Bio

Ruby Bright is the former executive director and chief administrative officer of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM).

Bright began as executive director of the Women’s Foundation in August of 2000 after a fifteen-year career with Junior Achievement. She retired from that roll in 2022.

Bright worked with the board of directors to increase fundraising and grant distribution by more than 125% percent, reaching milestones in the core annual grants and operating budget of nearly $1 million during the 2004-05 fiscal year. She guided the board in developing a five-year strategic plan with a budget forecasting grants distribution to $500,000 annually by 2006. In the past 10 years, the Women’s Foundation has awarded $2.78 million supporting 203 programs provided by non-profit organizations in the greater Memphis area.

In 2004, the Women’s Foundation board of director’s agreed to lead the fundraising efforts to raise an additional $1.2 million and $6.8 million in 2005 to help the City of Memphis leverage the opportunity to receive $40 million in Hope VI Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants. The Foundation, in partnership with the City of Memphis, Memphis Housing Authority (MHA), and other strategic local partners, developed an innovative Community Supportive Service program plan for the physical revitalization of two public housing projects. This partnership marks a first to be led by a women’s organization in Hope VI public and private community plans.

The Hope VI Community Supportive Service has been newly named the Memphis H.O.P.E. project. The Memphis H.O.P.E. project goals are to invest in personal development and the well-being of individuals and families who will live in the University Place and Dixie Homes neighborhoods; and implement a coordinated human capital program to support households in becoming self-sufficient. The four year project budget is estimated at $7.3 million. WFGM is forging alliances with public and private partners to raise the funds and in-kind services needed to begin and sustain the H.O.P.E. project.

Bright shares the mission and passion for the work of the Women’s Foundation with the public by speaking to women’s and business organizations, research and education institutions, and community groups fostering mission shared alliances to improve the quality of life for women and children. She is involved with numerous civic and community organizations, serving on the boards of the Women’s Funding Network, Memphis H.O.P E. strategic development committee, Partnership for the Homeless community advisory committee, Memphis Leadership Academy and the Memphis Area Women’s Council. Bright is also a member of Women of Achievement and the Network of Memphis. Additionally, she collaborates with organizations such as the University of Tennessee Center for Research on Women, United Way of the Mid-South, Shesource Speakers Bureau of the White House Project, Clear Channel Advisory board and the Tennessee Economic Council on Women.

Bright has received numerous leadership awards including the 2005 Shelby County Mayors’ Ruby R. Wharton award for community service, the 2005 Women of Achievement Vision award, the 2006 MHA /Women’s Empowerment Evie Horton Award and the 2006 Woman of Character Award from the Girls Scout of America, Memphis chapter. Under her leadership, the Foundation received the Impact Memphis 2006 Award for Foundation of the Year.

The vision of the Women’s Foundation is economic self-sufficiency for women and children. As executive director, Bright is working to expand that vision by increasing awareness of the issues of women and children and collaborating with more organizations and corporations to have greater resources and a broader reach into the community.

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