Network News: October 2009
Welcome to the October Newsletter. This month the theme is Investing in Women to End Poverty and Violence. Join us for our Wake Up Wednesday Call tomorrow to learn how you can increase visibility for the work your fund is doing around poverty and violence.
Debunk the "Man-Cession" Myth This October! 
October marks both National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and World Poverty Day on October 17.
We have developed a suite of tools for members to use to raise visibility for the work they do to solve the complex, interconnected causes of poverty and violence against women, especially critical amid the current environment of economic uncertainty and public backlash against women.
Visit our page for women's funds, which includes images, facts to debunk the "man-cession" myth, sample op-eds and fundraising ideas and language!
What's at Stake for Women in Health Care Reform
On September 29, Women's Funding Network organized a second Webinar with experts in the field to give members an update on the U.S. health care reform legislation moving through Congress and to promote collective advocacy. Bills in both the House and Senate contain elements that will dramatically improve opportunities for more women and their families to have affordable and comprehensive health care than ever before. Advisors to both House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Barbara Mikulski anticipate committee work on the bills to be wrapped up by the middle of October. Women's funds can still have an impact in determining the final legislation!
Key provisions in health care reform bills related to women's health are:
- To remove discriminatory insurance policies like gender ratings, discriminations based on pre-existing conditions (including victims of domestic violence!)
- To ensure coverage of maternity services as an essential benefit category
- To reduce/eliminate cost-sharing for preventative services
- To ensure the inclusion of community health centers, women's health clinics as provider networks
- To require employers to require at minimum essential insurance coverage and/or to help employees afford essential coverage
Members throughout the Network can make a difference and bring important health care reform for women and girls by:
- Highlighting the work of your grantee partners who are doing advocacy efforts around health care reform, especially those led by women of color or working in low-income or communities of color.
- Educating members of your community and women you know what's at stake for women in the health care reform debate. Encourage them to contact their members of Congress to support the key provisions above.
- Spotlight the elements in the bills that will improve women's health and access to affordable care in legislative visits in your local community
For more on the latest on women and health care reform, check out yesterday's USA Today article: Health care bills tackle gender gap in coverage.
If you would like more information about the health care reform policy issues related to women's health and equity or would like ideas for taking action, please e-mail Amy Moy, Interim Director of Communications and Marketing, at amoy@womensfundingnetwork.org.
Click here to listen to an audio recording of the Webinar.
Highlight Your Fund's Work at the 2010 Conference
Last year, one of the most powerful and most positively reviewed workshops at our annual conference in Atlanta was Movement Building: Feminist Theory in Action, a workshop led and designed by the Ms. Foundation and the Women’s Foundation of California. This year, we want to repeat the success of member-led workshops so we are asking you to partner with us again in designing workshops that align with our 2009-2019 strategies and goals for the network: expanding our leadership, civic and philanthropic engagement and grantmaking to increase our investment, influence and impact as a collective movement.
Click here for the 2010 Conference Workshop RFP Form.
Please submit all completed workshop RFP forms to Nicole Regalado by October 30, 2009. Contact Nicole if you have any questions or need more information.
Women's Economic Security Campaign Launching Oct. 21
On the morning of October 21, the Women's Economic Security Campaign will officially launch with the public release of its first policy brief, Making Green Jobs Work for Women: The Key to Success in the New Economy. Member funds are invited to join policy makers, members of the media and strategic partner organizations in this exciting virtual launch! More details coming soon. In the meantime, you can sign on to join the campaign by e-mailing info@womenseconomicsecurity.org with "WESC Sign-up" in the subject line.
NEW Opportunity to Participate in Women, Faith and Poverty Initiative
As part of our 10-year commitment to dismantling poverty and building economic security for women and their families, Women's Funding Network is convening the 1st Annual Conference of the Women, Faith and Poverty Interfaith Collaborative January 26-27, 2010 at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas Texas.
"United by Faith: Building a Better Future for Women and Girls," will engage participants in discussions around economic security and freedom from violence for women and their families and create a shared policy agenda and action plan that will harness our collective assets to address the needs of women and their families. The convening will include presentations by inspirational experts in the field, discourse among leaders in the faith community and women's funding movement and identification of specific strategies to effectively impact public policy.
There is a NEW and exciting opportunity for 10 member funds who are currently engaged in or interested in forming an interfaith partnership to increase economic security and/or freedom from violence to participate in this exciting event with a partner from your local faith community. Registration fees will be waived and a travel stipend will be provided for the 10 member funds selected to participate in the convening.
If you would like to attend with a current or potential faith partner, please complete this brief online survey by October 30:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2Cm7nWvgcGaWZRPHLggHyQ_3d_3d.
For more information on the convening and collaborative, go to http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org/Women-Faith-and-Poverty-Initiative.
Join Women's Funding Network's Membership Committee
Women's Funding Network is looking for new members to join our Membership Committee. This year, the committee will provide input on Women's Funding Network's three-year implementation plan and strategies. If you would like to join the membership taskforce to continue this conversation, e-mail membership@womensfundingnetwork.org.
Member Spotlight: Global Fund and Southwest Pennsylvania Target G20
Kavita Ramdas and Heather Arnet recently collaborated to publish an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on the eve of the G20 meeting. Their combination regional and international expertise helped them make the case for putting women and girls at the center of a sustainable solution to the global economic crisis. "We can demand that our world leaders begin to respond to the overwhelming amount of data that points to the immediate and long-term economic gains of investing in the development, education and economic security of 60 percent of the world's work force." Read the full article!
New Census Data on Women, Poverty and Child Care
Women's funds are at the forefront of advocating for beneficial public policy as more families are struggling to access affordable, quality child care. The National Women's Law Center's newest study shows the majority of states that have changed their child care policies in the past year moved in the direction of reducing access and assistance. Changes included reduced reimbursement rates for providers, greater limits on eligibility, longer waiting lists, and increased parent co-payments.
The Women's Foundation of Colorado is fighting back by continuing to educate both the public and policy makers about the results of their Cliff Effect Study. The study researched by the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University showed women in Colorado are turning down raises, promotions, and overtime in order to avoid losing critical state support including child care subsidies. The Women's Foundation has partnered with the Junior League of Denver to reach more people throughout the state and is tracking the progress of the newly created Colorado Economic Opportunity and Poverty Reduction Task Force.
Click here to read the full report from the National Women's Law Center
Click here to read the Cliff Effect from the Women's Foundation of Colorado
And be sure to check out three new reports from the National Women's Law Center regarding the new census data's findings on women, poverty and health insurance:
Complete analysis of national poverty data
State-by-state chart of poverty rates for women, children, and men
State-by-state chart of women's insurance coverage rates
Free Member Services Opportunities
Visit the Member Services Calendar to learn about upcoming free learning opportunities.
Smart Growth© - Women's funds often grapple with unique organizational development opportunities and challenges. To take the mystery out of planning, Women's Funding Network offers Smart Growth: A Life Stage Model for Social Change Philanthropy. The model provides a road map for organizational growth and effectiveness. Click to watch an audiovisual presentation to learn more about Smart Growth. For more information, contact us by e-mail.
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 site. Go to the Jobs Page at the Women's Funding Network site to see the latest job openings at member funds.
