Feminist News and Information
WEEKLY NEWS // JANUARY 16, 2025
// FROM THE DESK OF CHANTAL BONITTO, DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY, WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORK
Call for Proposals: Feminist Funded ’25
Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to announce that we are now accepting proposals for Feminist Funded ’25, presented by the Women’s Funding Network. This year’s conference, the largest gathering of global leaders in feminist philanthropy, will take place September 10-11, with a Pre-Conference Policy Action Day on September 9.
As we move into 2025, it is more critical than ever to center the intersectional nature of feminism as a cornerstone of our collective efforts to advance gender justice. That’s why we’re calling on our community of gender-justice leaders to submit proposals that reflect innovative, transformative ideas aligned with key conference themes.
We are seeking proposals that explore topics such as:
- Economic justice
- Feminist policy and advocacy (local and global)
- Global collaboration and movement building
- Reproductive justice
- Protecting democracy
- Data equity for intersectional analysis
- Insights from feminist philanthropy for the wider sector
Proposals should highlight speaker expertise, prioritize diverse perspectives—especially from those closest to the issues—and include a clear outline, engaging content, and strategies for audience interaction.
The deadline to submit your proposal is February 14. Kindly visit the Feminist Funded ‘25 RFP page for more details and share this opportunity with your network!
We look forward to hearing your ideas and working together to create a more just, equitable, and safer world for all.
Sincerely,
Chantal Bonitto
Women’s Funding Network
Director of Philanthropy
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.
Pre-Conference Policy Action Day on September 9, 2025
News from WFN
Join Candid and Women's Funding Network for Using Demographic Data to Move From Intention to Action to hear how foundations are leveraging demographic data to address inequities across the sector. Panelists include Cathleen Clerkin, Ph.D, from Candid, Elizabeth Tabita from The California Endowment, and Sara Keilholtz from the Women’s Funding Network. This session will be moderated by Kelly Brown from Viewpoint Consulting.
January 30, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST | Register here
Please join Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund, Economic Opportunity Funders, Tax Equity Funders Network, and Women’s Funding Network for a funder briefing on the devastating impact of federal budget and tax cuts on women, children, older adults, and people with disabilities and how the care movement is organizing to resist them.
A stated priority of the new Administration and Congress is to enact massive tax cuts disproportionately benefiting wealthy individuals and corporations. Proposals to pay for these tax cuts include substantial budget cuts and structural changes to Medicaid, Head Start, food and housing assistance, and other vital programs. These budget cuts would also shift large costs onto states, further undermining family health and income security. The impacts will cut across generations, reverse gains for women, children, older adults, people with disabilities, and workers, and hinder future federal public investments in equitable child care, paid leave, and aging and disability care.
Learn how a cross-issue, cross-generational state and federal movement is raising the voices of the families whose lives and livelihoods are at stake, and how philanthropy can engage at this moment.
Speakers:
- Alison Friedman Phillips, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado
- Amy Matsui, National Women’s Law Center
- Anna Shireen Wadia, Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund
- Jaimie Worker, Caring Across Generations
Please note this program is for funders only.
February 5, 2025 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST | Register here
News from WFN Members
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us in both welcoming Renee Ferrufino as the new President & CEO of The Women's Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) and in thanking Lauren Casteel for her leadership at WFCO as she retires from her position of President & CEO at the end of January. Read the full announcement here.
The Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona (WFSA) is accepting applications for the 2025 FORGE Grant now through February 10. The FORGE Grant (Fund for Racial and Gender Equity) provides eight grants of $65,000 in unrestricted funding to organizations committed to advancing racial, gender, and economic equity across Arizona.
In this op-ed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, To Fight Growing Militarism, Philanthropy Should Embrace a Feminist Playbook, MADRE's Diana Duarte, along with Christine Ahn and Hanni Hanson offer guidance on how funders can learn from and support feminist organizers and leaders who are advancing peace and democracy, in a time of growing militarism and authoritarianism.
Rise Up is hiring a Director of Strategic Partnerships. Learn more and apply here.
MEMBER EVENTS
Join Global Fund for Women for an inspiring conversation with global feminist leaders on the heels of the U.S. presidential inauguration. Hear directly from some of their partners fighting for democracy and justice against authoritarianism in their communities and their stories of hope and resilience.
January 23, 2025 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST | Register here
Join Funders for Justice, Borealis Philanthropy’s Communities Transforming Policing Fund, CS Fund, The Piper Fund, and Democratizing Justice Initiative for an in-depth discussion of Authoritarian Attacks on Philanthropy: Global Lessons and Local Strategies. The panel will include organizations and funders who have experienced state attacks on philanthropy and movement groups leading critical justice work under authoritarian regimes.
January 23, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. PST | Register here
Opportunities and Resources
Grantmakers United for Trans Communities (GUTC), a program of Funders for LGBTQ Issues, is accepting applications for the GUTC Leaders Fellowship until January 20. The fellowship develops trans leadership in philanthropy to strengthen the pipeline of trans professionals in the field, with the goal of increasing the number of trans people working and taking leadership in philanthropy while supporting sustainability within their careers. Learn more here.
Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) is hosting a conversation on Indigenous presence and representation in journalism as they kick off their 2025 Member Education Sessions. Through these sessions, NAP is passing the mic to individuals, Tribes, and Indigenous-led nonprofits who are experts in their respective fields.
January 16, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST | Register here
Philanthropy California is working in close partnership with the Governor's Office, The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and the League of California Community Foundations to coordinate cross-sector response to the wildfires in Southern California. Join a funder briefing to hear about the philanthropic response in the region.
January 17, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Register here
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) has a two-part series exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), technology, and immigrant justice, highlighting the risk BIPOC and immigrant communities face from biases in automated surveillance and judicial tools.
February 5, 2025 | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. PST | Register here
February 13, 2025 | 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. PST | Register here
www.sunseedcommunity.comJoin Sunseed Community for their 2-part funder training, Embodied Grantmaking: Conflict Care For Grantmakers. These 101 and 202 trainings are meant to support funders in centering Movement, and community-based practitioners in building a strong ecosystem of conflict care. Learn to weave conflict care strategies into grantmaking, grantee partner onboarding, and other community-based partnerships, and build relationships with colleagues within their home institutions.
March 19, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. MDT | Register here
May 21, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. MDT | Register here
What We're Reading
Don’t the Lives of Women and Girls Matter? — The New York Times
What We're Watching
On the House floor, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) slammed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025.
A Note on Accessibility: As we incorporate new communications assets, we strive to ensure that the platforms and tools that enable us to share content are accessible to the widest possible audience. We are committed to learning and growing in this area and appreciate any helpful guidance you have to share. Please reach out if you have any tips or requests to make your experience more accessible.
