Dear John,

As we look towards the holidays and into the new year, I hope you get a chance to rest and recharge. I’ve been sitting with the idea of rest - who gets to and who doesn’t, and the role it plays in our collective fights for justice.

One theme that emerged frequently in our new report, Living with Pocket Change: What It Means to Do More With Less, was the burnout experienced by women and nonbinary leaders of color. Our report asked these leaders about their challenges and hopes for the future, and across the board, they shared that they’re expected to do more with less - less funding, less resources, less care - leading to a crisis of burnout.

These leaders juggle the constant stress of ensuring they make payroll, affording rent, making sure their staff has benefits, and so much more. This stress is compounded with the struggles of their day-to-day lives, as well as a constant need to solicit funds to do their crucial movement-building work. 

“I’m…trying to run an organization always at an eighth of the tank full. I can never [stay at] half a tank. I’m never at three-quarters, and the tank is never full,” said one leader.  

The time is now to trust that women and nonbinary leaders of color know what they and their organizations need, and to fund them accordingly. We’re incredibly proud to support these leaders - not just so they can lead, but so they can take the essential time to rest. 

Have a very happy and restful holiday season.

In solidarity,

Ruth McFarlane
Chief Advancement Officer

New Video: Creating the Future We Deserve

In support of our Creating the Future We Deserve campaign, which launched this year in honor of our 50th anniversary, we developed an animated video that illustrates how, through research, advocacy, and grantmaking, the Ms. Foundation is the national model for sustainable, trust-based philanthropic support of women of color-led movements. 

For 50 years, the Ms. Foundation for Women has shaped women’s philanthropy in the United States, providing a blueprint for the establishment of hundreds of local and regional women’s funds. Watch the video now!

Ms. Foundation Staff Offsite

Earlier this month, the Ms. Foundation staff headed upstate for our annual offsite. Our NYC-based and remote staff came together in Buttermilk Falls, where we had the chance to connect, problem solve, and relax in-person. 

A huge thank you to the Ms. Foundation staff, our fantastic facilitators, and the employees at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa who made the offsite possible!