A note to our readers: The WFN staff is celebrating Juneteenth tomorrow, June 19th, as a holiday to reflect on the values of liberty, justice and freedom. We encourage you to join us in a day of solidarity and reflection.
June 18, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
In the weeks since George Floyd’s death, there has been a collective call not only for justice, but also for philanthropy to resource systemic change by supporting organizations that are taking real steps to end the undeniable racism and injustice baked into our society that defines Black lives as expendable.
Just as we’ve seen Black women mayors across the country rise to national prominence and gain widespread praise for leading with the courage, integrity and strength required to meet the dual crises of this moment in their cities, women-led funders have the strategies and community-based knowledge to lead the fight for equity and justice in their communities. There is no gender justice without racial justice.
This month, we observe Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”), a holiday dating back to 1865, which marked the day that news of the end of slavery was delivered to enslaved people in Texas — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This day historically has served the dual purpose of celebrating emancipation but also demanding accountability for historical and present wrongs. As we well know, there are many wrongs still standing in the way of true emancipation for all people.
Women’s funds are mobilizing to advance community-based solutions to these historical and present wrongs across the U.S. As system change institutions, our members multiply every size gift 10-times primarily by supporting women of color-led organizations that are mapping an inclusive economy built on racial and gender equity and justice. The only way to end the cycle of government violence against Black people is to act not just on this day, but every single day.
June is also LGBTQ Pride Month, a celebration with roots not dissimilar to the current uprisings against police violence. Fifty-one years ago, trans women of color and queer people rose up together against a police raid of the Stonewall Inn in New York City, demanding an end to the violence and harassment that law enforcement inflicted with impunity against the LGBTQ community. We honor the courage and strength of those who have fought in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ equality. At the same time, we condemn continued injustices against the queer community, especially the violence against trans women of color, whose stories are too often erased, ignored or pushed aside. We cannot have gender equality until people of all gender identities, gender expressions are sexual orientations are emancipated from the oppression and violence of misogyny, homophobia and transphobia.
I truly believe the world is on the precipice of change. In what feels like our darkest hour, we see rays of hope and the promise of a brighter future in response to the massive resistance against oppression. As women’s funds, foundations and gender justice funders, we vow to continue our work to get resources to the movements and organizations demanding a world free from the institutions and violence rooted in racism and sexism.
Yours for equity and justice,
Elizabeth Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
WFN POLL
Are there women in your organization or network opting out of work because of a lack of childcare, camps or school?
New Staff: Engagement, Impact and Learning Manager
We are thrilled to announce that Brianna Grady, project manager of WERC space, will be joining the WFN staff as a full-time Engagement, Learning and Impact Manager in mid-June. An important aspect of WFN’s leadership is our deep knowledge of the field, gender justice funders, and women’s movements. Accurate and timely collecting of member and field data, research and analysis, and representing that data as part of our story, is critical to WFN’s leadership and impact. A position with this focus and responsibility will add strategic capacity to the organization as we build the case for women’s funds and foundations and help shape the field of practice.
Brianna has been working as a contractor on our WERC space project since the fall of 2019. The 2019 grant from Coca Cola provided funding to rethink the design and functionality of the WERC Space website resource for women entrepreneurs. Brianna has impressed us throughout this process. Bringing skills and experience in research and data analysis, she has elevated the project and its integration into WFN mission and goals. In addition, she recognized the impact of COVID-19 to the WERC space audience and pivoted quickly to add critical resources to the page, including a searchable map with emergency funding and loan assistance. Brianna resides in Oakland, CA, and holds a master’s degree in macro social work and a BA in English language and literature.
WFN launches the $5 million Response, Recovery, and Resilience Collaborative Fund to provide rapid support to women’s funds and foundations in the U.S. impacted by the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
This fund has received initial funding in order to quickly move grants out to women’s funds. This three-year donor collaborative fund will not only to keep women’s funds operational, but with collaboration and intentional resourcing of the field, we will center women and gender nationally and at the local level in the rebuilding of our economic and healthcare infrastructure. The goal is not just sustainability, but also the emergence of this philanthropic sector as vital, influential, and at a stronger place by 2022 than we were pre-COVID.
Find more information on our webpage and learn how to apply for funding or join WFN in this collaboration.
WFN Members release statement condemning police violence and brutality. Sixty members joined with WFN in releasing this statement. If you would like to sign on, please email us at [email protected].
Nine Women’s Funds chosen to create the Women’s Economic Mobility regional Hub Cohort and build lasting strategies for women across the United States. Learn morehere.
The project is being launched at a pivotal time when economic mobility is essential to surviving the financial uncertainties resulting from the COVID crisis. The cohort includes Chicago Foundation for Women, Maine Women’s Fund, The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham, Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, Iowa Women’s Foundation, Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Western New York Women’s Foundation and Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis.
New Members, Welcome to the Funder Hood!
Working for Women, Beth Bengston
Working for Women’s(W4W) vision is for all women to achieve economic independence. We pursue this through a dual mission to elevate women in the workforce AND enable businesses to be a force for social good. W4W facilitates relationships between businesses committed to affecting social change for women with nonprofits focused on supporting the success of underserved women in the workforce. Through the W4W model, businesses provide financial and skill-based contributions so nonprofits can expand their capacity to serve more women. Working for Women is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Visit us at www.workingforwomen.org.
Women’s Fund for Scotland
Shona Blakeley, Executive Director
The Women’s Fund makes grants to projects across Scotland that support women’s development, self-sufficiency and social and economic equality. Established in 2002, the Fund has distributed almost £2m in grants to over 700 community groups and local charities run by or for women. To view their website, click here!
WFN Members Speak Out Against Racism and Violence Against Black People and People of Color
Gloria Perez, President and CEO, Women’s Fund of Minnesota moved us all with this stirring response to the police killing of George Floyd. Directly from Gloria here.
Lauren Casteel, Executive Director, Women’s Foundation of Colorado
The most recent death of George Floyd coupled with the Christian Cooper degradation in Central Park and assassination of Ahmaud Arbery and Breona Taylor… and…and… compounds the historic pain and COVID-19 devastation of our communities. It is imperative that we find peaceful means of systemically addressing the epidemic of inequities that continue to plague our country and people of color.
Sarah Ghiorse, Executive Director, New Mexico Women.Org
New research: Gender Justice at the Heart of New Mexico's Pandemic Recovery. This report was informed by over 30 grantees and previous research and outlines a gender justice response to the pandemic and recommendations for centering women in the recovery in New Mexico.
Michelle Zych, Executive Director, Women’s Fund of Omaha Statement on Black Lives Matter, and James Scurlock a young Black man who was killed during the protests in Omaha.
Julie Castro-Abrams, Founder and CEO, How Women Lead Statement in Solidarity – Love, Acceptance and Justice.
Meghan Cummings, Executive Director, Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Click here for their Statement of Solidarity.
Funding Opportunities
The Needmor Fund supports groups of people who come together to organize their community, build power, and challenge the social, economic, or political conditions that bar their access to participation in a democratic society.
To advance its mission, Needmor is inviting applications for its Grassroots Community Organizing Grants. Through the program, grants will be awarded in support of community organizing groups that organize low and moderate-income people; are membership-based and democratically run; develop and train a strong cadre of strong grassroots leaders; address issues of race, immigration, poverty, economic justice, and low-wage work; engage in direct action; balance issue work with base building: effectively link issues to building organization and power; and have a larger vision for aggregating power, taking on bigger policy issues, and expanding a base of allies to increase its impact over time.
Momentum Fund
Created by the United Philanthropy Forum, the Momentum Fund was created to support nonprofit infrastructure in historically marginalized, under-served and under-resourced communities that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been devastating for the entire world, and particularly so for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).
The Momentum Fund will provide grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that manage COVID-19 funds. Priority will be given to organizations managing COVID-19 funds that are helping other nonprofits meet the needs of communities and populations whose health and/or financial situations have been most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and who have been historically under-served and under-resourced in the United States.
Pivotal Ventures Melinda Gates and MacKenzie Bezos have announced the Equality Can't Wait Challenge, which will award $30 million for the most compelling ideas to help expand women's power and influence in the United States. Do you have a great idea to solve gender inequality? Pivotal Ventures wants to hear from you and award these rapid, scalable, big idea.
The Reckoning Will Be Incomplete Without Black Women and Girls.
The nationwide outcry against systemic racism almost always centers around men and boys. However, it will be incomplete without black women and girls. - The Atlantic
Conferences for Women has launched a Resource Center for Confronting Racial Injustice. Featuring speakers within the CFW community as well as external thought-leaders, these anti-racism resources have been curated and shared to amplify the voices of Black women and women of color, and to help us learn and take action together.
The Philanthropic Institute released a new initiative : Invest for Better. This initiative is aimed at helping women demystify impact investing, take control of their capital and mobilize their money for good. The organization is launching its fall 2020 cohort! For more information, click here!
The Black Women Who Paved the Way for This Moment.
Across the United States, black activists are denouncing police brutality and demanding radical changes to American policing. Read here for the black women who paved the way for this movement.
From Forbes, a guide to support women in the workplace. Find Resources for ten ways organizations can support women during a crisis and prevent the Shecession.
The coronavirus pandemic has placed millions of more girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM). - The Guardian
The beheading of a daughter in Iran has shaken the country and set off a nationwide debate over the rights of women and children. - New York Times
GirlsTrek, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health of black women and girls, uses black women's history to encourage walking as a healing tradition. - NPR
In this year's Emmys comedy categories, women are leading the way in comedy, finding ways to amplify women’s issues their their art. - Los Angeles Times
After the rape and death of two female students in Nigeria, protestors have taken to the streets to demand action to combat rape and sexual violence against women. - CNN
Astronaut Kathy Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space, and she is now the first woman to reach the deepest known spot in the ocean. - New York Times
WATCH: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many state and federal lawmakers have used the outbreak as an excuse to shut down and defund abortion clinics across several US states. "Abortion and comprehensive reproductive health care are more essential during a pandemic, not less." Keep an eye on the Supreme Court and the ruling expected this month that could further restrict abortion access and rights.
