?
Every year, millions of couples celebrate their love by getting married and millions of their family and friends celebrate with them. VOW thinks: what if we could share this love to do something bigger? The U.S. alone spends billions on weddings each year. 66% of Gen Z & Millennial women are likely to pay more for a gift if it helps support ending child marriage. VOW is engaging this tremendous industry to help end child marriage and be the charity of choice for the wedding industry globally.
Why does VOW partner with the Girls First Fund?
The Girls First Fund has grantmaking expertise but is not designed to mobilize or accept donations from the public. VOW and the Girls First Fund complement and build on each other’s expertise.
Is VOW a 501c3?
Yes, VOW for Girls is a registered 501c3 in the United States. EIN: 83-1964328.