Feminist News and Information

WEEKLY NEWS // JANUARY 22, 2026

// FROM THE DESK OF JULIE MONTGOMERY, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP STRATEGY & ENGAGEMENT, WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORK

Looking forward to the year ahead

Dear Colleagues,

As we begin a new year, I want to first thank the members who have already renewed their WFN membership for 2026. Your continued commitment to gender equity makes this community possible and exemplifies the power of feminist philanthropy to move resources, influence, and change where it matters most. I also want to take a moment to thank our partners and the many advocates in our community who work tirelessly each day for gender justice.

Over the past three and a half months, it has been a privilege to get to know this extraordinary community. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen and learn, and I look forward to continuing this journey together. My goal remains to ensure that every member feels supported, connected, and empowered through their engagement with WFN.

In the months ahead, I will continue reaching out to better understand your priorities, challenges, aspirations, and to hear more about how WFN can best support your work and our shared impact. This year brings exciting opportunities to deepen connection, learning, and collaboration across the network, including:

In-person and virtual events [[link removed]], including monthly webinars and an in-person regional convening for members Relaunching our member-only peer learning communities [[link removed]] for honest exchange and collective problem-solving  Organizing a WFN delegation to  Women Deliver 2026  [[link removed]] Collaborative initiatives like the Just Rise Fund and DataWoven [[link removed]]  Opportunities to elevate your work through our newsletter and social media, and newly launched Member Spotlight [[link removed]] campaign  Tools and training to maximize  DataWoven [[link removed]]

For our members that have not yet renewed, I hope you will do so by January 31. Renewal ensures you stay connected to a powerful global network advancing gender justice together.

To learn more about what WFN members valued in 2025 and what to expect this year, click here [[link removed]]. If you are not yet a member, we warmly welcome you to join us. Learn more here [[link removed]] or contact me [mailto:[email protected]] with any questions.

Being part of WFN is a powerful reminder of what is possible when we work together toward shared goals. I am grateful to be building this future alongside you.

In solidarity,

Julie Montgomery

Women's Funding Network

Director of Membership Strategy & Engagement

Have a story to share? We want to hear from you.

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

News from WFN 2026 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Our network thrives on the strength and diversity of our members. Please also join us in appreciating WFN members who have renewed 2026 membership since our last newsletter:

Global Fund for WomenKentucky Foundation for WomenRobyn MazurWomen's Foundation of Arkansas

If you are interested in joining as a new member or renewing your current membership, please let us know [mailto:[email protected]].

WFN EVENTS

In July 2025, Congress passed H.R. 1—the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—delivering major tax cuts to the wealthy while slashing funding for essential programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare. As the most harmful provisions take effect in 2026, states face mounting pressure to cut or replace funding for critical supports serving women, children, immigrants, older adults, and people with disabilities. Join us [[link removed]] for a funder briefing featuring national and state leaders who will share lessons from cross-sector organizing, what to expect as the law rolls out, strategies at state and national levels to mitigate harm, and opportunities to build support for a broad and inclusive care agenda.

January 27, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST | Register here [[link removed]]

WFN MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

WFN is excited to launch our new Member Spotlight Campaign, a monthly feature celebrating the diversity and impact of our network while building stronger connections across our community.

To kick off the campaign, we’re proud to welcome Heirs To Our Ocean (H2OO) [[link removed]] of Redwood City, California. H2OO mobilizes youth under 25 to become skilled leaders addressing urgent climate, ocean, and community challenges. By investing deeply in leadership development, H2OO creates lasting, compounding impact—empowering young leaders who go on to shape policy, innovation, and solutions that reach millions.

News from WFN Members MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Women's Foundation of Minnesota and the MN Latine Fund have joined philanthropic leaders to launch the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund [[link removed]]—mobilizing $5Million for Somali, Latine, and other immigrant-serving organizations providing legal defense, emergency services, and community protection. The fund will prioritize emerging needs while also considering ongoing and long-term wellbeing in impacted communities. Stand united with immigrant communities facing emergencies across Minnesota.

I Be Black Girl (IBBG) is seeking value-aligned consultants as they approach their 10-year anniversary. They are inviting proposals [[link removed]] for two opportunities: Essence of Us: Next Chapter RFP and an HR Consultant RFP. The work will directly support IBBG's commitments to mindfulness, joy, and rest in how they recognize and develop their team. All details are in the RFPs. Proposals are due on February 1, 2026.

“Intermediaries are the invisible infrastructure that makes everything work,” researcher Thomas Akiva says. “They go a long way in helping the field advance in professionalism. They're in this middle space where they're doing really important connective work. They are the connective tissue.” The Wallace Foundation's recent article [[link removed]] explores what intermediaries are, the role they play in youth development, and why supporting them is essential to the future of youth development.

MEMBER EVENTS

The Immigrant Rapid Response Fund (IRRF), hosted by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and founded by the MN Latine Fund, serves as a critical conduit for support. This briefing [[link removed]] will provide funders with a “behind-the-scenes” look at how the fund prioritizes community-led organizations serving Somali, Latine, and other frontline communities. This briefing is designed to create space for how to move forward with clarity, courage, and coherence.

January 28, 2026 | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. CST | Register here [[link removed]]

How do tax policies shape the lives of working families and the futures of our children? Join The Women's Fund Miami-Dade for its Impact Collaborative: Smart Business, Smart Policies, Smart Kids – Tax + Human Benefits [[link removed]], a timely and thought-provoking conversation exploring the intersection of tax policy, childhood development, and workforce development, anchored in their Economic Mobility Pillar.

February 5, 2026 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST | Register here [[link removed]]

Save the Date for The Women's Fund Miami-Dade's Power of the Purse [[link removed]]. Mark your calendar and get ready for an unforgettable day supporting women and girls in Miami-Dade. Sponsorship opportunities are now available.

March 13, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT | Register here [[link removed]]

What We're Reading

Women’s Health Investment Outlook: 6% of Funding for Nearly 50% of the Population – Not Just a Gap, but Untapped White Space — World Economic Forum [[link removed]]

Bangladeshi Women, Girls, Minorities Face Rising Violence — Human Rights Watch [[link removed]]

What We're Watching

Human rights groups outside Iran report that thousands have been killed so far. Yet amid the turmoil, women activists and youth campaigners are at the forefront of the struggle, seeking to chart a new course for the nation after decades of repressive rule under the Islamic Republic. Annette Young talks to Iranian filmmaker, Sepideh Farsi and Tara Kangarlou, an Iranian-American journalist, as they watch their home country, from afar, undergo a seismic transformation.

Have a story to share?

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

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 [mailto:[email protected]] if you have any tips or requests to make your experience more accessible.

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