The Woman's National Democratic Club's Educational Foundation was established in 1991. The WNDC-EF is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit public charity.

The Foundation seeks to serve and support the community through outreach activities, which include volunteer opportunities for WNDC members; to preserve the architecturally significant clubhouse of the Woman’s National Democratic Club as a repository for unique collections concerning women’s political history; and to educate the public, especially women, about economic, social, and cultural issues by sponsoring special events at the club.

Student Programs
The EF currently conducts programs with two District of Columbia public schools.

Its Young Woman’s Leadership Program strives to interest high school juniors in public affairs and public service. A small group of promising young women is selected each year from The School Without Walls to come to the clubhouse on a regular basis for specially arranged, nonpartisan discussions of vital current issues. They are also invited to occasional speaker programs of relevance to their studies.

An award named in honor of a beloved WNDC member who helped to create the Young Woman’s Leadership Program, Ruth Nadel, is given annually to an alumna of the Program to help defray the cost of her higher education.

Through the Partners in Education program developed by the District of Columbia Department of Education, the EF has adopted the Neval Thomas Elementary School. The foundation raises funds for holiday celebrations and extracurricular activities, such as graduation parties for the Thomas students. EF volunteers tutor at the school on a regular basis.

New Citizen Reception
The Educational Foundation’s newest project is to sponsor annually a reception for new citizens directly after their naturalization ceremony at the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The reception is usually attended by 100 to 150 people, and is a meaningful way to make our newest citizens feel welcome.

Historic Preservation
The EF focuses its preservation efforts on the WNDC’s landmark, nineteenth century clubhouse. Purchased by the club in 1927, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and is now open to the public as a museum reflecting the changing role of women in public life. The EF’s Historic Preservation Fund helps maintain the building and its collections.

Collections
The WNDC Archives are a rich source of materials documenting the club’s history from its founding in 1922 to the present. They contain club records and publications, photographs, political memorabilia, newspaper clippings, portraits, and audio and video tapes of selected WNDC speaker programs. Researchers and scholars from around the nation and the world use the archives and museum memorabilia, such as the club’s holdings on Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor, and the nation’s first woman cabinet officer.

The EF also maintains a book collection devoted to women’s issues and current affairs, the Eleanor Roosevelt Library.

Publications
Democratic Women: An Oral History of the Woman’s National Democratic Club, by Jewell Fenzi and Allida Black, was published by the EF and is available for sale at the club’s front desk.

Volunteer Opportunities
The Educational Foundation encourages club members to volunteer for its projects:

* Host students from The School Without Walls at the club
* Tutor at the Neval Thomas Elementary School
* Participate in activities at the club for the Thomas students
* Greet new U.S. citizens at a reception after their naturalization ceremony
* Mount exhibits from our rich museum and archival materials
* Plan educational trips and tours
* Sustain the archives of Democratic women
* Advise on historic preservation