Funders: Time to get serious about gender oppression

Dear Colleagues,

In a recent conversation with Rhodri Davies, host of UK-based podcast, Philanthropisms, I shared more about what it means to take a feminist approach to funding and why philanthropy should get serious about gender equity and gender oppression if they are serious about a just and thriving society.

What does getting serious mean? It means investing deeply in integrated strategies that include partners working out of every region of the globe – including the U.S.

I’m so grateful for the support of MacKenzie Scott, who has invested in women’s funds in the United States and beyond. In fact, in just two years, she gave $170 million to 17 of the 47 women’s funds that are part of the Prospera International Network of Women’s Funds. Resourcing at this scale within a network allows for our sister organization to dream big and collaborate to build necessary feminist infrastructure that helps us all.

However, U.S.-based women’s funds have received no such windfall. In fact, foundations and donors continue to underinvest in U.S.-based women’s funds and gender justice funders even while it’s clear that rollbacks on reproductive rights and the increase of anti-gender legislation are having the ripple effect of emboldening conservative policymakers and pundits around the world.

I shared with Rhodri my frustration about these losses and the ongoing lack of interest or acknowledgment of U.S.-based women’s funds as also the frontline philanthropy in this fight.

This must change. Each of our members is doing vital work to combat the historic challenges we’re facing: poverty, food and housing insecurity, a caregiving crisis, an increase in gender-based violence, and the erosion of reproductive rights, among so many other critical areas.

Thank you for joining us in ensuring feminist funds in every nation are fully resourced and strong.

In Solidarity,

Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO

News from WFN Members

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Priority applications for Kentucky Foundation for Women’s Loretto Artist Residency are due November 17, 2023. KFW is partnering with the Sisters of Loretto/Loretto Community to offer Artist Residencies of 1-3 weeks at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, KY. Read more about the residency, additional deadlines, and apply here.

MEMBER EVENTS

Women's Fund of Omaha is hosting a series of Public Policy Power Hours, which will be hour-long virtual events featuring policymakers, community partners, subject matter experts, and other advocates. Learn more about each session here.

A is for Advocacy: November 30, 2023 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST | Register here

B is for Bills: December 6, 2023 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST | Register here

C is for Caring & Community: December 12, 2023 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST | Register here

Opportunities and Resources

Public Agenda is now accepting research proposals for their Democracy Renewal Project. In this inaugural grantmaking cycle, Public Agenda seeks to fund research projects that will produce rigorous evidence on how to achieve full access to electoral participation for all citizens while strengthening trust and confidence in elections. The deadline to submit proposals is January 17, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Fund For Shared Insight has created a new Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit, which is based on first-hand experiences working with funders, activists, and grassroots organizations on a participatory grantmaking initiative. To learn more, click here.

What We're Reading

Fact Sheet: President Joe Biden to Announce First-Ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, An Effort Led by First Lady Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council — The White House

Fact Sheet: Vice President Harris Launches Women in the Sustainable Economy Initiative, Totaling Over $900 Million in Commitments — The White House

20 women are now suing Texas, saying state abortion laws endangered them — NPR

The heavy burdens of war for Gaza’s women and girls — The Washington Post

Equal Pay Day: Women in the EU still earn 13% less than men — European Commission

From Margot Robbie to Pearlena Igbokwe and Ali Wong: Power of Women in Hollywood 2023 —Variety

What We're Watching

Vox's senior policy reporter, Rachel Cohen, says Ohio’s win on abortion rights shouldn't be overlooked — here’s why.

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