Feminist News and Information

WEEKLY NEWS // JANUARY 30, 2025

// FROM THE DESK OF DIANA DUARTE, SENIOR DIRECTOR, ADVOCACY AND POLICY, MADRE

To Fight Growing Militarism, Philanthropy Should Embrace a Feminist Playbook

Dear Colleagues,

We have had just days to grapple with the rapidly unfolding agenda of the Trump Administration, with drastic impacts on work for racial equity [[link removed]], gender justice [[link removed]], migrant rights [[link removed]], and humanitarian aid [[link removed]]. As funders, many of us are thinking about how best to safeguard and advance all of this important work, whether by raising our voices, organizing to protect the most vulnerable, or deepening our advocacy for rights and justice.

Earlier this month, I co-authored an article—titled To Fight Growing Militarism, Philanthropy Should Embrace a Feminist Playbook [[link removed]]—with Hanni Hanson, Director of Programs at the Compton Foundation, and Christine Ahn, Founder of Women Cross DMZ and a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. In it, we spotlight the strategies of feminist pro-democracy leaders, in the US and worldwide, who have pushed back on strong-arming tactics to roll-back rights, often up against the threat of military action. We write:

"[President] Trump has promised to use the military to go after his political opponents, or “ the enemy from within, [[link removed]]” and has said he would deploy troops to carry out mass deportations [[link removed]]—without due process and in violation of human rights. To ensure that his plans proceed, Trump has promised to fire military officers [[link removed]] who might oppose him. And [...] he said he wouldn’t rule out using military force to gain control of Greenland and the Panama Canal. [[link removed]]

The message couldn’t be clearer: Militarism is bad for democracy. Fortunately, it also isn’t inevitable. Across the globe, highly effective but under-recognized grassroots efforts, made up largely of feminist organizers, are confronting militarism and advancing democracy—even in authoritarian environments. U.S. grant makers and advocates can draw important lessons from their successes about how to effectively bolster democracy and push back against autocracy."

The full article is available at the Chronicle of Philanthropy [[link removed]], and we hope it provides some useful ideas for how philanthropy can respond to this moment. This is a time for learning and exchange, and I am part of a group of funders learning together about alternatives to militarism. If you’d like to learn more, I welcome you to contact me [mailto:[email protected]].

Sincerely,

Diana Duarte

MADRE

Senior Director, Advocacy and Policy

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News from WFN WFN MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Our network thrives on the strength and diversity of our members. Please join us in appreciating WFN members who have renewed for 2025. WFN’s 2024 members have been emailed 2025 membership renewal information. If you are expecting communication on membership renewal but have not received anything, or if you have questions about membership or would like additional information, please contact us [mailto:[email protected]].

Channel FoundationMADRERashmi Yadav MaryaRobyn MazurThe New York Women's FoundationWomen's Foundation for the State of ArizonaWomen's Fund of Central IndianaWomen's Fund of Greater ChattanoogaWomen's Fund of Greater MilwaukeeWomen's Fund of Rhode Island WFN ANNOUNCEMENTS

WFN is committed to providing its members and partners with the most up-to-date information, resources, and concrete actions to take as we navigate the rapidly shifting policy landscape in the United States. Check out our statement on recent U.S. Executive Orders and what it means for gender justice funders here [[link removed]].

In addition, stay tuned for our Above the Fold U.S. Policy Update: What Feminist Philanthropy Needs to Know NOW. This brief will be included in upcoming newsletters and highlight the week's most relevant domestic and global policy developments for feminist philanthropy.

WFN EVENTS

Join Candid and Women's Funding Network for Using Demographic Data to Move From Intention to Action [[link removed]] 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 [[link removed]]

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 [[link removed]] 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.

Please note this program is for funders only.

February 5, 2025 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST | Register here [[link removed]]

News from WFN Members MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Read about the impact of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado in their Annual Report [[link removed]]. With their community, they funded the work of over 250 grantee partners, helped pass nearly 30 pieces of legislation, and increased women’s access to opportunity, cash for their families, and safety to live the lives they choose.

Women Moving Millions has released their 2024 2024 Year of Impact Report [[link removed]], a celebration of the power of collective action and the transformative contributions that their community has made to power the movement for gender equality. Read about their year of transformation, with women leading the charge to build a more just and equitable world.

New Hampshire Women's Foundation is looking for additions to their team, including a Communications Manager and an Administrative Assistant. Learn more and apply here [[link removed]].

MEMBER EVENTS

Join Funders for Justice, Amalgamated Bank, the Democratizing Justice Initiative, Borealis Philanthropy’s Communities Transforming Policing Fund, CS Fund, and the Piper Fund for an in-depth discussion of Authoritarian Threats to Movement Finance & Creative Tools to Fight Back [[link removed]].

February 26, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PST | Register here [[link removed]]

Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts is hosting a virtual event [[link removed]] with Carrie Baker, professor in the Program for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Smith College, and a writer for Ms. Magazine. Carrie will discuss her work on women’s rights and her latest book, Abortion Pills: US History and Politics.

February 27, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. EST | Register here [[link removed]]

Dive into the future of Wisconsin’s legal landscape at Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee's program, where Jeff Mandell, co-founder of Law Forward, unpacks cases in the pipeline that may come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Stay informed, ask questions, and gain insights.

February 27, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. CST | Register here [[link removed]]

Join The New York Women's Foundation for The Celebrating Women® Breakfast [[link removed]]. This event brings thousands of guests from all walks of life together to celebrate and uplift shared achievements toward creating a better future for all women and girls. Save $100 on Supporter Tickets with promo code EARLYBIRD until February 16.

May 14, 2025 | 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. EDT | Register here [[link removed]]

Opportunities and Resources

Justice and Joy National Collaborative's Girls @ the Margin National Alliance [[link removed]] advocates working across sectors and systems to address root causes of the complex issues confronting marginalized girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people. Join this event to co-develop a new vision for what collective power can achieve in the girls and gender-expansive young people space.

January 30, 2025 | 1:00 EST | Register here [[link removed]]

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) poses a serious threat to the public investments that families and communities need. Join Economic Opportunity Funders for a webinar [[link removed]] on the real agenda behind DOGE.

February 4, 2025 | 2:00 - 2:45 p.m. EST | Register here [[link removed]]

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research invites you to a congressional briefing [[link removed]] for a conversation about leveraging federal policy solutions in pursuit of a more just and equitable future for women and families. Box lunch will be provided upon RSVP.

February 5, 2025 | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST | Register here [[link removed]]

Economic Opportunity Funders is hosting an Annual Budget and Tax Briefing [[link removed]]. Funders will unpack the implications of today’s fiscal and political climate and explore creative strategies to harness these narratives in the critical months ahead.

March 24 - 25, 2025 | Register here [[link removed]]

What We're Reading

Why We Need More Women In The AI Revolution — TIME [[link removed]]

UN Committee Said Ecuador, Nicaragua Violated Girls’ Rights — Humans Right Watch [[link removed]]

What We're Watching

Serene Khader, a philosopher and author of "Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop," joined ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath to talk about what President Trump's executive actions mean for women in the U.S.

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