The research, of which this paper is a part, describes, analyzes and assesses the engagement of American civil society in global women rights activism from the lens of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Given its resources and influence, U.S. activism is of substantial consequence for advancing global women's rights and improving women's lives and status in underdeveloped nations. Yet, systematic research on the engagement of U.S. based nongovernmental organizations in the global women's rights movement is sparse. The missions, organizational characteristics, repertoire of actions and impact of a core group of 31feminist NGOs are analyzed in this paper to initiate an assessment of this engagement. We explore involvement of U.S. led NGOs in transnational feminist networks and organizations. How wide and diverse are the policy domains and rights advocacy that has stimulated the establishment of U.S. led NGOs? What action repertoires have they developed to achieve their goals and to what effect? These are initial questions that this study addresses.