Incorporated in 1975, National Organization for Women of New Jersey is a state-wide grassroots women’s rights activist organization consisting of thousands of members, activists, and allies. NOW New Jersey has eight local chapters throughout the state, each autonomous and self-governed, on campuses and in the local community.

Mission

The purpose of NOW New Jersey is to take action through intersectional, anti-racist grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and economic life. 

Structure

NOW New Jersey is the largest feminist organization in the state. Our membership, voting biennially at the state conference, is the supreme governing body of the organization. Members may belong to local chapters and issue-oriented task forces, which lend the organization its broad grassroots strength. Every level of leadership is elected, and the State Board consists of eight elected members of the Executive Committee plus representatives from the chapters and task forces. We take pride that the very same people putting up the posters and engaging in local activism, serve on the State Board.

NOW New Jersey has two affiliated organizations, NOW-NJ Foundation and NOW-NJ Political Action Committee, two separately-funded self-governed organizations.  The NOW-NJ Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and the NOW-NJ PAC is a political action committee formed under NJ-ELEC rules that endorses candidates in state level political campaigns and elections.

Outreach

NOW New Jersey serves as a training ground for women’s leadership by recruiting and training young women on campuses and high schools to develop their own independent voice and self-determination. We engage and encourage mothers and women from under-represented communities to become active in the legislative process for policies that effect them and their families, such as reproductive health, paid family leave, child care, and public education.