Dear Colleagues,
Women’s Funding Network (WFN) is proud to have contributed to Candid’s update of its Philanthropy Classification System (PCS). As the largest global network of gender equity funders, representing over 130 organizations investing $1.4 billion annually, WFN ensured our community was reflected in the tallying and sorting of data – a critical step in telling accurate and complete stories about our leadership.
Among other suggestions made in partnership with the CHANGE Philanthropy coalition, we advised Candid to reclassify “right to life” as “anti-abortion,” and to align it with other exclusionary terms like “Traditional Marriage.” We also suggested these terms move out of the “Human Rights” category, as they did not fit the OECD DAC standards.
WFN fights for creating a clearer, more detailed roadmap, to data because these changes help funders and policy makers understand where resources are needed to deepen impact. For example, these updates better highlight how investments in areas like affordable housing, eviction protection, gender-based violence, and childcare access drive gender equity. Finally, greater transparency in reproductive rights funding—delineating access to abortion, contraception, and postpartum care—ensures targeted support for these critical issues.
As we move into 2025, we know it will be even more important to ensure that bold and inclusive solutions are tracked and counted. We look forward to the work ahead with Candid and our community on this front. Thank you for championing these vital efforts. Together, we are reshaping philanthropy.
With gratitude and with warm wishes to you and yours,
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO