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** MARCH 12, 2021
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Dear Colleagues,
For most of us, today marks the anniversary when we last gathered for concerts or events, traveled on a plane, chatted with coworkers around the proverbial water cooler, or felt the embrace of extended friends and family. Today marks the day our countries shut down, we became isolated, and the world as we knew it shifted dramatically around us.

I had the opportunity this week to speak with Melanie Brown ([link removed]) , vice-chair of the WFN board and a senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, about how your organizations were not only a lifeline during the past year – but how you are also are a critical voice in creating what comes next.

“This is the future we envision: a society where power and possibility are not limited by gender, race or place. This month, we recommit to change that is transformational, not transactional — to dismantling and redesigning public systems. Anything less is merely a band-aid,” said Melanie Bridgeforth, president and CEO of the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham, in a recent op-ed where she succinctly spelled out the future ([link removed]) so many of us are collectively working towards.

Across COVID-19 response plans and recovery efforts, women have led the way. In Forbes this week, Seema Jalan spells out three approaches to philanthropy ([link removed]) that can drive sustained systemic change for gender equality:
1. Pool funding for maximized impact and minimized risk,
2. Model a democratic, shared approach to governance,
3. Enable locally led, context-specific solutions.

I’m proud to say that our Women’s Funding Network strives to embody these principles. As funds and foundations that center the unique needs of women and girls, we have an opportunity to remake the system that has been broken for so long — but only if we center those we seek to advance at the very heart of the decision-making. It is fundamental that we incorporate local voices and local solutions into the very structure we seek to build. Only then can we make long-lasting, structural change.

With you every step of the way,

Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
We join together in solidarity with every voice in the philanthropic community and beyond to unequivocally condemn violence, including the recent incidents of anti-Asian hate. There can be no gender justice without racial justice. #StopAsianHate #racialjustice #solidarity


** WFN IN THE NEWS
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WFN President and CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román speaks with Melanie R. Brown, a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and vice chair of the board of directors of the Women’s Funding Network (WFN) ([link removed]) about how women’s funds are showing up during the pandemic and how we can ensure a more inclusive recovery for all. Read the whole story here ([link removed]) .

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Google.org will award $25 million for innovative ideas that empower women, featuring a quote from WFN President and CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román. Read the story here ([link removed]) .


** WFN MEMBER NEWS
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The United Nations Global Compact is hosting an upcoming event, Target Gender Equality LIVE ([link removed]) . Join leading women and male champions from around the world for this one-day virtual event to celebrate the diversity of talent, ideas and leadership women demonstrate every day in the workplace, across the marketplace and in their communities.

WFN members receive complimentary registration for the event.

March 16, 2021
REGISTER HERE ([link removed])
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President & CEO of The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham Melanie R. Bridgeforth released an op-ed, "Women are our own saviors. And we always have been," ([link removed]) Also, don’t miss their 2021 Agenda for Women ([link removed]) , which aims to accelerate women’s economic opportunity by prioritizing gender equity.

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This International Women's Day the Fund for Congolese Women (FFC) Executive Director, Julienne Lusenge recognized for her leadership with the International Women of Courage Award. Congratulations Julienne! Check out the live-stream of the ceremony here ([link removed]) .

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The Fairfield County's Community Foundation is hosting a virtual celebration for Unite and Rise with award winning author Margaret Atwood, and featuring the new “emme” initiative.

April 16, 2021
5:30pm
Register here ([link removed]) .


** OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has released a new report, "Philanthropy and COVID-19: Measuring One Year of Giving," (found that total philanthropic funding awarded for COVID-19-related efforts during the first six months of 2020 dwarfed funding for other recent disasters. ) where they found that total philanthropic funding awarded for COVID-19-related efforts during the first six months of 2020 dwarfed funding for other recent disasters.

After an inaugural year spent cultivating community, The Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice is hiring across four exciting opportunities.

o Atlantic Coast Program Officer ([link removed])

o Gulf South Program Officer ([link removed])

o Strategic Communications Director ([link removed])

o Operations Coordinator ([link removed])

Applications are due April 1.
To learn more about the Hive Fund, click here ([link removed]) .
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The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) finds that women have only recovered few than half of all jobs since February 2020 ([link removed]) . Women are still only 5.1 million jobs below February 2020, compared with 4.4 million fewer jobs on payroll for men.

IWPR and Chicago Women in the Trades will also be hosting a webinar ([link removed]) on their recent report, "Here to Stay: Black, Latina, and Afro-Latina Women in Construction Trades Apprenticeships and Employment." ([link removed])

March 25, 2021
2:00-3:30pm EST
Register here ([link removed]) .
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Join Bolder Advocacy for their first event of the Chats for Changemakers in California series ([link removed]) , where California nonprofit advocates can engage in informal conversation to swap practical tips, tricks, words to the wise, and lessons learned about organizing a virtual lobby day. Policy staff from a variety of organizations and coalitions will be joining the conversation, including leaders from housing, immigration, domestic violence, criminal justice, civil liberties, and philanthropic organizations.

March 26, 2021
12:00pm - 1:30pm PT
Register here ([link removed]) .


** WEEKLY READ
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President Biden marked International Women's Day on Monday by signing two executive orders geared toward promoting gender equity, both in the United States and around the world. - NPR ([link removed])
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What did International Women's Day look like around the world? Click here ([link removed]) .

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The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package moving through Congress advances an idea that Democrats have been nurturing for decades: establishing a guaranteed income for families with children. - New York Times ([link removed])
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The World Health Organization ([link removed]) finds that 1 in 3 women are are subjected to physical or sexual violence globally.

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Throughout Women's History Month, let us remember "as much as women are succeeding, they are struggling." - NBC News ([link removed])
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Meet 30 inspirational women from various walks of life who have achieved great things and continue to break boundaries both in and out of work. - Forbes ([link removed])

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WATCH: Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks to the European Parliament for International Women's Day.


** Browse the New WFN Website!
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