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Dear Colleagues,
For centuries, Black women have been relying on themselves and one another — using giving circles and other forms of collective giving as a form of social insurance to help each other through tough times and build collective power.
That legacy continues today through the inspiring and innovative Black women leading women’s funds and foundations across the globe. We are honored, proud and fortunate to work alongside and learn from the examples of The African Women’s Development Fund, CEO Françoise Moudouthe; the Canadian Women’s Foundation President and CEO Paulette Senior; ABFE President and CEO Susan Taylor Batten; WFN board member and Ms. Foundation for Women President and CEO Teresa Younger, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado President and CEO Lauren Casteel, and Global Fund for Women President Latanya Mapp Frett – just to name a few.
Paulette is leading her organization as a part of a $2.5 million multi-sector initiative recently announced designed to combat gender-based violence (GBV) against Black women and girls. An equal pay law is now in effect in Colorado thanks to the leadership of Lauren and her team. At the start of the pandemic last year, Ruby Bright, president and CEO of Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, quickly pivoted her team to host a COVID-19 Response Project that featured a socially-distance event where more than 500 families received over 1,000 household products, food, hygiene kits, and community resource packets stuffed with information on the virus, testing locations, financial literacy, domestic violence, health and wellness, and employment opportunities.
In the U.S. Congress, we have many examples, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who is working to expand reproductive freedom and overturn the Hyde Amendment as chair of the Abortion Rights and Access Task Force. Then there’s Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Lee, who honored Former U.S. Representative and presidential candidate the late Shirley Chisholm on Inauguration Day and carries on Chisholm’s legacy through her work in Congress.
While we know that celebrating the achievements and contributions of the Black community should never be confined to one single month per year, there is much to honor and celebrate as we begin Black History Month in the U.S. by lifting up Black women’s transformative leadership.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the wisdom and ingenuity of Black women’s leadership, work and sacrifices.
Yours for equity and justice,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
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Women's Funding Network, Funders for Reproductive Equity, and Funders for LGBTQ Issues have partnered to host a virtual conversation, "FCAA CONNECT: COVID-19 At the Intersection of Black & Brown TGNC Lives." The event will explore the impact of COVID-19 on Black and Brown TGNC lives, as well as opportunities for funders to partner with TGNC-led organizations to make meaningful, positive change. WFN President & CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román will be moderating the conversation.
February 18, 2021
11am - 1pm ET
Register here!
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WFN In The News! The New York Times’ Valeriya Safronova examines the increase in women's visibility in philanthropy, including WFN members and allies.
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The Arizona Foundation of Women has released their "2020 Status of Women in Arizona Research Report," which brings to light how Arizona women fare in the categories of safety, health and economic empowerment and seeks to drive awareness for social change.
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Thank you to the following members who renewed their WFN membership for 2021. The deadline for renewals is January 31. If you haven’t renewed, please be in touch with staff about an extension or a needs-based dues waiver. These are financially uncertain times and our priority is keeping our membership strong and united!
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Katrin Wilde, Executive Director of the Channel Foundation
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OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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The National Women’s Law Center has released their action plan "100 Wins, 100 Days," which lists 100 decisive actions the Biden-Harris administration should take in the next 100 days to advance gender justice.
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Women's March Global has launched "The Global Count," one of largest global mapping surveys ever undertaken to establish the cultural, economic and social barriers to women's progress. The Global Count will run from January 21 to March 8. As women complete the poll, they will be encouraged to share it with their network with the mobilizing call to action: #WeCount. For more information, click here.
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Join "The No7 #UnstoppableTogether Job Summit! Presented by Fortune, this unprecedented event is a a free, day-long virtual job summit that’s open to everyone where the brightest female minds and iconic thought leaders of our times will empower women with the confidence, tips and resources they need to secure the employment they deserve, and live the lives they want.
February 24, 2021
4pm EST
Register now!
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The Biden administration is creating a new Gender Policy Council within the White House, a reformulation of the Obama administration's White House Council on Women and Girls. - NPR
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After this past election cycle, there are no Black women in the Senate. - NPR
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The NYT’s Sarah Wildman on President Biden’s lifting of the global gag rule, which denied U.S. aid to nongovernmental organizations if they advocate for abortion, examines women’s health as a geopolitical issue.
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New data finds that 59% of workers who would benefit from a $15 minimum wage are women, with nearly one in four of these women being Latina or Black. - CNBC
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Ulta Beauty has pledged to double Black-owned brands on store shelves by the end of 2021, invest in media campaigns that feature Black women and expand employee training to fight unconscious bias. - CNBC
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WATCH: In honor of Black History Month, Barbie celebrates the legacies of women who paved the way for a new generation of Black girls.
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Browse the New WFN Website!
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If you have a story to share, email Megan at
[email protected]
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