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The Women’s Foundation of Alabama will soon be under new leadership. Chief executive officer Melanie Bridgeforth is stepping down early next year.During her time at the helm, Bridgeforth helped grow the organization from a Birmingham-centric organization to a statewide hub for advancing women's issues.“I'm obsessed with one thing and one thing only, and that is fighting for humanity,�� Bridgeforth said. For six years, Bridgeforth led that fight as the CEO of the Women's Foundation of Alabama.Bridgeforth is credited with changing the strategy of the organization, using her background as a lobbyist to spearhead projects to change public policy benefitting women and their families. “And when you think about the power of women, you know, the folks that are closest to the problem are often closest to the solution,�� Bridgeforth said. “So, having the voices and the influence of women at the table is not just about women. It's about advancing everyone in the state of Alabama.”It's that kind of thinking she believes helped the foundation push lawmakers toward the passage of the 2024 Alabama Child Care Tax Credit Bill.“One of the things we set out to do, the board of directors, our incredible team and me, was to really revolutionize philanthropy,�� she said. “We were already a strong grantmaking organization. What I envisioned was, how do we do that work of grant making parallel to the power of public policy change?”Bridgeforth said she believes the organization answered that question and met its goals."And we've done that. We came off the sidelines and into the game of public policy change, to the tune of three defensive wins for women and six pro-women legislative wins,�� she said. “Everything from the equal pay statute to the child care tax credit that we all just got to celebrate. “The foundation expanded its grantmaking to more than a million dollars annually to non-profit organizations across 40 Alabama counties. Fundraising events like “Unleashed�� brought major star power to Birmingham with guests like Oscar-winning actor Regina King and former First Daughter Barbara P. Bush while also increasing revenue.Now, Bridgeforth is looking ahead to leading her own consulting firm.“I want to go to any other community that is looking to make change on behalf of women and families. And I'm excited to do that under my own name, my own brand, and on my own terms,�� Bridgeforth said.Under her terms, every woman has the power to change her community.“You know, leadership is a concept that seems elusive and accessible to only the chosen few. And I reject that with every ounce of my being,�� said Bridgeforth. “I am chosen. I believe you were chosen. We are all chosen to fight for our own humanity by radically fighting for the humanity in others.”The Women's Foundation of Alabama Board of Directors is launching a national search to find its next leader. Bridgeforth will remain in her role until February.