Dear Colleagues,
This week WFN hosted a conversation with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), to unpack learnings from their recent report: Philanthropy and COVID-19 in 2020: Measuring One Year of Giving.
On the bright side, CDP identified $20.2 billion in funding from corporations, foundations, public charities, and high-net-worth individuals to address the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020—nearly double the total reached from the first half of the year. Individuals gave at historic rates and total philanthropic funding awarded for COVID-19 efforts dwarfed funding for other recent disasters.
Significant also is the organizing, lead primarily by Black women, that led to increased funding for BIPOC communities: of U.S. COVID-19 philanthropy to specified recipients, 35 percent of dollars was designated for communities of color, up from 5 percent since CDP’s last report.
Unfortunately, despite being widely recognized that the pandemic disproportionately impacted women, giving to organizations serving marginalized genders increased by only one percent in 2020.
We have been here before. Notably, in response to the destruction and displacement caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2006, WFN partnered with Ms. Foundation for Women and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to create the Katrina Women’s Response Fund. The Katrina Women’s Response Fund focused on ensuring that the priorities of low-income women, and women of color and their families were central to the Hurricane Katrina relief, recovery, and rebuilding process.
Sadly, we were one of the few philanthropic responses after Katrina that centered the impact of gender and race after the hurricane. Consequently, marginalized genders in communities of color were left to rebuild their homes, families and lives with little support.
The 2020 data from the CDP report underlines just how important your work remains today.
Because of your meaningful relationships to grassroots organizations, you were able to target and move funds quickly last year. You transformed every dollar raised, up to 950 percent, thereby increasing the resources available to respond to the shifting demands and unique challenges of a global pandemic on women and their families.
Even still, vaccinations remain out of reach for many around the world, and while marginalized genders in communities of color are at the heart of recovery efforts, organizations led by and for them remain woefully underfunded.
Thank you for continuing to demand a philanthropic response from our colleagues and donors equal to the scale of the work ahead.
You were philanthropy’s first responders and are now philanthropy’s long haulers. Thank you.
In solidarity,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
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Global Fund for Women has released a new film series, "Fundamental." In five episodes, you will walk alongside dynamic activists from Pakistan and Kenya to Brazil, Georgia, and the United States as they fight to end child marriage, demand reproductive rights, pursue racial and queer justice, and much more.
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The Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona's "Pathways" program has been featured in BizTUSCON Magazine, where more single moms are beginning a new journey towards self-sufficiency with technical education training offered in partnership with the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona and Pima Community College.
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The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is hiring for a Program Associate. The Program Associate is responsible for developing and leading the operations for an important piece of our climate grantmaking and works in partnership with the climate strategy Program Officers, other Foundation staff, and our grantees.
To learn more, click here.
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Sexual violence rates increased in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this platform, Black and Afro-descendant women articulate in their own words the reality of sexual violence in their communities, as well as their experiences of healing and resilience.
The second installment of the Historias by VidaAfrolatina virtual series will take place on June 17, 2021, from 7 pm to 8 pm ET. Register here.
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Texas Women's Foundation announced that two bestselling authors, Angie Thomas and Cleo Wade, will be heading their 36th Annual Luncheon on Tuesday, September 30 at 12:00pm (CDT). Themed “My Voice. My Story. Every Woman’s Power to Build Compassion and Community,” this virtual conversation with two remarkable bestselling authors will discuss the power of each woman’s voice and story in building empathy, compassion and community in our world.
Event tickets start at $36 each. Purchase your tickets here.
As a part of their Virtual Viewpoints series, Texas Women's Foundation is also hosting a webinar, "Virtual Viewpoints: The Caring Economy," where they will discuss the economic impacts of care, particularly care for the elderly and people with disabilities, and how understanding care as a shared responsibility will set the stage for a stronger economy for all.
June 24, 2021 / 1:00-2:00pm CST / Register here.
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OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
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Join Funders Together to End Homelessness for their free webinar, "Foundational Concepts for Racial Equity." This training will explore in-depth the foundational concepts of racial equity, including the history of race, multiple levels of racism, white supremacy, white privilege, and intersectionality.
June 21, 2021
1:00pm ET / 12:00pm CT / 11:00am MT / 10:00am PT
Register here.
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Millions of women haven't rejoined the workforce, and may not anytime soon. - NPR
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A record number of 41 women are leading Fortune 500 companies. And for the first time, two Black women are serving as CEOs at the same time. - CNBC
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Forbes released its inaugural "50 Over 50 List," which spotlights the diverse voices and work of female entrepreneurs and leaders over the age of 50.
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The Canadian government has declared it would direct more resources to First Nations police and address systemic racism in the justice system and law enforcement to tackle violence against indigenous women. However, no time frame has been given. - Reuters
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China's new three-child policy might make discrimination in the workplace even worse for women. Read more here.
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WATCH: A high school valedictorian threw out her speech to speak against Texas' new abortion ban, which would prohibit abortions as early as six weeks.
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TODAY, 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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#WomenFunded’21 is coming!
Please SAVE THE DATE for Thursday, September 23, 2021
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