Feminist News and Information
WEEKLY NEWS // MAY 23, 2024
// FROM THE DESKS OF MARY BISSELL, FOUNDING PARTNER & GRACE FINLEY, SENIOR POLICY ASSOCIATE, CHILDFOCUS
The Critical Role of the Child Tax Credit in Supporting Women & Their Families
Dear Colleagues,
The importance of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) has been at the forefront of my mind this week, particularly following Women’s Funding Network’s recent event, "Expanding the Child Tax Credit: What You Need to Know and What's Next", in collaboration with Economic Opportunity Funders, Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, and Tax Equity Funders Network. As we gathered together to hear from experts in the field on our collective efforts and opportunities for continued advocacy, I was reminded of the profound impact the CTC has had on tens of millions of women and families across the nation. Monday’s event was an important reminder that the CTC is one of our strongest tools in providing critical support to families raising children and has proven to be extraordinarily effective in reducing child poverty.
We reflected together on the remarkable results of the historic CTC expansion under The American Rescue Plan, providing crucial financial support to women, especially single mothers and women of color who often bear the primary responsibility for raising children while, on average, earning far less than their male counterparts. Over 60 million children benefited from the expanded credit, which nearly halved child poverty, bringing it down to a record low of 5.2 percent. This achievement was especially significant for Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American children, all of whom saw unprecedented reductions in poverty rates.
However, these critical expansions expired in December 2021, leading to increased financial hardship for many women and families. The spike in poverty rates in 2022 can be directly linked to the expiration of the CTC, highlighting the urgent need for its restoration.
Read the rest of Mary & Grace's letter here.
With gratitude,
Mary Bissell
Founding Partner, ChildFocus
Grace Finley
Senior Policy Associate, ChildFocus
News from WFN
NEW MEMBER
Our network thrives on the strength and diversity of our members. Please join us in welcoming new Individual WFN member Julia Ruther.
If you have questions about joining WFN as a new member, renewing your membership, or would like to learn more about WFN membership, please contact us.
News from WFN Members
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Australians Investing In Women in collaboration with the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Social Equity Institute and with funding from Paul Ramsay Foundation produced Equitable Foundations, two companion resources to support philanthropic partnerships and collaborations to apply a gender lens or gender equity principles into their partnerships with other funders, including governmental and private entities.
The Women’s Foundation of Montana is thrilled to introduce this much-anticipated research on The Status of Montana Women. The report delves into the economic landscape of Montana, spotlighting the contributions and successes of women while also acknowledging the persistent challenges they face.
Watch The Chorus We Carry, a documentary short produced by Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism, which, through the voice of our founder and the leadership of the Urgent Action Sister Funds, spotlights the gap in funding for feminist movements and the power women and LGBTQ+ activists have in driving meaningful change in a world in the face of conflict, crisis, and oppressive systems.
MEMBER EVENTS
Funders for Justice, Abolition Dream Lab, The California Endowment, and Heising-Simons Foundation cordially invite you to A Cultural Strategy to Healing Movement Ecosystems. Funders are encouraged to join to learn how philanthropic partners and donors can support movements to build a healing-centered culture to better navigate conflict, bridge ecosystems, and build collective power.
June 10, 2024 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT | Register here
Opportunities and Resources
Pro Mujer has provided underserved women in Latin America with the tools they need to reach their full potential and are pioneers in fostering gender lens investing (GLI) in Latin America. Their GLI Forum LatAm focuses on promoting gender lens investing as an effective way to drive equality and economic development in the region. Get your tickets today.
June 4-6, 2024 | Register here
The SheMoney Summit is a cultural movement for those committed to women+’s financial well-being, agency, and advancement. Join this first-of-its-kind event that will challenge how you think about money in a societal, practical, intergenerational, or technological context.
June 6-7, 2024 | Register here
Council on Foundations (COF) has extended the deadline for their 2024 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits survey to Thursday, May 30. You do not have to be a COF member to participate and survey respondents gain early access to the data in Benchmark Central before the report is published and a free copy of the report when it is published.
Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) at Borealis Philanthropy is currently accepting applications for two grant opportunities: Disability Inclusion Fund grants and our DIF x Tech Fund.
A new report from Candid analyzes demographic data from 59,550 public charities collected over the last five years. It is the most comprehensive data set of its kind to date and establishes a benchmark to better track efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion for funders, nonprofits, and researchers.
What We're Reading
New York Women’s Foundation Honors Cynthia Nixon And Fondation Chanel — Forbes
Imagine if women’s health had the resources it deserves — Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Women-owned businesses outpace the market — MSNBC
There Is No Democracy Without Gender Justice — Ms. Magazine
What We're Watching
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation hosted a two-part conversation series discussing how we can reimagine various policies and practices within the tax system and to better support health and equity for children and families.
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