Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) was founded in 1981 in memory of Margaret Craig McNamara, who dedicated her life to improving the lives of under-served women and children at home and overseas. We were originally called the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF), and re-branded in 2015.

Why investing in Women's Education Matters

Financing women's education is at the core of our programs. Investing in the education of girls and women is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. At MMEG, we strive to empower women from developing countries through educational grants. We believe that education is essential to empowering women with the knowledge, skills, and self-confidence necessary to reduce poverty, improve environmental sustainability, and protect human rights.

Margaret's Legacy

Margaret McNamara has been recognized for her support of children's literacy in the United States by founding the non-profit organization, "Reading Is Fundamental." She expanded her advocacy for women and children worldwide during the 1970s, when her husband, Robert McNamara, served as World Bank President. 

Margaret McNamara worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of education for women and children in developing countries, and became a powerful advocate for women and children living in poverty. She was especially concerned that women and children not be overlooked in World Bank projects, and strongly advocated for the education of girls, and awareness of women and their needs. 

Following Margaret's death in 1981, two women who worked closely with Mrs. McNamara at the World Bank Family Network (WBFN, later renamed the World Bank Group Family Network, or WBGFN), Babs Knox and Ruby Wingate, spearheaded the creation of the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund. In gratitude for her support to the WBFN and to pay tribute to her life-long dedication to improving the well-being of women and children worldwide, the Fund would provide financial resources to women from developing countries, enrolled at US universities, who were committed to returning to their countries to improve the well-being of women and children. 

MMEG and the World Bank Group Today

Margaret McNamara was an effective advocate for the World Bank Group Family Network (WBGFN), organized in 1970 by World Bank spouses, with the goal of better serving the needs of many World Bank Group families. Fifty years later, the WBGFN has become an effective provider of support services to thousands of families, achieved almost entirely by volunteers.

Today WBGFN provides office space and in-kind and logistics support and catalyzes passionate volunteers willing to serve MMEG's cause.