Dear Colleagues,
The importance of the women’s funding community could not be more crucial than this moment. You are the connective tissue between local, state, and federal policy issues, and you sit at the intersection of philanthropy and action. You approach policy reforms with a nonpartisan, data informed lens, that centers the unique experiences of women and girls of color.
Together, WFN members move more than $400 million in grants to local communities per year – making our alliance one of the largest investors of gender and racial equity and justice in the U.S. WFN members across the country – and indeed, across the world – are pioneers of best practices and policy solutions that are directly centered on the needs of our most marginalized communities. You create a space where ideas are created, tested, and championed.
We are honored to continue our work with you on building back better systems that center the unique voices and experiences of girls and women of color. You’re not just advocates, you’re practitioners of equality. You use creative solutions to reimagine new systems. You design models that are unique to your demographic and regional landscapes so that girls and women can thrive. While you each have unique approaches to the issues, three top policy priorities have emerged:
- Reimagining our broken childcare system
- Women’s Economic Recovery: From SHEcession to SHEcovery™
- Investing in the leadership of girls and young women of color
What you hear and see in your community matters. We welcome the opportunity to create space at the highest levels of government to underscore the need for comprehensive policy reform and highlight your efforts both in the U.S. context and internationally.
Thank you for joining us in our call to philanthropy to scale their investments for girls and women of color to match the size of the challenge, and the strength of the leadership at hand. By working together, we can create a future where all can thrive.
In solidarity,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO