|
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, 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 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 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 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) 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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
The United Nations Global Compact is hosting an upcoming event, Target Gender Equality LIVE. 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
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
|
|
|
 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
o Gulf South Program Officer
o Strategic Communications Director
o Operations Coordinator
Applications are due April 1.
To learn more about the Hive Fund, click here.
|
|
|
|
Join Bolder Advocacy for their first event of the Chats for Changemakers in California series, 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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
What did International Women's Day look like around the world? Click here.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Throughout Women's History Month, let us remember "as much as women are succeeding, they are struggling." - NBC News
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
WATCH: Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks to the European Parliament for International Women's Day.
|
|
Browse the New WFN Website!
 —
|
|
|
If you have a story to share, email Ellen at
[email protected]
|
|
|
|
|
|
