The first women's fund was the Ms. Foundation
established in the early 70’s. Ms. has since then given away about
$40 million to organizations run by and for women. Ms. incorporated the
idea of social change philanthropy into their work. This model is inclusive and widens the pool of donors to include greater class and
ethnic diversity. It also involves women who are experiencing the problem in the solution.
Women in communities across the United States and
Canada are joining the women’s fund movement.
In a women’s fund,
women raise the dollars and decide how they will be spent. In a women’s
fund, women at every economic level learn that they, too, can be givers.
Women who are closest to the problem – women of color, and others who
experience the issues first-hand, become involved in the solutions.
Women are making philanthropy a tool for progressive social change, for
developing women’s leadership, and for making a difference.
Women
donors are also powerful: women are responsible for 50% of invested
dollars. Women volunteer more often than men, and studies show that
volunteers are twice as generous as people who do not get involved.
There are now over 100 women’s funds across the country in which women
are raising the money and deciding how it should be used while involving
the women to whom these programs will be directed. It is less
“them and us" and more “we are in this thing together”.
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inclusive and widens the pool of donors to include greater class and
ethnic diversity. It also involves women who are experiencing the problem in the solution.
Women in communities across the United States and
Canada are joining the women’s fund movement.