Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Women’s Economic Security Campaign (WESC)?

WESC began under the leadership of four women's funds -- the Chicago Foundation for Women, The Washington Area Women’s Foundation, the Women’s Foundation of California and the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis. In collaboration with Women's Funding Network, WESC works to increase opportunity for low-income women and their families, ensuring their struggles are at the center of the debate on improving the U.S. economy.

How was WESC created?

Each of the four funds that created WESC represents a distinct geographic area of the country with a particular focus on women’s economic security issues. Through their work with grantees, they came to understand that the problems faced by low-income women and their children need to be further elevated as policy makers and government leaders work toward long-term solutions to America's economic problems. Although there is much women's funds can do as individual foundations within their own communities, working together with a unified vision and goals will have a more powerful impact on the national debate.

What are WESC’s key priorities?

We focus our efforts in three primary areas:

1. Increasing awareness among policy makers, opinion leaders and the public about how policy affects women’s economic security.
2. Creating, strengthening and protecting policies and practices that support the ability of women and their children to achieve economic security.
3. Demonstrating the value of women’s funds in efforts to reduce poverty.

How does WESC differ from other anti-poverty initiatives that focus on women?

As women’s funds we play a unique role in our communities. Through our extensive connections as community leaders and funders, we have the ability to bring together experts and advocates from across the political spectrum, while harnessing the voices of women’s funds nationwide. Working in partnership with Women’s Funding Network, we facilitate advocacy campaigns and public education efforts among other women’s funds, linking the experiences of grantees and the women they serve to the national policy conversation on women’s economic security.

How can I become a member of WESC?

As a WESC member you have access to a host of resources that help you and your organization become important advocates for policies and programs aimed at low-income women and their families. These include regular conference calls updating you on federal policy developments; e-mail alerts offering steps and tools for taking quick action; and a variety of other opportunities focused on bringing the voices of women’s funds to the forefront of policy debate on women’s economic security.

For more information on WESC membership contact Ami Nagle, WESC national facilitator, via e-mail or by phone at 919-493-4393.