WEEKLY NEWS  //  AUGUST 24, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

This July, we recognized the 33^rd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Throughout the month, we celebrated Disability Pride, recognizing disability as a common part of the human experience.  During this time, we uplifted the important efforts of disability justice movement leaders and learned from their work. 

As we move further into the year, there is an opportunity for gender justice funders to reflect and consider how their work is inclusive of people with disabilities, including their own employees.  According to the Disability and Philanthropy Forum, only one penny of every $10 in U.S. grantmaking goes to disability rights and justice work. We as a sector are in debt to the organizations and leaders in the disability justice space. This is a journey we have been on at The New York Women’s Foundation, and we know we have space to continue to learn and grow.

Gender justice and disability justice are inextricably linked.  An intersectional approach to grantmaking must include disability justice.  However, this is not always the case in practice.  For example, reproductive health programs don’t always fully consider people with disabilities. Other areas that gender justice funders care about are also closely linked with disability justice – from economic justice to safety and healing. 

There is a long history characterized by tension between the women’s movement and disability justice movement.  Our recent report, The State of Women and Girls with Disabilities in New York, recommends that it’s time for gender justice funders to both acknowledge and deeply understand this history. We must recognize the impact that our movement has had on the lives of people with disabilities and begin to take clear steps to include this critical community in our funding practices, rather than at the margins of our budgets and strategies.

Read the rest of Dana's letter here.

Dana Huber
Director, Programs and Strategic Learning at The New York Women’s Foundation

To learn more from Dana, join us for Feminist Funded ’23: RISING where they are a featured speaker on Thursday, September 14. 

FEMINIST FUNDED '23: RISING - REGISTRATION CLOSES 8/25

Feminist Funded ’23 is SOLD OUT for main stage tickets on Sept. 13th & 14th. However, we’ve opened a limited number of seats in a satellite room at the conference hotel and are extending registration to Friday, August 25. Attendees in the satellite room on Sept. 13th & 14th will enjoy all the same breakout sessions, meals, and receptions as everyone else – except, for a discounted price, will view all main stage speakers from a live broadcast screen located on the first floor of the conference hotel. Learn more about Feminist Funded '23: RISING on our conference website and register before we close tickets at 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, August 25.

WFN Member News & Events

NEW WFN MEMBERS

Our network is only as strong as the people and organizations who are a part of it. Please join us in welcoming new WFN members ABFE, Beekay Foundation, Betsy Fleming, and XOESE - Le Fonds pour Les Femmes Francophones.

If you have questions about WFN membership or would like additional information, please contact us.

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Women’s Fund of Hawai’i launched the Maui Wildfire Relief Fund, an emergency grant making process to assist nonprofits who are able to help women and girls affected by the devastating fires. Learn more here and please share with your networks.

Registration is now open for Women’s Foundation California’s one-of-a-kind experiential training program for funders and donors ready to level up their policy-related philanthropy. Funders Policy Institute participants learn directly from policymakers and advocates while connecting with other philanthropists committed to effective, policy-based grantmaking. Registration is open now through October 30th, 2023.

Victorian Women’s Trust launched Women For Yes, a women-led campaign created by Victorian Women's Trust initiative Together, Yes in partnership with Yes 23. Through Women For Yes, women and gender diverse people can join together in support of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to parliament, and constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples. Learn more and read their open letter here.

Don't miss the opportunity to join Women’s Foundation of Mississippi for this year's Mississippi Women's Policy Institute and connect with policy leaders, build a policy agenda, and grow as a leader for progress at no cost to you. Applications close on August 29, 2023. Apply here.

MEMBER EVENTS

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling's attempted gutting of Affirmative Action has significant implications and already, opponents of affirmative action are working to leverage this decision to impact broader efforts to advance social justice in the U.S. and Global South. Join Funders for Justice for a conversation for philanthropic leaders to discuss the potential impacts of this decision on our collective work, and the opportunities to mobilize and stand in solidarity with our movement partners. The conversation will feature Black feminist legal and movement leaders who will provide their assessment and opportunities for philanthropic action. Please do not post this training on social media, as part of FFJ's baseline security practices.

September 15, 2023 | 3:00pm-4:30pm EDT | Register here

The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade invites you to its upcoming unveiling of the Gender Equity Index. The Gender Equity Index (GEI) measures progress toward equity for women and girls in Miami-Dade County, and its goal is to drive collaboration in the advancement of gender equality. 

September 21, 2023 | 5:00pm-9:00pm EDT | RSVP here

Join WNY Women's Foundation's Women's Leadership Summit. This in-person event will feature interactive presentations, panel discussions, and a networking in-action seminar for Aspiring and Emerging Leaders. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

September 22, 2023 | 12:30pm-5:30pm EDT | Register here
 

Opportunities & Resources

PEAK Grantmaking has opened the call for nominations for their 2024–27 board. They seek candidates who are deeply committed to equity-centered practices and who understand and advocate for their Principles for Peak Grantmaking. Nominations will be accepted until September 30. To learn more and submit your nomination, click here.

Liberation In A Generation released their recent report "From Big Business To A Liberation Economy: A Racial Justice Agenda for Reining in Monopoly Power," dives into the intersection of racial justice and the influence of monopoly power, shedding light on how these aspects are interconnected and impact our society as a whole.

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