Feminist News and Information
WEEKLY NEWS // JUNE 23, 2023
// A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO
Bold action for Reproductive Justice
Dear Colleagues,
Philanthropic giving from large foundations to local reproductive justice organizations has barely moved in the year post-Dobbs. Early forecasts show that donors have not renewed 2022 gifts, and national foundations have yet to expand their portfolios to reflect the reality of being outspent up to 6 times by those who oppose bodily autonomy.
Thankfully you, once again, are bucking the trend. Before Dobbs, our survey of members indicated that about 70 percent of you funded and/or advocated for reproductive justice – including abortion care. Today, it’s about 90 percent. For a geographically diverse alliance that moves about $1.4 billion annually in local grants to movement leaders – a 20% increase in less than a year means our network understands there’s no time to fence sit. Real investment is needed now – and real investment is on the way.
Women’s funds connected through WFN’s global alliance are the best philanthropic leaders to solidify the local infrastructure needed to fight for reproductive justice for all. While many foundations double down on large national groups, services, and palliative, short-term solutions – I’m so proud that you are boldly moving a clear agenda aimed at transforming power for the long term.
Thank you again for all you do.
In solidarity,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR FEMINIST FUNDED '23
We look forward to connecting with you at Feminist Funded 23: Rising, the largest convening of gender-focused philanthropy, dedicated to creating a more just, equitable, and safer world for all.
WFN News & Events
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS & NEW MEMBERS
Our network is only as strong as the people and organizations who are a part of it. Join us in appreciating the following members who have renewed their WFN membership for 2023.
- Global Fund for Women
- Shadhika
- Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock
- Valentine Foundation
If you have questions about WFN membership or would like additional information, please contact us.
NEWS & EVENTS
Climate change is gendered. It affects women, girls, and transgender individuals in ways that men, boys or cisgender people don’t experience. Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) is hosting a webinar to discuss how climate change inequitably affects women, girls and trans people, and what funders can do to change the interaction between climate and gender.
CDP's Vice President, Regine A. Webster, will moderate the discussion with the following panelists:
- Supriya Akerkar, Director, Centre for Development and Emergency Practice, Oxford Brookes University
- Vera J. Soto, Research and Data Collection Analyst, Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Trafficking in Persons
- Jenna Wallace, Program Officer, Economic and Climate Justice, Global Fund for Women
Women's Funding Network is proud to co-sponsor this event along with Giving Compass, United Philanthropy Forum, Alliance Magazine, and Council on Foundations.
July 13, 2023 at 2:00 PM EDT | Register here
WFN Member News & Events
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Frontline Women's Fund has released a 2023 New Year Survey to gather valuable insights regarding their communications and messaging. To take the survey here.
Women's Fund of Central Ohio LOI is now open for their 2024 grantmaking cycle. To learn more and apply here.
Groundswell is working with the Development Guild to find their next Chief Development Officer. The position is remote, the salary range is $185,000-$225,000, and more information about the opportunity is in the job description.
"All economies have savings and productivity gains if women have access to the job market. It's not just a moral, philosophical or equal-opportunity matter. It's also an economic cause. It just makes economic sense. It's a no-brainer." - Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
So, how do we get more money into more women’s hands? Working for Women's Founder & CEO has some ideas in her latest article.
Global Fund for Women mourns with the people of Kasese in Uganda and condemns last week's attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe and the violence that took the lives of more than 40 girls and boys. They join the call for the return of the abductees taken to the DRC.
MEMBER WEBINARS & WORKSHOPS
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and OutFront Minnesota is hosting a conversation series on gender-expansive communities across the state, the intersections of trans rights and reproductive rights, and growing our collective understanding of what it means to pay attention to and support our LGBTQ+ communities. Join them for the second part of the series as they take a dive into how the struggle for
reproductive justice and gender-affirming care is critical to healthier communities.
June 27, 2023 | 1:00pm CDT | Register here
Last week, How Women Lead launched The New Table, a campaign to disrupt the venture capital landscape by inspiring women to invest in venture capital funds who invest in women founders. How Women Lead will be hosting a Community Call, where you can learn about how you can take action, make big change, and join The New Table.
Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres (FCAM) celebra su 20 aniversario con un espacio colectivo que nos permita crear juntes nuevas narrativas. Te invitamos al próximo diálogo virtual: Sentires disruptivos: Interseccionalidad y decolonialidad en Centroamérica. Este será un espacio colectivo y dinámico que nos permitirá reflexionar sobre interseccionalidad y decolonialidad desde una mirada fresca de las juventudes diversas en Centroamérica, a través de sus identidades, vivencias personales y proyectos políticos colectivos.
27 de junio 2023 | 10:00am-11:30am CST | Link para registrarse
Opportunities & Resources
How Women Lead announces the second Women Leaders for the World Fellowship Cohort focused on Abortion and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice. With the continued attacks on reproductive health and justice globally, HWL is encouraged to make the opportunity available to more leaders. Join an information session to learn more about the fellowship, its curriculum, outcomes and components. For more information, please contact the fellowship coordinator at [email protected].
The Opportunity Agenda has released two important tools: Messaging on Affirmative Action and A Court in Crisis: Messaging on the Supreme Court & the Judiciary.
Rosa’s Summer Conference is coming up on July 5th, a free, one-day online event that will feature a wide range of influential speakers and engaging panel discussions with leading experts from the UK women and girls sector. Register here.
Economic Security Project has released a new report: The Power of Cash: How Guaranteed Income Can Strengthen Worker Power.
The Institute for Women's Policy Research and the Equal Pay Today campaign are hosting a webinar, The Gender Wage Gap and Occupational Segregation:
Tackling the Undervaluation of Human Services and Care Work, where you can hear about two new studies about the underpayment of non-profit human services workers, and an example of how sector bargaining was used to get higher pay for care workers.
June 28, 2023 | 4:00pm-5:15pm EDT | Register here
Join a robust conversation about the erasure of bisexual and pansexual youth from comprehensive sexuality education (CSE)—and how inclusion would affect the lives of bisexual and pansexual youth across the globe. Ipas and Political Research Associates will share key findings from their new report—From invisible to indispensable—and sexuality education experts will discuss how the study’s recommendations can be put into practice to build truly inclusive CSE programs.
June 29, 2023 | 10:00 a.m. EDT | Register here
What We're Reading
Uganda’s harsh anti-gay bill is now law — The Economist
The Supreme Court leaves Indian Child Welfare Act intact. — NPR
Switzerland: Amendment to rape law is “historic victory for human rights”. — Amnesty International
Watered-down LGBTQ ‘understanding’ bill shows how far Japan’s parliament is out of step with its society – and history. — The Conversation
What We're Watching
How should you prepare in advance for a job interview? Life Kit host Marielle Segarra sits down with Cynthia Pong to find out. She’s the founder & CEO of Embrace Change— a career coaching and consulting firm that works with women of color.
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