Honor World Refugees, Support Peace and Justice

Dear Colleagues,

Today on World Refugee Day, we celebrate the contributions migrants make to every country they reside. But even as we honor them, we cannot forget that their journey is often one of survival, not choice.

According to the UN, right now, 1 in every 69 people have been forced to flee their homelands because of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order. About 40 percent of the world's refugees are children despite making up only 30 percent of the population. Also, state-sanctioned persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity is on the rise, driving even more displacement across the world.

It is during these trying times we draw inspiration from the work of members across the Network. Organizations like Fondo Semillas, Rise Up, Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism, Rockflower, MADRE, Frontline Women’s Fund, The Haitian Women’s Collective, Fund for Congolese Women, Global Foundation for Girls, and Global Fund for Women are funding grassroots groups at the frontlines of migration crisis. They also stay with these groups long-term as communities work to create cultures of justice, equality and peace.

As feminist funders, we know that economic security and peace are intertwined. Now is the time for a migration policy framework that centers the wellbeing of marginalized genders of ethnic minorities and in communities of color. Now is the time to interrogate violent global systems of power that drive millions of people from their homes and homelands each year.

Sincerely,

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

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News from WFN Members

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez began this week as CEO of Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, succeeding Donna Haghighat in the key role for the nonprofit. Pabón-Hernandez has experience as a program developer, grant writer, mentor, facilitator, consensus builder and storyteller, and she is excited to put her skills to work for the Women’s Fund. Learn more about Vanessa here and please join us in welcoming Vanessa and thanking Donna.

Everyone has the right to make their own decisions about their lives, bodies and futures—without political interference. That’s why I Be Black Girl and Women's Fund of Omaha are part of a coalition of reproductive rights, health, and justice advocates working to collect enough signatures to get abortion rights on the ballot. With the deadline rapidly approaching, now is the time to sign the Protect Our Rights petition—find a petition signing opportunity here.

The Women's Fund of Central Ohio's Annual Grantmaking Letter of Intent (LOI) is now open for their 2025 grantmaking cycle. This LOI is intended for organizations in Central Ohio that are interested in receiving funding from The Women’s Fund. Learn more about the process, The Women's Fund's priorities, and submit an LOI here.

MEMBER EVENTS

Join Women's Fund SouthCoast for an evening of community celebration to announce their new cohort of grantee partners advancing gender and racial justice across the SouthCoast in Massachusetts. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and full cash bar will be available.

June 24, 2024 | 5:15 - 7:15 p.m. EDT | Register here

In Partnership with Ms. Foundation for Women, Women's Foundation of the South presents: Honor Her, a one-day empowerment event celebrating Women in Business, Philanthropy & Community Leadership. This experience will feature a curated Chef’s Table Brunch, HerStory Honors Awards Ceremony, Say More: An Intergenerational Conversation hosted by Black Girls Guide To Surviving Menopause, and fabulous HonorHer Lounge Day Party & Retail Therapy where you can sip, chill, dance, and shop.

July 6, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CDT | Register here

Opportunities and Resources

Recent studies show that globally, increased representation of women often results in laws designed to ensure women’s equality and that a country’s overall progress and performance improves when there is significant representation of women in public leadership. From systemic racism and gender-based violence to gun violence and access to reproductive healthcare, join She Should Run's event to learn how different women leaders are tackling these issues.

June 26, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EDT | Register here

Join AWID for a webinar to hear from experts, advocates, and domestic workers about the urgent need for change to include domestic workers when talking about care economies. Learn about AWID's vision for a just and equitable future for domestic workers in their Care Manifesto, a collective call to action advocating for the rights, recognition, and respect of domestic workers worldwide.

June 27, 2024 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EDT | Register here

Recognizing the impact of maternal health on BIPOC birthing people and families, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to care, and communities have the solutions. This event by March for Moms will focus on creating a bridge between community-based organizations and traditional healthcare systems to improve maternal health outcomes for birthing people in the United States. It's an opportunity to learn and share ideas with community birth workers, providers, clinicians, and maternal health advocates from Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

June 28, 2024 | 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. EDT | Register here

What We're Reading

Empowering Women: Why More Women Should Start A Business In 2024 — Forbes

More Women in Africa Are Using Long-Acting Contraception, Changing Lives — The New York Times

What We're Watching

In an exclusive interview with "CBS Mornings" airing Tuesday, June 18, Melinda French Gates emphasizes the importance of women's turnout in the 2024 presidential election and hinted at her endorsement.

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