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"Set your own agenda, or someone else will set it for you," says Melinda French Gates in this NYT op-ed about her next chapter - $1Bn for women and families. I'm so inspired by this powerful statement and commitment to women! 🎉 🎉 🎉 Not only is Melinda directly supporting organizations and programs for women, but she's also funding other women to invest in women - by giving several a $20 million dollar fund to grant out. 🤩 This backing of women to invest is not a new model in the philanthropy or venture ecosystems, but it is an underutilized one with significant potential. And this large commitment is shining a much-needed spotlight on it. 🔦 At Grapevine, we know that when women give, they tend to give to support women and girls. This is the most selected cause area of focus across all of our 1,100+ Giving Circle & Community Fund groups and their 70K+ individual members. 💕 I hope this is just the initial step of a much larger commitment from Melinda to back more women supporting women. From seeding many more women-directed funds, to seeding and matching donations from women-driven Giving Circles, Community Funds, and more. 🚀 This will help fuel the work of these women and amplify their impact, which often goes far beyond just giving, to include volunteering, advocating, and serving critical and underfunded organizations in their local communities. 🔥 And as Melinda said: "Decades of research on economics, well-being and governance make it clear that investing in women and girls benefits everyone." If you care about making an impact, this is a model to explore. 🤓 We're with you Melinda! And we're excited to see you, and the others that you inspire, continue to lean into innovative methods and channels to invest in women who are investing in women & girls in their communities, all across the country! ✨ #GivingCircles #GrapevineGiving #CommunityFunds #Philanthropy #Women

As a passionate advocate for gender equality and women's health, I'm delighted with this groundbreaking announcement. Yesterday, Melinda French Gates announced a $1 billion commitment through 2026 to advance women’s power globally. This investment comes at a critical time when women's rights face significant challenges. Melinda's focus on health and wellbeing underscores her belief that health is crucial for women to realise their full potential in society. This $1B commitment will include the following grants: 1. $200 million in grants to U.S. organisations fighting for women's rights, including reproductive freedom. 2. $240 million to 12 global leaders, each with a $20 million fund to support innovative work improving women's health and wellbeing. 3. $250 million through an open call with Lever for Change, targeting organisations enhancing women's mental and physical health worldwide. Melinda stated, "For too long, a lack of money has forced organisations fighting for women's rights into a defensive posture while the enemies of progress play offense. I want to help even the match." This commitment by Melinda French Gates and the Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation is a monumental step towards gender equality and empowering women worldwide. https://lnkd.in/e_QjP3tF #WomensHealth #GenderEquality #HealthcareAdvocacy Pivotal Ventures

More women work in nonprofits; so why do men end up leading them? This is the title of a necessary article that Harvard Business Review just put out. It is easy to see that the nonprofit and NGO workspace - at least in Europe and the USA - is heavily women-dominated. And anecdotally, I have watched the manager and leadership ranks becoming more populated by women over the last 10 years or so. But -- also anecdotally -- I noticed how the large CSOs tend to be an exception to this trend. This important article, by Cathleen Clerkin, PhD at Candid, the US data clearing house (among others) for nonprofits, offers us the numbers. These indicate that my gut-sense was right. More work to be done, US civil society! This is not right - and not aligned with our espoused norms. https://lnkd.in/eYw_EYQN. hashtag #genderatwork #nonprofits

More women work in nonprofits; so why do men end up leading them? This is the title of a much needed article that Harvard Business Review just put out. It is easy to see that the nonprofit and NGO workspace - at least in Europe and the USA - is heavily women-dominated. And anecdotally, I have watched the manager and leadership ranks becoming more populated by women over the last 10 years or so. But -- also anecdotally -- I noticed how the large CSOs tend to be an exception to this trend. This important article, by Cathleen Clerkin, PhD at Candid, the US data clearing house (among others) for nonprofits, offers us the numbers. These indicate that my gut-sense was right. More work to be done, US civil society! This is not right - and not aligned with our espoused norms. https://lnkd.in/eYw_EYQN. #genderatwork #nonprofits

The fight for women's rights in the United States is a testament to resilience, determination, and progress. From the suffragettes of the early 20th century, who bravely marched and lobbied for the right to vote, to the trailblazers of the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s, each generation has taken bold steps toward equality. Yet, even today, many women and girls still face significant barriers; limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities that prevent them from reaching their full potential. These challenges are particularly acute in underserved communities, where the struggle for basic rights and resources continues. But history has shown us that change is possible. Just as the suffragettes and activists before us broke down barriers, we too can make a difference. By investing in the education and empowerment of women and girls, we create ripple effects that uplift families, communities, and entire nations. But how are you helping? #EmpowerHer #WomenInLeadership #RUOVAConsulting #grantwriting #fundraising

It's International Women's Day! I always mark this day remembering how very women-run this industry is: 75% of nonprofit staff identify as women, according to the American Association of University Women. Unfortunately, we've still got a long way to go before we are a women-led industry: “only 42% of nonprofit boards are led by women and only 22% of nonprofits are run by a woman Executive Director/CEO” (AAUW, 2018). We can do better. On the gender-equity front, and every other equity front. Here's a starter article from Candid on what you can do to create better gender equity at your nonprofit: https://lnkd.in/euGAhM-F For more robust discussions on equity in our sector, I follow https://lnkd.in/e4AUeSs7 Drop links for others you follow so we can all make sure we're prioritizing equity in this unique, messy, amazing, flawed, and crucial social impact sector of ours.

Despite their growing presence, women's rights and feminist organizations receive a disproportionately small share of funding across financial sources such as governmental development assistance, foundation grants, and private donor contributions. This is especially true for direct funding to support women's political leadership, which remains a fraction of already limited resources. Funded by the Open Society Foundations, research by the Panorama Strategy team uncovers the critical need for resources in this area, particularly in the Global South. As a record number of countries prepare for national elections this year, read our report to explore the insights and concrete recommendations that can drive meaningful change: https://bit.ly/49Qbnl3 #Philanthropy #WomenInPolitics #WomeninLeadership #SocialImpact

Less than two percent of philanthropic support is given to organizations supporting women and girls.  So, what does that mean for WFO? It means that there is a big gap for us to fill if we ever want organizations that are serving women and girls to have equitable financial support.  It means that the work and the role that WFO plays is critical to gender equity and justice. Lastly, it also means we can't do it alone.  So, today, on this very important day; let's honor "Give to Women and Girl's Day" by becoming a member of WFO and collectively addressing this funding gap. Today, let's also talk the two percent, with our friends and family and encourage them to also become members.    Click link below to become a member: https://lnkd.in/gW9Gj5Gi #Oregon #GivetoWomenandGirlsDay #GenderJustice #GenderWarriors #WomensFoundationofOregon #WomeninPhilanthropy

Did you know that only 1.8% of all US philanthropic dollars currently go to women's and girls' organizations? The inaugural Giving List Women is shining a spotlight on 48 nonprofits working towards building equity, compassion, and justice for all, including the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF). The IWMF is proud to be featured alongside other impactful organizations championing women and girls through innovative and disruptive work at local, national, and global levels. Our mission at the IWMF is to empower women and nonbinary journalists with training, opportunities, and support to become leaders in the news industry. We're committed to promoting diverse voices, stories, and perspectives in global news media, addressing the stark imbalance where men dominate 70-85% of news headlines. The Giving List Women, was released in May 2024, aiming to increase the share of philanthropic dollars directed towards organizations focusing on women and girls. This publication is a crucial step in recognizing and supporting the vital work being done to advance gender equity in various fields, including journalism. We invite you to learn more about the IWMF and the other featured organizations here: https://lnkd.in/eEV3kkiT Together, we can work towards a more equitable and representative media landscape. #WomenInJournalism #GenderEquity #GivingListWomen #IWMF

🌟 I'm excited to share the release of our latest report on the critical need to fund #womenspoliticalleadership in the Global South! There is an acute lack of funding, especially to directly fund women and women-led and feminist organizations, especially those from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. 🌍 📈 Dive into the data and recommendations, and join the conversation about advancing gender equality in politics. Download to learn more! https://bit.ly/49Qbnl3 #WomenInLeadership #PoliticalLeadership #GenderEquality #NewReport