Feminist News and Information

WEEKLY NEWS // FEBRUARY 20, 2025

// FROM THE DESK OF CIDRA M. SEBASTIEN, G4GC, FUND MANAGER, BLACK GIRL FREEDOM FUND

Celebrating 5 years of Black Girl Freedom Week

Dear Colleagues,

Each February we celebrate Black brilliance, leadership, triumph, and joy during Black History Month. At G4GC [[link removed]], it’s when we also celebrate Black Girl Freedom Week [[link removed]]. Launched in 2021 as part of the #1Billion4BlackGirls campaign [[link removed]], Black Girl Freedom Week is an annual week-long celebration of Black girls and gender-expansive youth, and what is possible when we invest abundantly in them, and co-create a future where they are safe, free, and thriving.

To commemorate this year’s Black Girl Freedom Week, we’re looking back [[link removed]] on past panels that exemplify the joy and power of Black girls and gender-expansive young people, and highlight their priorities for investment.

In our highlight from 2021, we asked young people directly what a $1 Billion investment [[link removed]-] in them would do for their wellness and healing. In 2022, we celebrated how Black youth drive culture [[link removed]-], especially in the beauty industry. Our 2023 conversation titled, Rich Better Have My Money [[link removed]], questions the meaning of an abundant future for Black girls and gender-expansive youth. Our 2024 offering makes sense of the conditions needed to create the landscapes [[link removed]] for Black youth to thrive, from investment to pay equity.

We’re grateful to our collaborators and champions, who have made each Black Girl Freedom Week an unforgettable opportunity to spark action and investment—both financial and otherwise—in Black youth, and the organizations, families, and communities that support them. Videos and conversations are up on our YouTube channel [[link removed]] and website [[link removed]], and we invite you to browse, enjoy, and share them.

We believe that every issue is a Black girl issue. During this Black Girl Freedom Week [[link removed]], we invite you to reflect on the contributions of Black girls and gender-expansive youth to our broader quest for justice, and to consider your own role in advancing a future where they receive the abundant investment they deserve.

In community,

Cidra M. Sebastien

Black Girl Freedom Fund

G4GC, Fund Manager

You're Invited RSVP [[link removed]] 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 RSVP for Feminist Funded '25 Here [[link removed]]

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Submit content for the newsletter here [[link removed]].

News from WFN 2025 WFN MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Our network thrives on the strength and diversity of our members [[link removed]]. 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]].

Kentucky Foundation for WomenNew Hampshire Women’s FoundationRadha FriedmanThe Women's Center for Economic Opportunity News from WFN Members MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

TIME has honored Grantmakers for Girls of Color's Executive Director, Dr. Monique Couvson, by naming her to its prestigious 2025 list of The Closers, which recognizes 25 Black leaders who are driving impactful change by working to close racial equity gaps. Read the full list here [[link removed]].

The Women's Fund of Rhode Island is seeking a part-time Operations Manager for a hybrid position located in Providence, RI. Learn about the role and how to apply here [[link removed]].

Applications for Chicago Foundation for Women's Rapid Response Fund [[link removed]] are open. Now more than ever, grassroots organizations need urgent support to respond to shifting challenges. The Fund launched on February 10 and will accept applications on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.

Applications for Kentucky Foundation for Women's Art Meets Activism grant [[link removed]] are open. This grant supports feminist artists and organizations in Kentucky. Grantees must lead community members in participatory art-making that directly advances positive social change. Apply by February 24 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Boston Women’s Fund welcomes organizations serving any and all immigrant communities in Greater Boston to nominate themselves for Movement Building grants [[link removed]]. Three grassroots organizations in Greater Boston will be awarded with a one-year, unrestricted $25,000 grant to support their immigrant justice work. Nominations close on February 28.

MEMBER EVENTS

In honor of Black History Month, join Washington Area Women's Foundation for a conversation [[link removed]] on the leadership, resilience, and influence of Black women in business. Examine their entrepreneurial journeys, the challenges faced, and the strategies utilized to achieve lasting success.

February 25, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST | Register here [[link removed]]

Join the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and BMO for a virtual webinar [[link removed]] in celebration of Black History Month. This event will spotlight the importance of wealth transfer and its impact on building intergenerational wealth in the Black community.

February 26, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CST | Register here [[link removed]]

Join Nurturing Wāhine Fund, in partnership with Women's Foundation California for Rebuilding Together: Healing Sessions for Wildfire Survivors [[link removed]]. Process the weight of grief, displacement, anger, and uncertainty caused by the California and Maui wildfires. Come together in community, embracing tools and practices that transform loss into renewal.

Various Dates | 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. PST | Register here [[link removed]]

Join Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) and Tickled Pink for an evening packed with excitement and entertainment at Tickled Pink 2025 [[link removed]]. Proceeds will support CFW’s mission to ensure that women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals in Chicago have access to economic security, safety, reproductive justice, and health services.

February 27, 2025 | 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. CST | Register here [[link removed]]

Join Women's Fund of Hawai‘i for their biggest event of the year, Tea & Champagne: Pūlama Nā Wāhine—Cherish the Women [[link removed]]. Enjoy an evening with delicious treats, sparkling bubbles, inspiring company, and a celebration of 35 years of empowering Hawai‘i’s women and girls.

April 14, 2025 | 5:00 - 11:00 p.m. HST | Register here [[link removed]]

Opportunities and Resources

Grantmakers in Health (GIH) is excited to announce that the 2025 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy, Forging Partnerships for a Better Tomorrow [[link removed]], will be held in New Orleans, LA. Registration will open in early 2025.

June 16 - 20, 2025 | Register here [[link removed]]

What We're Reading

Trump Just Set Women's Sports Back Decades — Bloomberg [[link removed]]

Ukraine: Three years of war reverses progress for women and girls — United Nations [[link removed]]

What We're Watching

As the result of an executive order from President Trump, the State Department is no longer issuing U.S. passports with X gender markers, which are preferred by many non-binary people. NBC News' Joe Fryer spoke with transgender advocate and Consultant Ashton Colby about his experience and how he would appeal to the Trump administration.

Have a story to share?

We want to hear from you. Submit content for the newsletter here [[link removed]].

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