Welcome to the weekly newsletter from the Women's Funding Network.
WEEKLY NEWS // DECEMBER 21, 2021
// A LETTER FROM OUR INCOMING BOARD CHAIR
Your Investments in Women and Girls Make all the Difference
Dear Colleagues,
While we wrap up 2021 and prepare for the new year, exciting things are happening at the Women’s Funding Network (WFN). We hope you saw last week’s announcement of new board members and board leadership. As the incoming Board Chair, I want to take this opportunity to extend holiday greetings and our most sincere gratitude for your commitment and contributions this year.
In honor of your work, we’re highlighting incredible stories of change from WFN members across the globe. Our 2021 “best-of” highlights are just a glimpse into the many powerful stories of gender justice funders working on the front lines of their communities across the globe, deploying feminist funding principles that will ensure equity and fairness for all. These examples highlight what we in the network already know – women's funds and foundations are on the front lines of change, building strong local engagement around the most pressing needs alongside their most vulnerable, highest-potential communities.
What those of us in the network also know is the reality that for more than a decade, the total amount of philanthropic giving to women and girls has remained stagnant at 1.6%. While the latest report from The Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) shows strong year-over-year growth in philanthropic support for women and girls, the marginal .06% increase represents a fraction of overall charitable giving – now totaling just 1.9%.
It is simply not enough.
And so, we ask for your help.
With your generous financial support, we can continue to provide critical support funds to gender justice funders across the globe. This holiday season, we ask you to #FundWomensFunds and #DoGood for women and girls. Every little bit makes a huge difference when leveraged by women’s funds and foundations everywhere. Give today.
Thank you for supporting our initiatives and events all year long. We look forward to continuing to support your work and efforts in 2022 and beyond.
In
solidarity,
Melanie R. Brown
WFN Board Chair
Interim Deputy Director,
Global Policy & Advocacy
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Celebrating 2021
This organization is what it is because of the people that are in it. As 2021 draws to a close, we’re highlighting incredible stories of change from WFN members across the globe.
Our 2021 “best-of” highlights are just a glimpse into the many powerful stories of gender justice funders working on the front lines of their communities across the globe. Be sure to follow the #womenfundedbestof2021 campaign on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages to learn more about our incredible members, partners, and allies.
We look forward to seeing all of you again in 2022.
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."
Another Inside Philanthropy piece also references Elizabeth's piece, calling it a
much needed "gut-check" on how we talk about women, money, and power:
Are Billionaires Actually Listening? At Least One of Them Appears to Be."
WFN Member News
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.
United Philanthropy Forum released their 2021 Key Metrics for Philanthropy-Serving Organizations report, which provides comprehensive benchmarking data and analyses on the finances, membership, services and programs, operations, and governance of regional and national PSOs.
It's also not too late to participate in the 2022 Forum Racial Equity Capacity Assessment for PSOs.
The United Philanthropy Forum has partnered with Community Centered Evaluation and Research (CCER), in collaboration with the Forum’s Racial Equity Committee, to launch the second year of the assessment currently underway. The assessment intends to capture a snapshot of your organization’s internal and external racial equity efforts. The deadline for completion is Friday, January 21.
Women Win is closing the year celebrating all the girls, women and non-binary people they serve with the launch of a photo and video contest to make their lives more visible in a year in which they have been (again) deeply impacted by Covid.
The contest will be open for one month from December 15th 2021 to January 15th 2022. To apply, click here.
What We're Reading
The F.D.A. will permanently allow abortion pills by mail, broadening access to medication abortion. — The New York Times
Pope Francis denounced domestic violence against women on Sunday, describing it as “almost satanic” — Forbes
What We're Watching
WATCH: Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision protecting people's right to have an abortion in the United States, will be overturned within a year, says reproductive rights attorney Kathryn Kolbert. In this electrifying call to action, she breaks down the systematic attack against reproductive freedom in the US and envisions what a post-Roe world could look like.
