This highlights paper summarizes six recent reports about the impact, investment practices and values of women's funds. This significant body of evidence, collected over the period 2006-2009, shows a remarkable commonality in findings, and makes a compelling case for the distinctive and valuable role of women’s funds in accelerating social justice.

Click here to download the highlights paper (PDF)

To understand the increased inclusion and role of women within philanthropy, the Foundation Center partnered with the Women’s Funding Network to chart the current landscape of philanthropy focused on women and girls and document the specific role played by women’s funds.

The Women's Foundation of California's Elder Women’s Initiative was launched in 2008 to build a movement led by elder women and their allies to address budget crises and cuts to programs in face of the ongoing recession and gene

This mapping project documents a representative cross-section of U.S.-based women’s funds and their grantees, and provides a better understanding of the efforts and significance of women’s funds, organizations and programs, in organizing and mobilizing people and resources in support of progressive social change.

Download and read the full report here (PDF)

Wherever you are in the world, women and children make up the majority of those living in poverty.

Economic stability of women and families is critical to ensuring safety in our world. Investing in women helps to rebuild the vitality and safety of communities through economic development and entrepreneurial opportunities provided for women and their families. Economic empowerment for women is a sustainable solution to counter our U.S. and global development challenges.

A comprehensive report on the leadership of women in the Gulf Coast as well as the challenges they continue to face as they work together for a just and fair society in the aftermath of the hurricanes of 2005.

A group of 45 women from women’s funds and from Jewish, Christian and Muslim women’s organizations set a history-making mark in transforming relationships between women, faith and philanthropy. These 45 women participated in a national conversation that brought transformative thinking on forming partnerships for philanthropic and inter-religious collaboration to bring about changes to social order and to dismantle poverty.

The New Wealth, Women & Philanthropy report provides:

• Insight into how new wealth donors view philanthropy and women’s issues and what drives them to get involved;
• Specific language to use when creating your targeted message to these donors;
• A process for designing a creative brief that will enhance your marketing.