Network News: May 2010

Over 350 visionaries gathered in Denver last month for the 2010 Women's Funding Network's Conference to Seize the Moment for increasing our investments, influence, and impact to create a more secure world. There was an amazing energy to conversations started in Denver around inclusion, impact, and economic security.

Women's Funding Network is committed to building on this momentum and continuing these conversations through our newsletters, Webinars, programs and more. Join and contribute to these conversations through the articles and links below.

Webinar Tomorrow on Removing Barriers for Women's Employment

What are the crucial steps to economic recovery for low-income women? The new policy brief just released by the Women's Economic Security Campaign (WESC) reviews public and private efforts that are successfully helping women to gain new skills and move into jobs. Join WESC hosts this Wednesday to hear the highlights and learn about next steps.

When: Wednesday, May 5, 10:00 - 11:00 AM PT/11-Noon MT/Noon-1:00 PM CT/1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT

Find more information and RSVP at www2.gotomeeting.com/register/190461042.

Women Moving Millions: Ready for Phase II

In phase I of the Women Moving Millions campaign over $180 million dollars were raised! Now, with the help of our members, a bold new phase is being designed. Twenty funds have committed to raise one or more gifts by December 2014. To find out how you can join, contact Women Moving Millions Development Manager, Lucy G. Kryuchkova, at 415.400.2228 or via e-mail.

What Will An Inclusive Movement Look Like?

Join our brand new cohort for deep conversations about power, privilege, and how to strengthen inclusion in women's funds and at the network level. The cohort will launch in June 2010 and will last for six months. For more information, please e-mail Amy Zucchero at azucchero@womensfundingnetwork.org .

We will also be launching a new reading group on May 17. Join this group to read interesting materials about inclusion and discuss them with your peers. Visit http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org/the-network/groups/inclusion-initiative to sign up. If you already have a login you are already a member of the group and can access it by logging into www.womensfundingnetwork.org and choosing Inclusion Initiative from the menu under The Network. If you do not have a login, go to http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org/user/register to register. Then send a quick e-mail with your Username to mreynolds@wfnet.org so you can be subscribed to the group. Please note that our site works best when viewed in Mozilla Firefox.

Continuing the Discussions on Strategic Partnerships

During the closing plenary "United in Purpose: A Cross-Sector Stakeholders Exchange" we heard from a range of players from the U.S. and around the globe who provided honest feedback to the women's funding movement regarding:

• Whether or not we are at the tables of influence that are important
• What it will take for women’s funds to get to those tables in meaningful ways
• How women's funds can expand our own influence and resources

Several challenges were issued to women’s funds during this session, for example the speakers urged women's funds to:

• Commit to a joint agenda through which we can exert real power on decision-making
• Engage those coming into the women and girls space by educating
  them and guiding them towards the important issues that need to be
  addressed

Please join us in continuing the conversation on Strategic Partnerships on one of our two upcoming calls. The call is being held twice to accommodate varying time zones.

Tuesday, May 25, 7:00 a.m. PST/10:00 a.m. EST and Tuesday, May 25, 12:00 p.m. PST/ 3:00 p.m. EST

For more information or to RSVP for this call e-mail Nancy Wan or call 415-441-0706.

Sponsors Help Make the 2010 Conference a Huge Success!

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors for your partnership in making this conference a huge success. Thank you to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Embrey Family Foundation, Harold and Kayrita Anderson Family Foundation, Southwest Airlines, African Women's Development Fund, American Express Travel, Goldman Sachs, Ms. Foundation for Women, New York Women's Foundation and the California Wellness Foundation.

Congratulations to Veronica Marques from Elas-Fundo de Investimentos Social based in Rio De Janiero, Brazil for winning the American Express Travel "Gift of Travel" valued at $2,000 USD! Thank you to our partner American Express Travel for its support that will help further the work and mission of our member women's funds across the globe.

Thanks also to Southwest Airlines for continuing its partnership to build connections among all of our women's funds and help increase strategic investment in women and girls across the U.S. and world. We are also pleased to award 2 roundtrip airline tickets to Nicky McIntyre of Mama Cash provided by Southwest Airlines.

Renew Your 2010 Membership to Women's Funding Network Online

Renew your membership today to access the wide variety of capacity building opportunities available to you in 2010. If you have questions about membership dues or Women's Funding Network opportunities, please contact Nicole Regalado, Network Relations Manager, or call 415-441-0706.

Women's Funding Network Welcomes Five New Members!

Please join us in the welcoming the newest members of the Women's Funding Network:

• Daphne Foundation (New York, USA)
• Jewish Women's Foundation of Broward County (Florida, USA)
• National Council of United Churches of Christ in the USA, Women's Ministry (New York, USA)
• PRBB Foundation (Montana, USA)
• Urgent Action Fund for Human Rights - Latin America (Bogota, Colombia)

Member Liaisons: Improving Our Service to You

To better support our growing membership, we will be providing a liaison for each member. Now, instead of wondering whom to contact at the Women's Funding Network, you will have a dedicated contact person. Please look for an introductory e-mail very soon from your liaison.

View Our 2009 Audit Online!

The Women's Funding Network 2009 financial audit is available for download at http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org/resources/financialreports.