Welcome to the weekly newsletter from the Women's Funding Network.
WFN WEEKLY NEWS // MARCH 8, 2022 // A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO
WFN Members’ Statement of Solidarity with Ukraine and Condemnation of Violence
Read more below on ways you can get involved.
Dear Colleagues,
Today marks International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate and reflect on progress made on rights of marginalized genders. I stand with each and every one of you in calling for an end to gender inequality to #breakthebias.
Too often, race is an afterthought in the women’s rights movement, and too often philanthropy ignores gender as a critical intersection in racial equity strategy. At WFN, we commit to funding programs and policy initiatives that impact the entirety of our person.
The fight for equality isn’t just for the benefit of women alone.
It’s important to acknowledge the unique challenges at the intersection of both racism and sexism. Though Black women are often forced to fight these on different fronts, as if they are different wars altogether, in reality, racism and sexism are just different weapons in the hands of a common enemy: white supremacy.
We know access to capital is one of the most critical missing links to closing the opportunity gaps for Black women.
Yet of the $67 billion of charitable donations made by foundations in a single year, less than .02% was specified as benefiting causes that support Black women and girls. We have to do better. We do not live single issue lives.
The data is clear: directing dollars into programs led by Black women can create meaningful campaigns for lasting change. On International Women’s Day, and every day, we call for gender equity at the structural level that recognizes the interconnected nature of policy priorities like equal pay, raising the federal minimum wage, and the Women's Health Protection Act.
Check out more of my thoughts on this topic—and some of our Network’s trailblazers to watch—in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
In solidarity,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
WFN Membership came together to release a Statement of Solidarity and Condemnation of Violence to condemn President Putin’s violent, premeditated, and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The statement includes WFN member resources on ways to donate and take action. Sign your name in support.
- WFN Member, The Urgent Action Fund, has created a rapid response fund for Ukraine committed to supporting women, trans, and nonbinary activists on the ground in and surrounding Ukraine
- WFN Member, Global Fund for Women, has created a donation portal to support feminist crisis response in Ukraine and beyond.
- WFN Member, The International Women’s Convocation (IWC), has started a fundraising campaign for immediate humanitarian aid in Romania through a local partner organization.
- Prospera International Network of Women’s Funds is supporting feminist movement in Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria and identifies key local organizations for rapid response funding.
WFN Membership Renewals
We know that our network is only as strong as the people who are a part of it. Join us in appreciating our latest 2022 new and renewing members. If you have questions about membership or would like additional information, contact us.
- Australians Investing in Women
- Girls Rights Project
- Texas Women's Foundation
- The Fund for Women and Girls
- The Women's Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
- WAKE Women's Alliance for Knowledge Exchange (WAKE)
- Women's Foundation of Minnesota
The Latest from WFN
The Women’s Funding Network’s peer communities of practice provide intimate virtual spaces that enable members to tap into one another’s expertise and knowledge for collective organizing and mutual support. Members engage to share challenges, solutions, and resources that collectively moved us forward.
There are currently five Peer Communities that each meet monthly:
- Executive Leaders Community
- Advocacy & Public Policy Community
- Communications Community
- Data & Research Community
- From Margin to Center Community
Contact WFN Community Engagement Coordinator Sam Hopper to register for a peer community or visit our new Peer Communities webpage to learn more.
WFN Member News
Read The New York Women's Foundation's President & CEO, Ana Oliveira, op-ed in the Chronicle Of Philanthropy: "Philanthropy: Listen to the Voices, Leadership, and Lived Experiences of People."
"As a queer, Latinx, immigrant woman, I’m no stranger to the many biases, prejudices, and stereotypes that people can hold...at The New York Women’s Foundation, we believe in investing in women on their terms and funding their whole selves. Our grantmaking recognizes this and responds accordingly."
CHANGE Philanthropy has launched the 2022 Diversity Among Philanthropic Professionals (DAPP) survey to help the philanthropic community better understand its workforce and leadership.
The third edition of the DAPP Survey will illuminate the experiences of the philanthropic workforce across a diverse array of identity frames: race/ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, religious affiliation, and more. Sign up your organization here by March 11, 2022.
The New Hampshire Women’s Foundation has launched a new grant program for organizations and initiatives led by or serving women and girls of color in the Granite State. The Women and Girls of Color Fund aims to reduce barriers to organizations and programs that historically have been under-resourced.
Read the latest op-ed from New Hampshire Women’s Foundation’s CEO Tanna Clews & Women and Girls of Color Fund advisor and Co-Director of Manchester Community Action Coalition Kile Adumene about elevating the stories and impact of International women across New Hampshire: Let's celebrate the work and leadership of international women in NH.
Join Boston Women’s Fund for Gender 101, a virtual workshop with speaker and award-winning sexuality educator Ericka Hart. Participants in this Getting Proximate Conversation event will learn how our society can be harmful toward those in the queer community along with practical ways to make spaces safer.
The Brooklyn Economic Justice Project (BEJP), an initiative of The New York Women’s Foundation, was launched in Spring 2020 with support from Fondation Chanel. BlackSpace Urbanist Collective, a member of the first BEJP cohort, protects and creates Black spaces by bringing together planners, architects, artists, and designers as Black urbanists, people who are passionate about the work of public systems and urban infrastructures.
The Women's Foundation of Minnesota launched their newest report, the 2022 Status of Women and Girls in Minnesota, produced with the Center on Women, Gender, & Public Policy at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Join them to hear highlights in an online presentation with Dr. Christina Ewig, lead researcher and faculty director of Center on Women, Gender and Public Policy (CWGPP), and Shawntera Hardy, founder of PolicyGrounds Consulting, and former commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
March 17, 2022 | 12:00pm-1:00pm | Register here
Opportunities and Resources
FrameWorks Institute and Health+ Studio released Framing Racial Equity in Adolescence: Messaging Strategies for Social Change. This playbook helps practitioners, policymakers, and journalists communicate accurately and effectively about racism and equity and impacts on adolescent development. Review messaging that distills recommendations into a strategy checklist.
Sweef Capital shared their Market Insights which analyses the role of women across critical sectors of the global economy and the importance of taking into account gender and climate considerations. This week, they are showcasing the significant contribution of women in healthcare.
Join the Spring 2022 Cohort of Invest for Better's Circles! Invest for Better Circles are facilitated by volunteers who want to activate their capital for good—while building community to help other women achieve their own goals for positive impact. Prospective Circle leaders should indicate interest by completing this form. Orientation calls will take place on March 24th and April 14th, with the expectation that Circles will launch in May.
Bolder Advocacy is hosting a public webinar, Influencing Public Policy Through Social Media and Other Online Activities. If your organization utilizes Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or any other social media platform, this workshop is for you!
March 14, 2022 | 2:00pm ET | Register here
The Center for Effective Philanthropy is hosting a webinar, “Overlooked: Foundation Support of AAPI & Native Communities Sorely Lacking,” based on the findings from our recent studies that show that Asian Pacific Islander and Native American nonprofit leaders and their communities are being overlooked by foundation funding in the U.S.
March 22, 2022 | 2:00pm -3:15pm EDT | Register here
The Wallace Foundation has released a new podcast series, Let's Talk Social and Emotional Learning. The conversation topics range from what SEL is, how it has evolved over time and how it is practiced in schools today. A revised version of the researchers’ guide includes sections on trauma-informed SEL and the intersection of SEL and equity.
What We're Reading
Today is International Women's Day! This year’s campaign theme— #BreaktheBias —spotlights the individual and collective biases against women that fuel gender inequality. - USA Today
The War in Ukraine Requires a Major Philanthropic Response and Overall Increase in Peace and Security Funding, by Alexandra I. Tom
— The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Biden has nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Read an opinion piece about the significance of having four women on the Court. — The Washington Post
What We're Watching
WATCH: This International Women’s Day, join UN Women and the world in coming together under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, and call for climate action for women, by women.
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