Welcome to the weekly newsletter from the Women's Funding Network.
WEEKLY NEWS // APRIL 19, 2022 // Featured Guest Piece
Using Data to Tell Our Stories
Dear Colleagues:
Data matters. In every facet of our lives, we use data to tell a story about how far we’ve come, or how much further we want to progress. At the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), data is our business. As a nonpartisan nonprofit, and leading national think tank, we build evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the lives and opportunities of women from diverse backgrounds.
The research tells us that this is an unprecedented moment in the nation’s history—one that will define us for generations to come. The coming together of a global pandemic and economic crisis has revealed the fragility of our economy and health care system and the burden carried by women in society where both racism and sexism are deeply entrenched and embedded in most, if not all our institutions, systems, and structures.
As the pandemic persists, so, too, does the gender wage gap.
In 2021, women in the U.S. earned just 83.1 percent of what men earned. Wage gaps across gender, race, and ethnicity were profound, with the gap widening most for Black and Hispanic women. In the United States, the gender pay gap has closed only by 8 cents over the last few decades.
At this rate, it will take over 135 years to close the gender gap globally. Is it 2157, yet?
This is why we’ve come together in partnership with the Women’s Funding Network to launch The Gender Point. This first-of-its-kind initiative provides on-demand data reports that equip women’s funds and foundations with research to leverage and enhance policy and funding priorities.
This partnership is just the beginning of our deep dive into making the case for investments in women’s funds, who move money faster than traditional philanthropic entities, and have a multiplier effect on investments their communities.
When we come together to tell our stories, anything is possible. It’s time to accelerate change and move the needle on women’s progress and equality in the U.S. and globally. WFN members and allies can join IWPR and partners all across the world virtually at the 2022 Power+ Summit from April 27–28, 2022 to help #MakeEqualHappen.
In solidarity,
C. Nicole Mason
President and CEO
Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR)
We’re taking a look back at top press highlights from the Women’s Funding Network in early 2022. These key insights and opinions uplifted topics such as equal pay, equal representation, and supported the efforts of women’s funds and foundations across the globe responding in real time to the crisis in Ukraine.
ICYMI, read through our top press hits for the latest from WFN and our members.
WFN Member News
Our 2022 membership drive has ended. Thank you to everyone in this great alliance of gender justice advocates and funders, including the individuals and organizations below. If you haven't renewed your membership yet, contact us.
- Echidna Giving
- Kathleen Pike
- Mind the Gender Gap
- Wallace Foundation
- Women's Foundation of Boston
Women's Funding Network and Possibility Labs* invite you to save the date for an interactive, virtual conversation centering strategies and solutions from women’s foundations on how our money can have lasting impacts on local communities. This event is free and open to all.
Community-Led Impact Investing
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m. EDT/5:30-6:30 p.m. UTC
Join the New York Women's Foundation for the 35th Anniversary Celebrating Women Breakfast, where they will pay tribute to their extraordinary honorees and grantee partners who are advancing innovative and bold solutions to create an equitable and just future for women and families.
Join them virtually or in person. Register here.
Fondo Semillas' recent #GirlsWhoMigrate campaign was supported in part by Brava NFT, a group of more than 300 "female cyberpunk amazonas" who donate 10% of their NFT/cryptocurrency sales to causes across the globe. This unique fundraising campaign raised more than $19k to support shelter and services provided by women-led orgs. Learn more about the campaign and donate now.
Opportunities and Resources
Every Child Thrives has released a new resource, Evaluation in service of racial equity can unleash power, voice and presence, which includes a 3-part practice guide demonstrating how to use evaluation to instill racial equity as a core value in both organizations and in our communities.
UN Women's research shows that the war is exacerbating pre-existing inequalities, particularly for older women and single mothers who comprise the majority of Ukraine’s poor. Read the report: Collecting data and analysis on how the war in Ukraine is impacting women and girls.
Join Black Visions, Interrupting Criminalization, Liberation in a Generation, and The Forge for a virtual Abolitionist Network Gathering at the Allied Media Conference. They will be bringing together roughly 200 organizers in local pods to revisit the basics of base building and share new tools for visionary organizing in service of abolition — while holding space to dialogue, strategize, and problem solve around shared obstacles, conflicts, and conundrums. Applications are due by April 22! We will be contacting those accepted by May 13.
WHEN: June 28 and 29, 10am-6pm CT. Register here.
Return To The Heart Foundation invites you to the Summer Solstice '22: A Journey to the Heart, a unique, experiential, and heart-changing in person event in Pe’ Sla and on the Pine Ridge Reservation. For Lakota people, Pe’ Sla is known as the heart of all things. The event will combine Native history, culture, traditions and practices, so that you might connect deeper to yourself and a community of fellow change-makers and seekers. Learn more and register today.
June 17 at 3pm - June 19 at 11pm | Purchase your tickets here.
NewMexicoWomen.org and partner organizations comprising the NM Healthy Masculinities Collaborative launched the New Mexico Healthy Masculinities Toolkit, a free resource and collection of readings, workshops, and exercises that engage communities around the topic of exploring healthy masculinity and reimagining gender frameworks as essential to gender justice and healing.
What We're Reading
How is Canada empowering women in fight against climate change?
— Kalkine Media
From Russia’s bombs to Poland’s 'war on women.
— GZERO Media
To Be Pro-Choice, You Must Have the Privilege of Having Choices, says Monica Simpson of SisterSong.
— The New York Times
Can we create “good” businesses in a capitalist system? Define “good.”
— Collective Flow Consulting
Diversity on the Supreme Court is nothing to fear. In fact, it can help inspire leaders across the globe who see themselves represented for the first time.
— Every Child Thrives
What We're Watching
A group gathered last week in Washington D.C. to watch history unfold on Capitol Hill, as they celebrated the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. The video includes an interview from Teresa Younger, President of Ms. Foundation for Women and WFN Board Member.
A Note on Accessibility:
As we incorporate new communications assets, we strive to ensure that the platforms and tools that enable us to share content are accessible to the widest possible audience. We are committed to learning and growing in this area and appreciate any helpful guidance you have to share. Please reach out if you have any tips or requests to make your experience more accessible.
