"Anonymous Was A Woman" philanthropist reveals her identity

In a recent interview from PBS News Hour, Susan Unterberg speaks about the grant program “Anonymous Was A Woman,” which she began in 1996. The program awards $25,000 grants to mid-career women artists - a total of 240 of them to date. Unterberg gave these grants anonymously for decades, and recently revealed her identity. Unterberg explains, “it's a time where women need to speak out. And we need to be heard. And I need to have a voice in this conversation.”

“Anonymous Was A Woman” helps women artists who need support mid-career, when the buzz of their earlier work has died down, and the going gets tough. Recipients of the grant emphasize the psychological value of the award in addition to the financial relief - grantees experience a high degree of affirmation and validation for their work. Artist Elia Alba says, “It gives me hope. It gives me a lot of hope.”