We Passed Our Goal -- Women Moving Millions Raises $176 Million!

We are thrilled to announce that Women Moving Millions, the historic campaign launched by Swanee and Helen LaKelly Hunt in partnership with our Network, has garnered astounding results – generating $176 million and far exceeding our original campaign goal of $150 million.

This groundbreaking initiative drew 100 women and men from the United States and around the world, who each committed $1 million or more to the 41 funds from our Network who participated in the campaign.

With the influx of major resources from this campaign, our work on behalf of communities all over the globe will be amplified and scaled up.

And we won’t stop here. Indeed, we are focused on continuing and accelerating the momentum of the campaign through three incredible fundraising engines:

• One, the core campaign, Women Moving Millions, will continue! We are inviting more donors who give a million dollars and above to join our community of dedicated donor visionaries.
• Two, Millions Moving Women will empower groups of committed women to collectively raise million dollar gifts for women’s funds. 
• And three, Men Moving Millions will further unleash men’s philanthropy in support of women’s funds.

We hope that many more funds will jump on at least one of these engines in this next phase of the campaign. Stay tuned for more exciting news about Women Moving Millions!

Read the press release and latest news! Press Release | NPR Coverage | Wall Street Journal Article | Seattle Times

Conference 2009 Highlights and Thank You to Participants

The Women’s Funding Network would like to extend our thanks to everyone who attended Conference 2009, Investing in Women: Worldwide Return. This year, despite challenging economic times, over 330 women from around the world came together for three inspiring days of workshops, networking, discussion and celebration.

Atlanta, a city known for women’s leadership, was the perfect backdrop to inspire conference participants. Barbara Mosacchio, CEO of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation and Lynn Huntley, the President of the Sothern Education Foundation welcomed participants to Atlanta and launched the 25th Annual Women’s Funding Network Conference. Historic Spelman College was the location of our opening reception hosted by the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, and we learned about how Atlanta’s women organized to protect girls from child prostitution.

Highlights from conference:

• Dynamic workshop sessions that covered financial planning, positioning the expertise of women’s funds, advocacy models for building economic security, succession planning, donor stewardship, successful blogging, board leadership and more.
• A multi-generational panel of discussants that focused on the future of the women’s funding movement and the next era of women’s leadership.
• Saturday summit on women and the economy that explored how women are the key to economic security that featured New York Time’s columnist Nicholas Kristof, Yassine Fall, UNIFEM, Maya Rockeymoore, Global Policy Solutions and other thought leaders. 
• Celebration around the 25th Women’s Funding Network Annual Conference, as well as the culmination of the groundbreaking Women Moving Millions Campaign that has reached and exceeded its goal of raising $150 million for women and girls around the world.

It was a great conference, and we look forward to building on the conversation and ideas that were sparked in Atlanta. Be sure to join us next year in Denver, Colorado for Conference 2010: April 22-24, 2010.

We are also pleased to announce two prizewinners in our Southwest Airlines Giveaways to travel to Denver in 2010: Linda Post Bushkofsky of the Women of the ELCA and Michelle Gray from the Women's Fund of Hawaii. Southwest Airlines is now the Official Airline of Women's Funding Network and we celebrate our partnership to make a difference in the lives of women and girls everywhere.

Conference Materials and Photos Now Available

To find PowerPoints, handouts and other materials presented at our conference sessions, please go to our Conference Materials page.

Conference photos are now available! Please go to our Conference 2009 Photos website to view pictures of our speakers, conference attendees and other special moments from conference. Please leave us your comments in the “Guest Book” and add your website to our “Favorite Sites” list to the left of the photos.

The She Change Launches

The Women’s Funding Network group blog is now live. The She Change is a platform for members of the Women’s Funding Network to voice their opinions on current issues, highlight the work that they are doing and funding, and share new and innovative ideas and advice.

You can also check the blog for the latest headlines on women and poverty from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. Click here for the latest news feed. Please send any postings you want up to Marcel Reynolds.

Free Member Services Offered in May

For information on all upcoming member learning opportunities, please go to our Member Services Calendar!

Introduction to MAKING THE CASE™ - Wednesday, May 13, 2009 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. In this one hour webinar you will learn about the evaluation framework and online database called MAKING THE CASE™. For more information and to register contact us by e-mail at membership@wfnet.org.

Surviving Economic Challenges - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 from 8:00AM to 9:00AM. Learn how the benefits of your membership to Women's Funding Network will provide you tangible services and expertise. Facilitators: Amy Zucchero and Sherrie Prasad, Women’s Funding Network.
For more information and to register contact us by e-mail at membership@wfnet.org.

Distance Learning Webinar: Financial Leadership in Challenging Times – Part II - Thursday, May 21, 2009 from 8:00AM to 9:00AM. This Webinar is open to people participating in the May 1st financial leadership conference workshop. Facilitated by Elizabeth Schaffer, Chief Financial Officer, Women’s Funding Network. For more information and to register contact us by e-mail at membership@wfnet.org.

Two Upcoming Executive Director Retreats

Women's Funding Network is hosting a special executive director retreat for leaders of small and emerging funds in Abiquiu, New Mexico, July 20-22, 2009, and a special executive director retreat for leaders of mid-sized funds in Abiquiu, New Mexico, July 22-24, 2009.

Retreats provide a unique space for peers to gather for reflection, networking, skill-building and visioning. Click here for more information, and for additional information about participation criteria and logistics contact Amy Zucchero at azucchero@wfnet.org.

New Home for Women’s Funding Network

The Women’s Funding Network is moving to a new office. Beginning May 26, our new location will be 505 Sansome Street, Second Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111. Our phone number, (415) 441-0706, and our fax number, (415) 441-0827, will remain the same.

Stop by and see us at our new location, our first day in the new office with be Wednesday, May 27, 2009. We also have a new web URL; please visit our website, now at www.womensfundingnetwork.org.

Women’s Philanthropy in the News

For the latest articles and news from women’s funds, go to our News Page.
• Chronicle of Philanthropy article highlights planned giving, read the full article here.

Job Openings and Upcoming Events at Women's Funds

Learn about events you can support and attend by going to our Events Page at the Women's Funding Network website. Go to the Jobs Page at the Women's Funding Network website to see the latest job openings at member funds.