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WEEKLY NEWS // DECEMBER 14, 2021
// A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO
The Power of Gender Justice
Dear Colleagues,
Even when facing an uncertain future, you mobilized during moments of crisis faster and with more effectiveness than any other philanthropic sector.
Women’s funds pioneered, and continue to evolve, participatory grantmaking practices. They take a multigenerational approach to solving problems. Most of all, they build strong local community engagement around the most pressing needs of their most vulnerable populations.
As we reflect on 2021, we honor you. Stay tuned to our social channels to catch “best-of” highlights to be inspired by your peers, who with your support, are deploying feminist funding principles that will ensure equity and fairness for all. Stay tuned and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn to see these powerful stories.
WFN is our beloved community because of you. We’re committed to investing in the strength and resiliency of our international alliance in 2022 and beyond. This week we sent membership renewal reminders; thank you for joining us again. If you’re not currently a member, join by completing the form here.
We look forward to continuing to support your work and efforts in 2022 and beyond.
In solidarity,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
Welcome to our New WFN Board Members
The Women’s Funding Network is proud to welcome three new members, elected unanimously in December: Renée Joslyn, Ashlei Spivey, and Rashmi Yadav Marya. In addition, the Board of Directors elected a new slate of officers, including: Melanie R. Brown, Suzanne Peters, Jill Nowak, CAE, CPA, and Teresa C. Younger.
The newly-appointed members hail from diverse personal and professional backgrounds and are all national leaders in gender equity and justice advocacy.
Our Take: SCOTUS & SB8
The recent #SCOTUS decision to leave the fate of #SB8 and abortion access to the lower courts in Texas harms women and deprives us all of the rights to our own bodies. It’s incredibly disappointing that the ban will remain in effect until they do - it’s already been three months and counting without access to reproductive rights or adequate healthcare.
As an organization dedicated to advancing the liberation, financial and otherwise, of all genders, the Women’s Funding Network unequivocally asserts that reproductive rights are human rights. Abortion is healthcare. It is a moral imperative that anyone with the ability to become pregnant have access to safe and legal care that respects their dignity, privacy, and personal freedom.
In a powerful statement, WFN President and CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román made it abundantly clear: “Now is the time to show up for people of all genders whose reproductive rights are continuously and systematically under attack.”
WFN in the News
In her latest opinion via Inside Philanthropy, WFN President and CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román unpacks the sexism inherent in the recent criticism of MacKenzie Scott's latest round of giving, despite her unwavering commitment to open and transparent philanthropic giving. "It’s not difficult to see that sexism persists as part of our culture’s discomfort with women having extreme power, stepping into roles that have historically only been available to men."
This year was hard.
Make a difference.
Give to your local women’s fund.
2021 was devastating for many women around the globe. Here at WFN, we call for the size of our philanthropic funding to match the scope of the issues women and children are facing in our communities.
Continue to allow us to provide powerful support funds to gender justice funders. Give to WFN now, or use our member directory to find a women's fund near you. It’s time to #FundWomensFunds and #DoGood for women and girls.
In the wake of the deadly storm that devastated Western Kentucky, many local groups and organizations have taken the initiative to help those affected. Our colleagues at the Kentucky Foundation of Women are sharing resource links with grantees and are supporting several emergency aid initiatives with the Red Cross and a unique collaborative from Chef Lee, popular local chef. Visit their pages to learn more about how you can help.
As we continue navigating the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Women's Foundation's focus remains on investing in bold solutions that build economic security for New York’s women and families. Learn more about The New York Women’s Foundation and their work to rebuild New York with care and economic justice.
Two out of five women in Arizona have been victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives. YOU have the power to change this reality for women in Arizona. Learn more about how AFW ensures your dollars are going directly to programs that support survivors of domestic violence while also advocating for programs and policies that will help prevent it in the future.
WFN Member News
ICYMI: The New Hampshire Women's Foundation Women Building Community Lunch is now on YouTube. Hear stories from three strong girls and many incredible women, including a conversation about the future of the women's funding movement with special guest speakers Teresa C. Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, and Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, former President and CEO of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.
Join The Chicago Foundation for Women for their virtual event SHEcovery: Get Women Back To Work. Felicia Davis Blakley, President and CEO Chicago Foundation for Women, will discuss CFW’s SHEcovery™ - Get Women Back to Work along with Jaquie Algee, VP Director of External Relations, SEIU Healthcare, Cherita Ellens, President and CEO Women Employed, Saru Jayaraman, President One Fair Wage, and Katya Nuques, Executive Director, Enlace Chicago.
December 7, 2021 | 3:00-4:00pm | Register here
Join The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts for an exciting discussion on gender, care, and unpaid labor with Dr. Nancy Folbre, author, scholar, and Director of the Program on Gender and Care Work at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service Center on Community Philanthropy will announce the recipients of the 2022 Advancing Equity Award at its fifth ceremony commemorating the National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 12:00 pm CST on Facebook Live and Youtube. Fingers crossed to the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas!
The Chester County Fund for Women & Girls is accepting nominations for their 2022 Kitchen Table Award that will be presented at our 17th Annual Making a Difference Luncheon on Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Malvern. All nominations are open to the public and must be received by Friday, January 14th.
The Fund’s Kitchen Table Award honors an “outstanding Chester County woman who has made substantive contributions through service and/or philanthropy to improve the lives of women and girls through her own time, talent or resources.” The honoree will be recognized at our 2022 Luncheon and will join the ranks of 11 incredible women who have previously received this award for their tireless work on behalf of local women and girls.
Mark your calendars to join Fairfield County's Community Foundation on Friday, April 22, 2022 at Fairfield County's Community Foundation in person at the Greenwich Hyatt or virtually on our livestream for The Fund for Women & Girls Annual Luncheon.
Lawyer, author and educator Anita Hill will be the keynote speaker for the event. As a champion for equality and ending gender violence, Professor Hill's work speaks powerfully to the vision of FCCF's Fund for Women & Girls.
When the new Legislative Session begins in January in Omaha, The Woman's Fund of Omaha says it will be time to get to work to make a bold impact, create effective public policies that address gender-based oppression and oppose potential laws that will limit opportunity and potential. Here are some of the policies they're focusing on in 2022:
- Protecting and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care and education, including expanded insurance coverage of birth control as well as quality and culturally-relevant maternal health services.
- Removing salary history from the hiring process to disrupt the cycle of gender and race wage discrimination.
- Supporting parents and caregivers with affordable child care and paid leave to care for themselves and their families.
Emily O. Weltman, Founder of Collective Flow Consulting, has written an op-ed: "The Powers That Be” are Takers, Not Givers."
The Ms. Foundation for Women has released their latest publication, Tired of Dancing to Their Song: An Assessment of the Indigenous Women’s Reproductive Justice Funding Landscape, which examines the needs of Indigenous communities and works to address the historic discrepancies in philanthropic funding for Indigenous women and girls.
Opportunities and Resources
Join The Institute for Women's Policy Research for a webinar to mark the release of IWPR’s new survey briefs on young women’s diverse experiences during the pandemic. This webinar will bring together policy experts, advocates, and young women leaders to discuss how federal and state policies should support young women in achieving their goals while leveling the playing field by benefiting those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic recession.
December 14, 2021 | 4:00pm ET | Register here
The Wallace Foundation has released a new tool Strong Principals, Strong Pipelines: A Guide for Leveraging Federal Sources to Fund Principal Pipelines. This guide can help school district decision-makers understand the federal funding sources that can be tapped to develop sound principal pipelines.
PowerLabs is hosting a virtual workshop Understanding & Assessing Your Organization’s Strategic Capacity. At this interactive 90-minute workshop, Jane Booth-Tobin and Liz McKenna of the P3 Lab at Johns Hopkins University will share findings from their recent report, “Understanding Strategic Capacity in Constituency-Based Organizations,” and support participants in understanding how developed (or not) their strategic capacities are.
January 20, 2022 | 2:00pm ET | Register here
In partnership with Make It Work Nevada and MI Oakland Forward, The National Women's Law Center launched Show Me The Receipts, a campaign that bridges the gap between how poverty is portrayed in media and its real impact on millions of women and families.
The Urgent Action Funds launched their new Sisterhood Feminist Principles of Philanthropy on International Women's Human Rights Defenders Day. Developed through a two year process of conversations across the four Sister Funds, the Principles reflect the UAFs’ commitment to building new patterns of power in philanthropy.
Forbes released this year’s list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
In a private meeting, nearly 20 members of Black Women Leaders and Allies, a coalition of groups focused on civil rights issues, shared their recommendations on how the Biden administration could strengthen the right to vote without legislation passed by Congress. - Politico
Women say Saudi Arabia has advanced significantly in just the past year, with more choices regarding work, fashion and social spaces, but restrictions remain everywhere. - The New York Times
A Texas statute that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy was seemingly undercut by two court rulings last week, but the reality on the ground has not changed. - The New York Times
What We're Reading
A Chance to Enshrine Gender Equity at All Levels of Government
By Elizabeth Barajas-Román
What We're Watching
WATCH: Last week, The White House hosted the first Maternal Health Day of Action. At the event attended by lawmakers, advocates and celebrities, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a nationwide call to action for private and public sectors to improve health outcomes for pregnant people in the United States, where pregnancy-related deaths occur at a higher rate than in other countries with similar incomes.
