About Us
Women’s Plans Foundation (WPF) is a charitable trust raising funds for family planning as an integral part of overseas aid programs.
Investing in Family Planning Projects in the Asia Pacific
Women’s Plans Foundation (WPF) is a charitable trust. Being dedicated to providing vital overseas aid, we raise and distribute funds for family planning and contraception initiatives in the Asia Pacific region. Typically, we give our grants to organisations that deliver high quality family planning services and facilitate take-up of modern contraceptive methods.
$1M+
Total value of grants distributed to 8 organisations since 2004.
Number of Asia-Pacific countries reached by projects we’ve funded.
9
Our Purpose
The overriding purpose of WPF’s grants is to make contraceptives available to people who have limited or no access to family planning services, and to provide education about and advocacy for family planning.
Our Vision
“For all women and girls in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region have the right to choose, and have access to modern contraception and family planning.”
Our Mission Statement
We raise funds for family planning as an integral part of overseas aid programs and advocate for family planning and contraception to be mainstreamed in overseas aid programs
Our Founder:
Alice Arnott Oppen OAM
A Visionary Leader and Changemaker
Alice Arnott Oppen OAM was a visionary leader whose unwavering dedication to women’s empowerment, climate action, and family planning across the Asia Pacific region has left a profound and lasting impact—far beyond the work of Women’s Plans Foundation.
Her deep belief in equality, sustainability, and reproductive rights guided everything she did, and her legacy continues to shape our purpose today.
Above: Alice Oppen, Founder of WPF
Founding Women’s Plans Foundation
Alice’s tireless efforts were instrumental in the establishment and growth of Women’s Plans Foundation. Through her leadership, the foundation has provided essential funding for family planning and contraception initiatives throughout the region.
These partnerships support high-quality services that expand access to modern contraceptive methods—empowering women and improving the health and well-being of families across the Asia Pacific.
“The most fundamental way we can help is to share our ability to plan babies, to live within our planet. Let’s cherish children, not crowd them.”
A Lasting Legacy
As a passionate advocate and philanthropist, Alice earned the admiration of all who knew her. She led with warmth, wisdom, and fierce dedication to social change.
Her lifelong commitment to gender equality, education, climate responsibility, and the improvement of women’s lives will always remain at the heart of Women’s Plans Foundation.
We honour her legacy every day through our mission and our work.
“Thanks to WPF's support we have undertaken an important study in Papua New Guinea on the benefit of antenatal contraceptive counselling and immediate postpartum contraceptive implant provision on improving access to effective contraception.”
Dr Kirsten Black
The University of Sydney
Make a Donation.
A small act of kindness can ripple into a lifetime of change. Help us provide vital education and health outcomes, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow for girls and women.
Our Team
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Carolyn Blanden
CHAIR & DIRECTOR
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Elizabeth Tomlinson
DEPUTY CHAIR & DIRECTOR
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Dr. Penelope Fotheringham
COMPANY SECRETARY & DIRECTOR
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Evan Oppen
TREASURER & DIRECTOR
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Jodie Rollason
DIRECTOR
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Sam Durland
DIRECTOR
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Arda Ergun
DIRECTOR
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Iris Chan
BOARD OBSERVER
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Jen McCloy
BOARD OBSERVER
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Natalie Brandon
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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Sue Funnell
EVALUATION & RESEARCH
Awards & Certifications
We are proud to have been recognised with the following awards and qualifications:
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Registered
2004
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Endorsed
2004
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 Compliant
2012
Affiliate Membership Status Awarded by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)
2023
Save The Children: Philanthropy Award
2013
A Word from our Founder
Alice Oppen, OAM
Birth Control and Societal Challenges
Since my mother first stood up for birth control so that “every child should be a wanted child”, there have been medical, human rights, and feminist advances making it more possible.
Married off young when your family needs the bride price? Expected to bear babies because the bride price has been paid?
Being scared to go to a health clinic because it’s ok for a husband to beat up his wife?
Limited education and personhood?
Of course, men don’t think women are equal when girls are kept down this way.
Population and Global Instability
The size of the next generation mustn’t overwhelm overseas aid gains made. Since my mother was born, the world population has quadrupled. The world is becoming more disturbed.
When I was born, there were about 2.2 billion people sharing the world. Now over 8 billion people, hear the stress cracks – from disturbed individuals with guns, fear of migrants and migrant fears, to nations facing off and alliances shaking. Of course, there are increasing numbers of refugees!
“How many billions can share dwindling resources?”
Empowerment Through Family Planning and Contraception
But just suppose that all women could go forth – not to multiply, but to be like Jacinda Arden, in leadership, leading to non-flammatory responses. Women’s Plans makes it possible for women to balance childbearing with enterprise.
The most fundamental way we can help is to share our ability to plan babies, to live within our planet. Let’s cherish children, not crowd them. Depending on us, thousands of women can have a year’s spacing between children. The ability to have fewer children will improve the lives of those in succeeding generations – the benefit is incremental. No nation has broken the poverty cycle without contraception.
Our challenge has been to transform a negative – no pregnancy – into a positive, contraception:
To help women’s reproductive health, in the feminist and human rights sphere.
Be worried about rapid population rise in developing countries.
Break the poverty cycle, not perpetuating aid as hand to mouth welfare.
Others can see climate change is impacting now. We aim to attract all of these interests, and to persuade people that they are interconnected.
Planning for a Sustainable Future
The term family planning says so much more than the word ‘contraception’, and we need to ensure that young people realise that they are not just avoiding a commitment to nurture now, before they are ready – they are planning for the whole sustainable human family in the future.
Women’s Plans Foundation exists to empower women, by enabling us to manage our fertility – delighting in the children we are ready for, also finding space for pursuits in education, careers, and joining in the decision-making processes of our world.
“The most fundamental way we can give is to share our ability to plan, and to live within our planet.”
FAQs
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For details on eligibility, please see our grants page.
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The foundation is funded from generous donations from our donors, events, and income derived from an investment portfolio.
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Make a Donation:
Your financial contribution, no matter how small, can make a big impact in supporting our mission. You can make a secure online donation to support our work.Join us for an event:
From casual meetups, in-person events to virtual gatherings, there's always a way to engage with our community and learn more about our impactful work. Keep an eye on our upcoming events.Volunteer:
We welcome individuals who are passionate about our cause to join our team of volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to gain experience, meet new people, and make a difference in the lives of women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region. You can apply to become a volunteer upcoming events and we will get in touch with you.Join the Team:
We are always looking for talented and dedicated individuals to join our team. If you are interested in working with us, please visit our contact page to get in touch and learn more about current opportunities. -
First of all, you can subscribe to our our newsletter below.
You can also follow us on social media (including Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, X (FKA Twitter) and Instagram.
You can also browse our annual reports for greater insights
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Donations of $2 and over are fully tax-deductible.
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For comprehensive overview, visit our Donations Page.
Simply click this donate hyperlink to make your donation through PayPal. You do not need to have an existing PayPal account to make your donation, you can select ‘Donate with a card’ after entering your donation amount.
If you wish to set up a recurring monthly donation, please tick the 'Make This a Monthly Donation' option.
If you wish to donate in other ways, please review the ‘Other Ways to Donate’ section on our Donations page, or contact us at and our friendly staff will guide you.
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Your contribution makes a real difference in the lives of women and girls in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region through access to modern contraception and family planning services.
Your donations fund our NGO partners (through grants) to embed family planning in overseas aid programs which means women and girls have increased access to family planning services. Our projects support outreach initiatives in remote areas, education programs for health workers, women and girls (as well as men and boys) and provide front line delivery of modern contraceptive methods and advice in those regions.
Our NGO partners work with local workers in programs across the region. You can read more about our projects and where we work here.
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Yes, we offer WPF celebration ‘gifts’ (donations). Give a meaningful and socially sustainable gift this birthday, Christmas or special occasion through our gift program.
Any donation over $2 you will receive a tax-deductible receipt.
For more details, please review the ‘Other Ways to Donate’ section on our Donations page, or contact us at and our friendly staff will guide you.
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Bequests are a meaningful and lasting way to contribute to enable us to continue providing family planning for women and girls in need in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.
By nominating WPF as a beneficiary in your will, you will be growing our capacity to continue this important family planning work well into the future. Your gift will be safe, entrusted to the WPF Trust Fund for this purpose.
For the full details, browse the ‘Other Ways to Donate’ section on our Donations page.
If you are considering leaving a gift, please contact and talk confidentially to us. In preparing your will, please seek legal advice. This is because a statement of your intentions may not always be legally binding and we want your gift to reach its intended recipients – women and girls in need.
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Donations of $2 and over are fully tax-deductible. The Women’s Plans Foundation is a registered charity with deductible gift recipient status.
Paypal issues you a receipt upon payment.
We will also issue you a DGR receipt for your accountant. Typically this is done through email.
If you’ve paid via mail, we’ll mail your receipt.
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You can contribute to the Women’s Plans Foundation in many ways and make a real difference in the lives of women and girls in need in developing countries. You can:
Make donationsof goods or services either in your personal capacity or through in-kind contributions from your workplace to help us with our important work.
Participate in our events or marketing campaigns which will help us reach more people in our community and raise funds for the projects we fund. We aim to spread the word about the value of modern contraception and family planning especially in the Asia Pacific region.
Volunteer and be part of the WPF team to extend our reach and capacity to provide family planning as an integral part of overseas aid programs. We have highly skilled volunteers who contribute to our mission and warmly invite you to join us if you would like to be involved.
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