In this historic cultural moment, communities and individuals across the globe are grappling with hard truths that the movements for equality and justice have brought to the forefront of the collective consciousness. The Women’s Funding Network is engaged in similar work of reflection and imagining, with intention and purpose, the type of future we want — for our communities, philanthropy, women’s funds, ourselves and the work ahead.
As women’s funds, foundations and gender equity funders, we ended last week by examining the role of feminism in informing these efforts. Executive leaders of member organizations from across the network joined WFN and Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, to discuss feminist principles and how they guide our work and shape our movement strategy. This candid discussion generated a rich conversation about how the word feminist has historically united some, and separated others - particularly trans, non-binary, black, indigious, women of color.
During the conversation, I was struck by professor Melissa Harris-Perry’s framing of this definition: “Feminism is a question. And that question is, ‘What truths are missing here?’” In asking whose voices are being silenced, whose perspectives are being pushed aside, who is missing from the table — and, importantly, by prioritizing the work to center and lift up those identities and truths — this conceptualization of feminism must always inherently be intersectional.
Why is this important? Whether policy development, advocacy and campaigning, or alliance and movement building, we must always start by addressing our internal organizational culture, which is where an intersectional feminist approach must begin. It requires an examination of the way people’s intersecting identities impact the ways that they have power and privilege and the ways they face marginalization and discrimination.
Through this intersectional lens, what would it take to map and organize ourselves toward a shared plan of action — with an emphasis on transforming unequal gender and racial power relations?
We are united in the understanding that where women lead, change follows. It starts with us.
Yours for equity and justice, Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
WFN POLL
POLL RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK:
Does your organization center feminist principals in your mission?
Yes: 92%
No: 8%
How imbedded are racial justice principles in your work culture?
lowest12345678910highest
Ms. Foundation for Women
Ms. Foudnation for Women released a report, "Pocket Change: How Women and Girls of Color Do More with Less." Read more here.
"This report showcases what we knew to be true in the philanthropic sector: women and girls of color do extraordinary and invaluable work in their communities with limited resources and barriers to funding." - Teresa Younger, President of Ms. Foundation for Women
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado
Read here for the 2020 legislative results through WFCO's lens, with victories in racial justice, early care and education, and paid sick leave.
Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga
Thanks to the work of the Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga, A Better Balance and a statewide network of organizations, the Tennessee Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is signed into law. Tennessee is now the 30th state to guarantee pregnant workers a clear right to reasonable accommodations when needed to stay healthy and safe on the job. Read more here.
WNY Women's Foundation
WNY Women's Foundation, addressing a huge issue for women, amplifying and an issue that could potentially set working women back a generation after finally making some progress. The lack of safe child care as a result of school, camp and child care closures without Employer creative solutions will drive women out of the workforce - something that women, families and our communities cannot afford. Link to learn more.
Emily Weltman, Collective Flow Consulting
Feminism Didn't Need a Rebrand. "To fight White supremacy and the patriarchy, Feminism that includes everyone and is truly intersectional is just what the doctor ordered." Read more here.
OPPORTUNITIES
Reminder: The Response, Recovery, Resilience Collaborative Fund is still accepting first-round applications for funding. Find more information regarding immediate general operating grants for women’s funds and foundations. Online applications are now open for immediate relief grants, and are due July 9.
These are general operating support grants for those most financially vulnerable in our network. We’ve intentionally kept the application simple – it should take less than 30 minutes to complete.
-WFN Team
#RaceAnd The Gender Binary Webinar Hosted by Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation
Thursday, July 9, 2020
12:00pm-2:00pm PDT
Have you ever wondered why mainstream society reduces the full diversity of humanity to "two genders"? The answer has more to do with white supremacy and colonialism than you might think. This webinar is an introduction to the past and present connections between race, colonialism, and the gender binary.
The Robin Hood Foundation is launching a new initiative, titled the "Power Fund," dedicated to financing nonprofit organizations that are solely run by people of color. Only 10% of philanthropic contributions go to groups led by people of color, and so Robin Hood has already dedicated $10 million in seed capital to the fund.
The latest major UN report on the state of the world's population declares urgent and accelerated action is needed to end harmful practices and abuses carried out against women and girls, such as female genital mutilation and child marriage. - UN News
Ford Foundation President Darren Walker asks the question: Are You Willing to Give Up Your Privilege?
These teenage girls are leading Black Lives Matter protests across the country. - New York Times
Pew Research Center finds that unemployment in the U.S. is higher than officially recorded, more so for women, Asian Americans, immigrants and workers without a bachelor's degree.
Idaho banned trans athletes from women's sports. However, Lindsay Hecox is fighting back. - Sports Illustrated
As working moms perform more childcare and face increased job insecurity, there are fears COVID-19 has undone decades of advancement. But could the pandemic be a catalyst for progress? - BBC
Democratic nominee Joe Biden has multiple women of color on his list for vice president. "There has not been another time in our nation’s history where a nominee of either party has announced that several well-qualified women, including women of color, are under serious consideration." - Los Angeles Times
WATCH: (WARNING: DISTRESSING THEMES) Sil Lai Abrams explains the harsh realities Black survivors of sexual assault face when they speak out. "Our stories are not covered. Even when they are, they quickly fade away."
