Feminist News and Information
WEEKLY NEWS // AUGUST 30, 2024
// A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO
Building a Future Where Democracy Thrives
Dear Colleagues,
Vice President Kamala Harris’s U.S. presidential nomination holds significant symbolic and practical meaning for women and nonbinary people everywhere. As the first woman of South Asian and African American descent to be nominated for the U.S. presidency by a major party, her candidacy represents a landmark achievement in global gender and racial equity.
However, we know one person cannot create change alone. That’s why many of you are working shoulder-to-shoulder with grassroots groups to ensure freedoms are protected or demanded from those in power.
For example, our member, the Women’s Fund of Omaha was part of a successful collaborative effort to get paid sick leave on the November ballot. Another member in Nebraska working on democracy is I Be Black Girl, the state’s only reproductive justice organization. I Be Black Girl launched a campaign called Beyond the Booth this year, specifically focused on engaging disenfranchised voters in North Omaha, where many people of color live due the city’s long history of redlining and segregation.
Our role as feminists and philanthropists is crucial now more than ever. We must continue to support initiatives that empower women, safeguard democratic values, and promote equity. Your contributions are essential in driving forward the agenda for social justice and democracy.
Let’s remain committed to our shared goals and leverage our resources and influence to foster a world where gender equity and democratic integrity thrive.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication and support.
With you in joy and purpose,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
Please join Women's Funding Network, Justice for Migrant Women, and Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative on Monday September 9, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EDT for a discussion on Opportunities to Advance Feminist Foreign Policy.
Feminist Foreign Policy provides a critical framework to advance peace and gender equality worldwide. At this pivotal moment, our panel of experts will discuss feminist foreign policy's growing influence on global geopolitics, bipartisan opportunities for U.S. political leaders to advance its worldwide impact, and how a feminist foreign policy agenda can help the feminist philanthropy movement and work of local women's funds in the U.S.
We also look forward to exploring key takeaways from the third Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy which Mexico hosted this July and preview the feminist foreign policy conversations taking place at the United Nations General Assembly between September 10-24.
Featured Speakers:
- Mónica Ramirez, Founder and President, Justice for Migrant Women
- Spogmay Ahmed, Senior Policy Advisor, Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative
- Kavita Ramdas, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow, Robert Bosch Academy
Moderated by: Elizabeth Barajas-Román, President and CEO, Women's Funding Network
What is Feminist Foreign Policy? Learn more from the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative and UN Women.
News from WFN
Women’s Funding Network is pleased to invite nominations and applications for its Director of Philanthropy position. This role will have the opportunity to shape the future of WFN by driving strategic growth, fostering donor relationships, and leading innovative fundraising efforts. Learn more here.
Do you have an idea, insight, or experience to share? WFN always welcomes guest letters to feature in the openings of Above The Fold.
If you are interested in contributing a guest letter, you can submit proposals here.
News from WFN Members
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Women's Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation is seeking a new Executive Director. Learn more here.
Washington Area Women's Foundation shares the remarkable progress they've made in advancing the power and potential of women and girls of color in the Washington metropolitan region in their 2023 Community Impact Report.
The issue of infertility is critical to the reproductive justice and birth justice movement and demands increased funding, attention, awareness, and advocacy. This landscape analysis by Ms. Foundation for Women gives an introductory overview of the structural and systemic barriers facing women and gender-expansive people of color and highlights the stigmas and biases in our healthcare system.
Metrowest Women's Fund announced grants awarded to local nonprofits for programs serving women and girls from low incomes in Metrowest, MA. Grants are awarded in three impact areas: Educational Opportunity, Safety from Violence, and Girls: Our Next Generation.
The inaugural Giving List Women book tells the stories of local, national, and global female-facing organizations, as well as the funders and organizations that fuel their work. The Ascend Fund, powered by Panorama Global, is honored to have been featured in this publication. Read a digital version of the 2024 book, get a free physical copy, and apply to be featured in 2025.
Working for Women and the Impact Table have partnered to introduce a new leadership accelerator cohort for women nonprofit leaders, forging a new and much-needed approach to supporting women leaders in social impact with a leadership accelerator program and access to all Impact Table offerings made available to all Working for Women nonprofit partners.
The Women's Foundation of Colorado is looking for a new Chief Executive Officer. To learn more, click here.
MEMBER EVENTS
Women's Fund of Hawai'i hosts the Zilber Family Foundation for a virtual event sharing how they funded a guaranteed income program for mothers in Milwaukee. Join to learn about the theory of change underpinning the investment, the journey to get there, and what the goals of the program are.
September 4, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. HST | Register here
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation commissioned research conducted by PerryUndem and the Center for Advancing Innovative Policy (CAIP) that reveals why and how sports can influence social issues. Join their upcoming webinar is for anyone interested in audience and message research, as well as narrative change strategy and working with influencers.
September 19, 2024 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT | Register here
Join Women's Foundation of Arkansas for their annual Power of the Purse. This event recognizes the accomplishments of women in the state, celebrates the work of the organization, and raises money to continue making progress toward economic security for Arkansas women and girls.
October 2, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CDT | Register here
Opportunities and Resources
Thousands of refugees overseas have been fully vetted and approved and are waiting to travel to the United States. To help welcome them, the Administration launched the Welcome Corps to enable Americans from all walks of life to sponsor refugees and Afghan SIVs. The Welcome Corps expands our nation’s ability to welcome refugees and strengthens the bonds within communities.
Thanks to private funding from the Sponsor Fund, any group who signs up to participate in the Welcome Corps by August 31 can receive a grant to cover the cost of sponsoring a refugee or Afghan SIV family that they do not already know. Contact [email protected] for tailored assistance with getting the word out to your community. If you have questions, please reach out to Margaret.M.O'[email protected] or [email protected].
Applications for Roanhorse Consulting, LLC's Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship (REA) are now open. It is a four-month paid program designed for Indigenous women who are passionate about a career in investment management, and want to make an impact as caretakers and leaders of economic systems. Applications close on September 13, 2024 at 12pm MDT. To learn more, click here.
Exponent Philanthropy is hosting a new series, Foundation Advocacy Intensive: Develop Your Policy Acumen, for funders to develop their policy acumen and advocacy. This learning series will provide lean and all size funders with exclusive insights into making advocacy a powerful strategy for their foundation.
September 25, 2024 - November 20, 2024 | 2:00pm-4:00pm ET| Register here
Join Race Forward in St. Louis for Building Racial Equity Foundations, an in-person training designed for individuals to sharpen their skills and strategies to address systemic racism and advance racial equity. Delve into the history of systemic racism in St. Louis, unpacking its impact on the community and providing a platform for participants to discuss local issues. Can't make it in-person? Check out their virtual sessions here.
October 17, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CDT | Register here
Looking for an opportunity to elevate your impact in your community? The 2025 Echoing Green Fellowship application cycle will open on September 17. To learn more about the Fellowship, join us for a live webinar for insights into the community. Learn about the application process, selection criteria, and how the Fellowship can support your journey as a social innovator.
September 12, 2024 | 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. EDT | Register here
Join 250 global peers on the Feminist Leadership Hub, the first and only virtual platform dedicated to Feminist Leadership. You’ll find a resource library, community check-ins, and channels to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with peers on everything related to your leadership journey.
What We're Reading
A bigger child tax credit isn’t coming. The Senate just voted against it. — The 19th
The share of women running Global 500 companies falls to just 5.6% — Fortune
Young women are the most progressive group in American history. Young men are checked out — The Guardian
A Decade In, This Gender Justice Funder Collaborative Faces "Really Challenging Times" — Inside Philanthropy
What We're Watching
'The American Dream is no dream at all, but instead a dare: to dream together' — Former U.S. Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman is back with another mesmerizing spoken word address, and it's a must-listen.
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