Dear Colleagues, 

The New Year brings new opportunities and new adventures, both professionally and personally. In our work to build women’s economic power I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with a number of leaders in this network, including Dawn Oliver-Wiand, CEO of the Iowa Women’s Foundation. On the eve of Dawn’s retirement, I asked Dawn to share a reflection of her decade of leadership in Iowa. Please find her letter below and join me in wishing Dawn well in her next adventure.

Forward,

Happy New Year,

Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network 
President & CEO

Letter from Dawn Oliver-Wiand, President and CEO of the Iowa Women’s Foundation

When the Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) was founded, there was—and still is—no other organization in the state dedicated solely to improving the economic success of women and girls.

As I prepare to retire, I want to express my profound appreciation and gratitude for the people I have had the good fortune to work with—both internally and through partnering organizations like the Women’s Funding Network (WFN) where I’ve had the opportunities to learn, share, and support one another in their common goal to uplift women and achieve gender equity and justice around the world.

Read more... 
 

WFN Members

WFN Membership Renewals

Our network is only as strong as the people and organizations who are a part of it. Join us in appreciating our members who have renewed for 2023. WFN’s 2022 members have been emailed 2023 membership information. If you are expecting communication on membership renewal but have not received anything, or if you have questions about membership or would like additional information, please contact us.

Araceli Campos
Chicago Foundation for Women
Echidna Giving
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Tina Caruana
Women's Foundation of Oregon
Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

The California Wellness Foundation is hiring for a new Chief of Staff (CoS) to support the leadership of the Vice President of Programs (VPP), in the Grants Program Department. To learn more about the position, click here.

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation is hiring for a new Program Associate, Environment & Science, who is the main point of contact for their grantees when it comes to ensuring the grantmaking cycle and process is understood, effective, and streamlined. To learn more about the position, click here.

January 22 marks what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. While this federal protection is gone, abortion advocates remain. Join I Be Black Girl, Women's Fund of Omaha, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the ACLU of Nebraska to review the policy processes, discover ways to mobilize, and connect with fellow abortion advocates. This event is free, open to advocates who support abortion rights, and family friendly. 

January 22, 2023 | 2:00pm-5:00pm CST | The Dining Room
Register here

Across the country and in the western Massachusetts region, a large number of BIPOC women ran for local, state, and national political offices this election season. While we saw BIPOC women elected to U.S. Congress in historical races including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oregon, and Massachusetts electing its first woman governor, a unique disparity still exists in our region.

Inspired by a lively social media thread, Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts will convene to discuss the barriers and challenges that exist for BIPOC women when running for local and state office. Especially given that most of the region, especially many cities and towns in Hampden County, have yet to elect a woman to serve on Beacon Hill. State Representative-elect Shirley Arriaga of Chicopee is a first, and we hope that her win chisels through the concrete ceiling.

This conversation will be moderated by Jynai McDonald, who recently ran for State Representative of the 11th Hampden District and who posed the question, “Are BIPOC women only allowed to serve on City Council and School Committee?” While these positions are important, how much power do these positions yield and how much can they contribute to systemic change?

January 23, 2023 | 12:00pm-1:00pm EST | Register here

The Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona (WFSA) has worked with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (the “Atlanta Fed”) Advancing Careers Initiative, to create a Benefits CLIFF Dashboard specific to the state of Arizona. The CLIFF Dashboard, which reflects the Arizona landscape, is an interactive tool that depicts wages along select career pathways to indicate barriers presented by benefits cliffs. The CLIFF Dashboard also calculates the net returns to the taxpayer from career advancement. The tool has been customized to reflect local wages for selected in-demand jobs, local county-level expense data for various family formations in Arizona, and application of state-specific public benefits.  

January 25, 2023 | 11:00am-12:00pm MST | Register here

Join a conversation with Akaya Windwood and Rajasvini Bhansali, authors of Leading with Joy: Practices for Uncertain Times, moderated by Women’s Foundation California CEO Surina Khan. Rooted in their 60+ collective years of experiences as movement leaders, trainers, and coaches, their approach to activism puts joy at the heart of justice. Together, we’ll discuss how joyful leadership offers new ways of being and doing that hold the possibility of deep transformation.

February 1, 2023 | 12:00pm - 1:15pm PST | Register here

Join The Women's Fund Miami-Dade for their February Impact Collaborative in collaboration with More Too Life, Inc and their partners at Citrus Health Network, Inc. Special insights on ending demand, the humanity behind the business of trafficking, restorative justice, legal tools, and more will be covered. The Impact Collaborative will also include a spotlight on Dr. Brook Bello and More Too Life’s powerful program to reduce recidivism of buyers of sex. Entitled Restorative Justice End Demand Education (RJEDE), this program is court-ordered and done in collaboration with the State Attorney’s Office and County Courts.  

February 2, 2023 | 9:00am-10:00am EST | Register here

Global Fund for Women is looking for young feminist activists to join the Adolescent Girls Advisory Council (AGAC), which plays a critical role in finding, funding, and amplifying girl-led groups and expanding their leadership, activism and movement-building. The AGAC will be made up of 12 girls who are an example of Global Fund for Women's values: bold, collaborative, curious, and authentic. 

The application will begin on January 2023 and is open to girls—cis, transgender, and gender non-conforming—between the ages of 10 to 17. The application deadline is February 20, 2023. To learn more, click here.

Change Philanthropy is now accepting session ideas for the #2023UnitySummit! The Unity Summit is a philanthropic convening that explores strategies for utilizing power to advance philanthropic equity power. It is a platform for bold ideas and unique voices that help inform philanthropic practice and move the sector forward. Therefore, the sessions should be in line with at least one of the Unity Summit goals:

Opportunities and Resources

Neighborhood Funders Group has opened nominations for its 2023 Discount Foundation Legacy Award, which annually identifies, supports, and celebrates an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and contributed significantly to workers’ rights movements in the United States and/or globally. The winner will receive a $20,000 stipend. 

All nominations must be received by 11:59pm ET on March 13, 2023 through the online nomination form. To learn more about the award, click here.

CTIA Wireless Foundation has launched its fourth annual Catalyst competition, seeking emerging social entrepreneurs using the power of 5G and leading-edge wireless technologies to enhance our lives and address challenges in American communities. Up to six applicants will receive unrestricted grants and non-financial benefits, including a first-place award of $100,000.

The deadline to enter is March 7, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET. To view the full call for submissions, click here.

What We're Reading

What We're Watching

Felicia Davis Blakley, President and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women, stepped In The Arena last week with Darrious Hilmon on CAN-TV. Blakely discussed her work towards gender equity and creating stronger communities for all, as well as her personal journey towards leadership inspired by her mother.

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