This week, we’re thrilled to uplift the voice of Felicia Davis, WFN Member and President and CEO of the Chicago Foundation for Women. Her unique perspective in centering her lived experiences underscores the importance of centering a gender lens in our philanthropic work.
One year ago, I sat in my home office during Chicago’s COVID-19 lockdown, and I recorded a personal video diary. It was just a few days after the horrific murder of George Floyd, and the tragic events of the week had a profound, personal effect on me. I was hurting, not only for my own Black sons, but for all the Black youth and their families who were left wondering how to move forward, how to address the history and lasting legacy of persistent, and evolving pain and trauma from anti-Black racism.
I vowed to continue to work tirelessly to dismantle the racist, unjust structures and systems that continue to allow the lives of Black sons, like my own, to have no value. To support the millions of people who took to the streets, risking their comfort to peacefully protest and scream out NO MORE. To peacefully make their own voices and supplications heard and offer another pained plea to the world asking for the end of hatred and the true fulfillment of the dreams of dignity, justice, and equity for all.
During this past year, I have been angry, numbed by pain, and paralyzed by fear, but I have also had moments filled with joy and hope. To witness Kamala Harris being sworn in as Vice President of the United States. To hear Amanda Gorman provide us a roadmap, “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change, our children’s birthright.” To celebrate the record-breaking number of women sworn into Congress – including a historic number of Women of Color. I also received the COVID-19 vaccine and, recently, shared Mother’s Day Brunch with my mother and my children, the first time all of us have been allowed to be together in nearly a year.
As President & CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women and a member of the Women’s Funding Network, I have the opportunity to work with a committed group of extraordinary women leaders and other allies who believe as I do – when we invest in women and girls, we invest in us all. We build stronger, healthier, more vibrant communities. At this moment, I am called – WE are called – to speak out, seek understanding, and pursue mercy and justice. I ask that you join me and Chicago Foundation for Women, the Women’s Funding Network, and our partners by actively speaking out against racism and injustice. WE ask for your solidarity in fighting systems of gender inequity and explicitly calling for an end to the intersectional, destructive, and divisive systems of racism and oppression. As we know, achieving gender equity will not happen without achieving racial equity.
Harkening to another part of Amanda Gorman’s poem, “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
Be Bold. Be Brave. Join us in this Fight.
Sending light and love,
Felicia Davis
President and CEO, Chicago Foundation for Women
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ICYMI: Mark Oppenheim led a powerful discussion on foundations that serve women with guests:
- Elizabeth Barajas-Roman, President & CEO of WFN
- Felicia Davis, President & CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women; and
- Mary Rutherford, President & CEO of the Montana Community Foundation/Women's Foundation of Montana.
Nonprofit Report is a weekly webinar on nonprofit organizations, issues and leaders. They broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday at 8am PDT/10am CDT/11am EDT.
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Join us in welcoming the latest WFN members!
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Women International Leaders of Greater Philadelphia (WIL) invest in underserved women globally who take the lead in becoming self-sufficient, elevating their families and communities. Members support a wide variety of projects that raise women’s economic and social status and promote their independence and community leadership.
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The Women’s Foundation of the South (WFS) is a new philanthropic entity that centers and invests in the collective power, health, well-being, economic security, and leadership of womxn and girls of color in the American South.
WFS was created to shift the focus in philanthropy to focus specifically on womxn and girls of color, valuing them as inherent leaders and problem solvers who deserve to be trusted and well-resourced to ensure that they can determine their own destinies and that they and their families thrive. WFS intends to disrupt legacy philanthropy in the South by addressing racial and gender equity from the start. It is led by womxn of color and explicitly serves womxn and girls of color, including trans womxn and gender nonconforming people.
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Grantmakers for Girls of Color (G4GC) works to amplify and mobilize resources to support transformative organizing work to dismantle systems of oppression in the U.S. led by girls and gender expansive youth of color.
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Powered by the Women's Foundation of Mississippi, “Raised in the Sipp” is a podcast hosted by comedienne, musician, and Mississippi native Rita Brent. Each episode will uplift powerful voices and stories in Mississippi of people committed, connected to and invested in Mississippi, working to improve the state for the benefit of women and girls. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Join Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) for R/evolution, their 2021 Virtual National Conference. R/evolution is for everyone, whether you’re brand new to philanthropy or a returning alum looking to come home to your people. There has never been a better – and more urgent – time to celebrate and invest in the leadership of imaginative, resilient, and bold leaders in philanthropy.
On Wednesday, June 9, from 11:00am-11:45am, a Connection Session will be held by WFN Engagement, Learning, and Impact Manager Brianna Gaddy.
June 7-11, 2021
Register here.
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OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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WFN is thrilled to co-sponsor the upcoming ABFE event: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities. The virtual briefing, "COVID-19 Communities of Color Needs Assessment Phase 1 Update," will feature leaders from various sectors providing insight on initial findings of ground-breaking research regarding Covid-19's impact on communities of color.
June 1, 2021
3:00pm EST
Register here.
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Join Civis Analytics from the Data for Good Summit, a wide-ranging program of data-focused interactive sessions and expert insights developed expressly for organizations in the nonprofit and advocacy space, with content for everyone from aspiring technologists to fundraising directors and executives.
June 2-3, 2021
11:00am-5:00pm ET
Register here.
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A new study from Deloitte finds that women's workloads - at home and on the job - have grown, their mental health has suffered, and their allies among employees are few. - NBC News
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Listen to NPR's Short Wave's latest episode: Emily Kwong speaks with Dr. Eve Higginbotham about our earliest understandings of how the pandemic has impacted the careers of women in STEMM, and what support institutions can offer.
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Although AAPI women have the smallest pay gap compared to other racial groups of women, this statistic "masks" big economic disparities. - CNBC
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A team of mostly women is racing to make history at the Indianapolis 500. - NPR
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Access to technology is not equal between men and women in all countries, creating a digital gender gap which is most noticeable in Africa. - BBC
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WATCH: A new movement has sprung up in the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, demanding an end to violence against women. But the government of the twin island state, just off the coast of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean, has been accused of ignoring a study’s recommendations to reduce murder and domestic abuse.
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On June 10th at 4:00pm EST/1:00pm PST you are invited to join Tuti, Lex and contributors to the guide for a toast and conversation. You can register here.
ICYMI, Moving Money for Impact: A Guide to Gender Lens Investing by Tuti Scott with Lex Schroeder highlights frameworks, insights and solutions at work and in development by changemakers.
The Guide is available for download at Tutiscott.com. Printed copies are available on the Women’s Funding Network website. Read this blog for more context - how it began, its purpose, and its vision for impact.
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Browse the New WFN Website!
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#WomenFunded’21 is coming!
Please SAVE THE DATE for Thursday, September 23, 2021
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If you have a story to share, email Ellen at
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