Women’s Funding Network research of funds and donors reveals a powerful constituency of interconnected movements, bold local leadership, and community-centered practice
SAN FRANCISCO — The Women’s Funding Network (WFN) released today Shared Values, Shared Practice, a new report demonstrating the measurable impact of deeply networked feminist philanthropy. For more than 40 years, WFN has shown what’s possible when philanthropy creates with community. The new data show how women’s funds and foundations are working together to leverage shared values to deliver systemic change.
Key findings from the report include:
- 93% of members agree that without racial justice, there can be no gender justice—demonstrating a unified vision for systemic change.
- Two-thirds of members with endowments invest through a gender lens, directing millions of dollars toward equitable impact.
- 75% of organizations actively advocate for local policy, influencing decisions that directly affect women, girls, gender-expansive people, families, and communities.
- Three-quarters of members practice trust-based or participatory grantmaking, channeling resources faster and more equitably despite limited capacity and size.
“WFN members mobilized millions of new dollars in rapid response to COVID-19, advocated for bodily autonomy at the state level, reframed care as a public good in their communities, and pioneered gender-lens investing practices that are now standard across the industry,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, President & CEO of WFN. “When strengthened by shared values and connected through legacy infrastructure like WFN, individual funders meet challenges with strategies that are stronger than the sum of their parts.”
Shared Values, Shared Practice is the second installment in WFN’s landscape study series. It reflects the power of members’ collective practices and invites new investment in the infrastructure hyper-local funders need to sustain their communities today and into the future.
The full report is available here.
About Women’s Funding Network
The Women’s Funding Network (WFN) is the world’s largest philanthropic alliance for gender justice, representing more than 130 women’s funds and foundations across 14 countries. Together, WFN members mobilize resources, amplify community-led solutions, and advance equity and justice globally.
For media inquiries, please contact:
info@womensfundingnetwork.org