Bumble Announces Latest Recipients Of Its Moves Making Impact Initiative

When Whitney Wolfe Herd left Tinder, an app she had cofounded and helped develop, in early 2014, she had no intention of getting back into the dating industry any time soon. But when she found herself on the receiving end of online hate—and even rape and murder threats—after suing her former employer for sexual harassment, the entrepreneur saw the need for a female-focused social network. She decided to turn her trauma into something good by creating such a space and began envisioning the platform. With a little convincing from her eventual cofounder, Andrey Andreev, Wolfe Herd’s idea for a women-centric social network soon turned into a women-centric dating app. And just a few months later, in December 2014, they launched Bumble, where heteronormative standards are flipped on their head and women make the first move.

In the nearly seven years since, Bumble has seen immense success, reaching more than 100 million users worldwide and a value of $13 billion after going public in February. But throughout its growth, a focus on empowering women has remained at the center of the company’s identity. In addition to pioneering feminist issues, like the importance of believing survivors of sexual assault and putting an end to the sharing of unsolicited lewd photographs, Bumble announced the “Moves Making Impact” initiative in May 2019.

Under the program, users on Bumble Date, Bumble Bizz, and Bumble BFF select one of three causes to support, and for every message they send to a new match, the company makes a donation to a woman working towards the cause. The dating and networking app makes these donations through Vital Voices, a nonprofit that works with women leaders around the globe. To date, Bumble has donated and pledged over $1 million to the organization and the women featured within its app.

“The Vital Voices leaders who are receiving this critical support from Bumble through the Moves Making Impact Program are changing our world and tackling the greatest challenges of our time,” says Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership. “We are grateful to Bumble for its long-term partnership and its commitment to investing in women leaders who use their power to empower, their courage to encourage, and their bold ideas to embolden others.”

Over the last two years, these women have included Nobel Peace Prize nominee Amanda Nguyen, who, after being raped during her senior year at Harvard and seeing how broken the justice system was, founded Rise to help protect the civil rights of sexual assault and rape survivors; Transgender India founder Neysara Rai, who has vowed to redefine the cultural discussion around gender, life, career, and transition in her country; and Leah Lizarondo, the founder of 412 Food Rescue, an organization that engages everyday citizens in the fight to end hunger and food waste.

Now, a new group of women join these changemakers, as Bumble announces the latest recipients of Its Moves Making Impact initiative, focusing on human rights, women’s health, and inclusive arts and culture.

Cristina Sevilla, one of the three beneficiaries, is a human rights lawyer in the Philippines who has devoted her life to fighting for victims of gender-based violence. She founded Action Against Violence and Exploitation, Inc. (ACTVE), an organization that advocates for policy reform and provides free legal aid to marginalized women and children.

Dr. Vandana Kanth, another recipient, is a project director at Duncan Hospital in Bihar, India. There, she organizes programs to provide underserved communities with access to healthcare, but her work goes well beyond basic public health. Dr. Kanth also educates her community on the roles that mental health, socio-economic status, and gender play in health risk.

Jacqueline Ngo Mpii, the final beneficiary of the initiative, vowed to show the world just how vibrant Afro-French culture is after her beloved neighborhood, La Goutte d’Or, was declared a “no-go zone” by international press in 2015. As the founder of Little Africa, she provides a platform for entrepreneurs and artists from the African diaspora.

“I am so honored to be one of three women entrepreneurs awarded the Bumble x Vital Voices Moves Making Impact grant,” Ngo Mpii says. “This grant will go a long way in my mission to increase visibility and create economic parity for African diaspora artists and entrepreneurs through my multimedia platforms, as well as my new concept store and cultural space that will open in November 2021.”

Bumble’s renewed commitment to the Moves Making Impact program comes with direct monetary support of up to $60,000 for each recipient and additional funding from the company over the next 12 months based on the number of first moves made on Bumble that are associated with their cause.

“Empowering women is at Bumble’s core, and that is exactly what the Moves Making Impact program does on a global scale,” explains Lisa Roman, Bumble’s Vice President of Public Policy. “These recipients are garnering incredible impact locally and are creating a ripple effect globally. With a simple first move, our community can support these organizations in a remarkable way.”