Feminist News and Information
WEEKLY NEWS // NOVEMBER 22, 2024
// FROM THE DESK OF SARA KEILHOLTZ, DIRECTOR OF DATA AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS, WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORK
Supporting Inclusive Data Systems through Feminist Philanthropy and Citizen Data
Dear Colleagues,
At the UN Word Data Forum in Medellin, Colombia last week, I was thrilled to be in community with activists, statisticians, policymakers, platform developers, civil society representatives, and funders from around the world with a shared goal of building inclusive data systems to advance the sustainable development goals and leave no one behind.
Of all the sessions, those that stood out with palpable energy of intention, collaboration, and movement were those that were focused on Gender Data, SOGISC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sexual Characteristics) data, Intersectional Data, and Citizen Data. There is an underlying sense that inclusive, community-led data and visibility is a way to counter increasing authoritarianism around the world, and it can only happen by building multi-sector relationships, partnerships, and trust. These sessions underscored the ways in which collecting, sharing, and accessing data are unto themselves political action—that data is not just a neutral representation of reality, but is always filtered through a point of view.
There is great alignment between Feminist Philanthropy and the Citizen Data movement as outlined in The Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data. Both movements recognize the importance of centering people who have first-hand experience with the ways in which gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, disability, and other factors intersect in compounding and complex ways. Both movements seek to support community-initiated work that address local systems of discrimination to increase opportunity for all.
One of my biggest takeaways from the forum was the importance of partnerships to facilitate trusting relationships between communities, civil society organizations, local governments, funders, and statistical offices, and most importantly, trust flows both ways. With such strong values alignment, deep local relationships, and strong research and data practices, we see the feminist philanthropy movement as well positioned to serve as “citizen data intermediaries,” supporting the relationships between local community-led data initiatives from conception all the way through policy change. We call on philanthropy to invest in the networks, infrastructure, and relationship-building that will bring the perspective of citizen data into the global conversation.
Sincerely,
Sara Keilholtz
Women’s Funding Network
Director of Data and Strategic Insights
You're Invited
RSVP to be the first to hear about ticket sales for Feminist Funded '25, presented by the Women's Funding Network. The 2023 conference was a sold-out event. This is an opportunity you won't want to miss.
September 10-11,
2025 in Washington, D.C.
Optional Policy Action Day on September 9, 2025
News from WFN
In this fraught and uncertain climate, feminist funders, NGOs and advocates are resolved to whatever is necessary to build a strong democracy that works to dismantle inequities in gender, race and class and advance the fundamental rights of women and non-binary people.
Join the Women’s Funding Network, National Women’s Law Center, Democracy Forward, and the New York Women’s Foundation for a webinar to discuss concrete strategies to double down on support for fundamental reproductive rights, equal economic opportunity, high-quality child care, critical family supports, feminist foreign policy, and the freedom to live free from violence.
Learn from our distinguished panel of feminist leaders as they discuss the roadmap of where we go from here, how to best coordinate effective, collective action, and how to connect with existing emerging gender justice opportunities at the Federal, state, and local levels.
- Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO, National Women’s Law Center
- Ana Oliveira, President and CEO, New York Women’s Foundation
- Skye Perryman, President and CEO, Democracy Forward
December 5, 2024 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST | Register here
News from WFN Members
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Women's Fund of Rhode Island's Policy and Advocacy Director, Angela Lima, was honored with the Rhode Island Black Business Assocation's 2024 Change Agent Award and Newport County's NAACP 2024 Community Service Award. The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce also invited Angela to be the focus of their recent Conversations with Women of Distinction. Join us in congratulating Angela on these achievements.
Collaborate Cleveland is searching for a new Director of Advocacy. Learn more and apply here.
As the impact of Hurricane Helene continues to wreak havoc, communities grapple with devastation in ways that are difficult to comprehend. In these times of unimaginable hardship, women bear the brunt of the storm’s aftermath. In response, the Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee shared (50/50 split) every gift received from October 1–10 with the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge. They mailed a grant check to WFBR for more than $5,000 in support of their work. Read more about it here.
The Women's Foundation California's CEO, Bia Vieira spoke on LAist 89.3 about stark realities: a country divided not just by policy, but by access to fundamental rights. California remains a sanctuary for reproductive health care, yet even there, they are stretched thin, managing an influx of people seeking care denied to them elsewhere. This is not just a story of access; it's a story of resilience.
In 2024, the Women's Foundation of Minnesota increased their grantmaking by 78%, reaching 30 counties, and convened with partners across the state. They worked with community-led coalitions, trained young women and youth advocates on legislation and investments to increase equity, and released and presented new research that's been shared with thousands of Minnesotans. Read their Impact Report here.
MEMBER EVENTS
Right now, philanthropy has the opportunity to invest in trans and queer communities of color who are transforming pain into power. Funders For Justice invites you to join trans and queer resource mobilizers for We Got Us: Resourcing BIPOC Trans/Queer Communities.
December 4, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. PST | Register here
The Women's Fund of Rhode Island's Feminist Activist Book (FAB) Group will soon meet for its second session. Get a copy of Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell and join them in-person or virtually.
December 4, 2024 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. EST | Register here
Opportunities and Resources
Skepticism of science is front and center, and many health policy ideas being discussed seem to be rooted in fear, not facts. FrameWorks is hosting a webinar that will explore why purveyors of myths and misrepresentations have gained traction in American culture, and which tested framing strategies can effectively push back.
December 5, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. PST | Register here
Join Zonta International on Human Rights Day for the 4th annual Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Summit. This summit will feature three speakers who will share their perspectives on violence against women and girls and how advocates can take action to end this global human rights violation.
December 10, 2024 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST | Register here
Join the Ford Foundation, Economic Opportunity Funders, Funders for a Just Economy, and Workshop in New York for an all-day funder convening. Building on other Ford-hosted Industrial Policy events, this convening will showcase the Foundation's grantees, sharing best practices and challenges to early stage implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
January 23, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST | Register here
Galvanize USA is seeking a new Chief Development Officer. To learn more about the position, click here.
The Heinz Endowments is seeking a new Learning & Evaluation Officer. To learn more about the position, click here.
What We're Reading
Here’s What Korean Women Think of the 4B Movement Spreading to the U.S. — Rolling Stone
Trump’s pick for defense secretary doesn't want women serving in combat — NBC News
What We're Watching
Sexist and abusive attacks on women, like “your body, my choice” and “get back to the kitchen,” have surged across social media since Donald Trump’s reelection, according to an analysis from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
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