Welcome to the weekly newsletter from the Women's Funding Network.
WEEKLY NEWS // APRIL 26, 2022 // FROM THE CEO
Centering Climate and Gender Justice
Dear Colleagues,
Addressing issues of climate change requires an intersectional approach that integrates the unique impact of climate stress on women and girls while placing them at the center of the conversation, ensuring that collaborative strategies can be developed to work alongside those most affected.
The situation has never been more dire. The second instalment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report released in March 2022 made it clear: climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health, and any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable and sustainable future for all.
Thankfully women’s funds are consistently ranked in the top 10 climate funders in the world. Together through global networks, like WFN and Prospera, they are stepping up to resource critical climate work that centers those who are most affected: women and girls and gender expansive people.
For example, Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres (FCAM), or The Central American Fund for Women, is the first and only feminist fund in Central America. Since 2003, they have been working for a Central America where girls, women, trans and non-binary people actively participate in the construction of favorable environments for their lives and their communities.
FCAM helped create the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA), which connects the women's rights and environmental and climate justice movements. Through the GAGGA network, more than 400 women-led community-based organizations across 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are supported to lead transformation action for gender, environmental, and climate justice.
FCAM is one of many feminist funders stepping up to address climate change in the here and now. My latest op-ed in Rachael Ray Magazine uplifts WFN members across the globe investing in women-led transformative climate solutions that center those most marginalized at the heart of climate solutions.
Read more: Want to Fight Climate Change? Support Women's Foundations.
The impacts of our changing climate disproportionately hurt women and girls—but that's exactly who's stepping up to take action for our planet.
Gender-just, inclusive and sustainable climate solutions already exist on the local level – it’s time to give them money.
In solidarity,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
FCAM: Call for Applications
Desde FCAM estamos lanzando la primera convocatoria 2022 “Construyendo esperanza, sosteniendo nuestras luchas”, la cual brinda diversas posibilidades para acceder a recursos a través de nuestros programas de financiamiento.
FCAM is launching the first call for applications for their 2022 "Building hope, sustaining our struggles," initiative, which offers opportunities to access resources through financing programs. Learn more and apply today.
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.
- New Member: Carolyn Moor
- Return to the Heart Foundation
- New Member: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
- New Member: Women's Foundation California
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
This report from Fondos Semillas and partners on the global rise of authoritarianism: Challenging the Future: Co-inspiring Change. Attacks on democracy in Europe
and Latin America.
Working for Women recently released a new piece, Giving back is no longer optional for companies competing for top talent.
The Women's Foundation of Colorado has announced that by by December 31, 2023, they will to have 100% of their investable assets meet their gender-lens investment strategies. The Foundation will reach this milestone less than 10 years after embarking on its gender-lens investing journey. Learn more here.
Victoria Women's Fund in Australia has launched Matters That Count, a federal election initiative to get to the heart of election issues that impact women. The initiative calls on people to get together with a couple of peers and screen 1-3 of their federal election candidates, asking them to declare their hand on 8 core matters that go to the heart of who we are as thoughtful, compassionate citizens.
Opportunities and Resources
Meet one of Donor Direct Action's Guatemalan partner, ASOGEN, a non-profit organization that helps survivors of sexual violence seek justice in their cases and provides them with legal and psycho-social support. To learn more about their work, click here.
The Wallace Foundation has released two new briefs: From Access to Equity: Making Out-of-School-Time Spaces Meaningful for Teens From Marginalized Communities and Youth Perspectives on Designing Equitable Out-of-School-Time Programs.
To solve the climate crisis, we need funders to change the way they do business. Donors of Color Network calls on the top 40 climate funders in the country to take the Climate Justice Funders Pledge.
The Beekeeping Trainer Project, launched by Antigua and Barbuda Women’s Voice and Leadership-Caribbean grantee partner Integrated Health Outreach, promotes sustainable environmental practices through climate-smart agriculture, engaging 60 women to become beekeepers and producers of honey and its byproducts.
FRIDA's 8th call for applications 8th grant cycle is now officially open until May 4, 2022. During these five weeks, they invite applications from young feminist groups from all majority countries to apply. FRIDA uses majority countries as an umbrella term to refer to countries with varying levels of socio-economic, cultural, and political status. To learn more, click here.
At this upcoming funder briefing, you will learn more about the Workers Confluence Fund, and hear from speakers coming from Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL), Restaurant Opportunities Center Minnesota, Unite HERE, and Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation about their work and the impact that Workers Confluence Fund has had on their infrastructure and organizing capacity. You will also learn from local and national funders investing in worker organizing in Minnesota and around the country who will share more about the impact of grantmaking in this area.
Workers Confluence Fund of Minnesota Funder
Briefing:
May 4, 2022 from 11:00am - 12:30pm CDT.
Register today for We Give Summit, where you'll learn and connect with giving circle members and supporters from around the world. Happening May 11-14 virtually, you'll hear from dozens of community leaders including PolicyLink Founder in Residence Angela Glover Blackwell, Echoing Green President Cheryl Dorsey, and Nonprofit Leader and Advocate Vu Le. To learn more, click here.
What We're Reading
A new court ruling in Suriname offers every citizen the possibility to engage in name change.
— De STVS
Five innovations that have advanced women’s rights. — UN Women
Afghanistan women's national team plays first competitive match in exile
— ESPN
What We're Watching
The Women's Foundation of Boston economically empowers Greater Boston women and girls through the creation and funding of high impact leadership and economic programs in partnership with nonprofits serving solely women and girls. Watch the video to learn more about their work.
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.
