Join us for light breakfast, coffee and tea, and an early start to meeting your peers.

We kick off our Second Annual Member Day joining Kathy LeMay in welcoming new members to our growing community and the movement to put women at the center of changing the world.

Recognizing the level of commitment required for us to speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences – good and bad – takes courage. Our members will share the good, the bad (and hopefully not too ugly!) experience of participating in the WMM Philanthropic Leadership Curriculum Pilot.

We gather in small groups to enjoy a meal together and a facilitated table-wide conversation with each member sharing: “What is the most meaningful gift you’ve ever received?”

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the headquarters for the BMGF’s work to reduce inequities in the United States and around the world. The campus features environmentally-responsible design, world-class art, and a state-of-the-art visitor center.

In small groups, you’ll help each other explore a leadership challenge one designated member of your group is grappling with. The Critical Friends Protocol, developed at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, focuses on developing collegial relationships and rethinking leadership. This is a chance to solicit and provide feedback that promotes reflective learning. Barbara Jones has participated in numerous rounds of the Critical Friends Protocol and will help guide you through the process along with Tracy Mack Parker.

Reveal deep-seeded beliefs without having to say a word. In this session, we’ll ask a series of thought-provoking questions and invite you to vote with your body.

Women speaking up for themselves and those around them is the strongest force we have to change the world. But how do we get there? Even for one of the world’s most influential philanthropists, amplifying one’s voice and embracing visibility takes courage and conviction. In this intimate conversation, Melinda Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will connect with Isha Sesay, Journalist, Anchor & Correspondent, CNN International and Founder, W.E. Can Lead, to share how she is tapping into her philanthropic voice to help lead one of the greatest movements of our time. Introduction by Jacki Zehner.

We close with members reflecting on top takeaways from the day and setting intentions for next steps on how to move forward on your learning and leadership journey. Jessica Houssian and Tracy Mack Parker share what we’ve learned from the pilot and where the WMM Leadership Curriculum is heading.We close with members reflecting on top takeaways from the day and setting intentions for next steps on how to move forward on your learning and leadership journey. Jessica Houssian and Tracy Mack Parker share what we’ve learned from the pilot and where the WMM Leadership Curriculum is heading.

Members, partners, and invited guests gather to connect with our friends from the Women’s Funding Network. Featured speakers include Jennifer Alcorn, Senior Program Officer, Innovative Donor Models and Gates Philanthropy Partners, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Carol Andreae, Board of Directors, Women’s Funding Network and WMM; Cynthia Nimmo, CEO, Women’s Funding Network; and Mona Sinha, Board of Directors, WMM.

Let’s get started with brief attendee introductions, framing of the day, and polling by Summit facilitator Lisa Witter, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Apolitical.

Welcome by Ann Lovell, outgoing Board Chair, WMM. Passing of the baton to Mona Sinha, incoming Board Chair. Remarks by Interim Executive Director, Kathy LeMay.

Each survivor has a story. With every story shared there is the potential to reach new audiences, mobilize resources, and drive critical social change. Bringing the power of courage to life, these three survivors have channeled their personal experiences into lives of activism. Panelists include Jennifer Fox, Emmy Award® Nominated Film Producer, Director & President, Zohe Film Productions; Veronika Scott, CEO & Founder, The Empowerment Plan; and Yehudit Zicklin-Sidikman, Founder & CEO, El HaLev and Member, WMM. Moderated by Shaun Robinson, Journalist, Founder, S.H.A.U.N Foundation for Girls and Member, WMM. Introduction by Kimberly Agnew, Board of Directors, WMM.

Growing up as a gay black child of a 16-year-old mother and 15-year-old father who were impacted by economic disparities, author, activist, and social commentator Darnell L. Moore will share his deeply personal story of growing up in a culture of racism and homophobia. Darnell speaks about the most pervasive violence often faced by gay black men—the “violence of erasure”. In this courage talk, he will speak about being forced to choose between safety and identity and the road he has traveled to be visible and less alone, and what we can do as accomplices in the work of transformative justice. Introduction by Maria Núñez, Board of Directors, WMM.

Time for a quick temperature check around the room using polling technology. Facilitated by Lisa Witter.

Philanthropists play a key role in shaping and determining which programs and priorities get funded. How do we understand our role in the bigger ecosystem, and how are we held accountable? What happens when we take the time and have the courage to reflect and ask ourselves the tough questions and challenge ‘business as usual’? What would those questions be, and how would they impact the way in which we view and engage in philanthropy? What are we willing to risk to help those who’ve been left out or left behind? Explore the courage of reflection with panelists who discuss how rigor, innovation, empathy, and humility guided their philosophy on how to do things better, faster, and together. Moderated by Pam Scott, Founder, The Curious Company and Member, WMM. Panelists include Katherine Hay, Deputy Director, Gender Equality, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Haven Ley, Senior Director, Program Strategy, Pivotal Ventures; Mauricio Lin Miller, Founder, Family Independence Initiative; and Jessamyn Shams, Executive Director, Peery Foundation. Introduction by Jennifer Alcorn, Senior Program Officer, Innovative Donor Models and Gates Philanthropy Partners, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Through her work as an Emmy Award® and Academy Award® Winning Documentary Film Director, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy shares stories of courage and amplifies voices in societies that are often silenced. You will experience what marginalized communities go through as they battle daily to secure rights and livelihoods. Sharmeen’s stories highlight the bravery of people on the frontlines who live difficult lives, and how they replace fear and adversity with tenacity, determination, and grit. These stories of courage will inspire you to unleash your own courage in changing lives. Introduction by Elizabeth CarlockPhillips, Board of Directors, WMM.

Fresh off of its world premiere at the Tony Award® Winning Williamstown Theatre Festival, composer Matt Gould and star Eden Espinosa (WICKED, RENT) share the songs and story from the new musical LEMPICKA. Inspired by the life of an artist who transformed herself from penniless refugee to star of the art world when the world itself teetered on chaos, LEMPICKA looks at the beauty and danger of one woman pursuing it all. Introduction by Jana Shea, Board of Directors, WMM.

What is possible when an entire country is invited to rise up together for gender equality? In 2017, Canadian Minister of International Development, The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, launched the world’s first Feminist International Assistance Policy to, in her words, “make Canada a global leader in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.” In May, together with three Canadian feminist leaders, Minister Bibeau launched an unprecedented equality funding initiative, committing up to $300 million for grassroots and feminist movements around the world. In this groundbreaking collaboration, these women are calling their country to action: The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development; Sophie Gupta, Principal, Yaletown Partners and Member, WMM; Jessica Houssian, Senior Advisor, WMM; and Jess Tomlin, CEO, The Match International Women’s Fund. Moderated by Lisa Witter, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Apolitical. Introduction by Jacquie Lovelock, Wealth Advisor, TD Wealth; Jo-Anne Ryan, Vice President, Philanthropy, TD Wealth; and Mandy Sa, Wealth Advisor, TD Wealth.

In this historic #MeToo moment, when women from Hollywood to Main Street are reaching across the lines of race and class to lift each other up, many women in philanthropy are making moves to do the same. How and why is shared power among women of color and white women critical to the success of all movements? What does it look like for white women to step back and share power and leadership with women of color? Join Vanessa Daniel, Executive Director, Groundswell Fund, and Lauren Embrey, Philanthropic Visionary, Embrey Family Foundation and Founding Board Member, WMM, in a hopeful conversation about what is working and what is possible to achieve for our collective future. Introduction by Sapphira Goradia, Board of Directors, WMM.

Krista Tippett brings her legendary skills to the Summit with these two trailblazers. Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion, Abby Wambach, and Author, Activist, and Radical Philanthropist, Glennon Doyle, met on a book tour and married one year later. Abby and Glennon celebrate the power of storytelling and moving toward our history and pain to create a better future for all. Remarks by Elaine Martyn, Vice President and Managing Director, Private Donor Group, Fidelity Charitable.

What have been your ‘A-HA’ moments? This is your time to express what’s on your mind. Facilitated by Lisa Witter.

Enjoy the connections and friendships you’ve forged today at an intimate dinner.

Welcome to Day Two. You’re fueled and ready to be led by our guide, Lisa Witter. Today you’ll hear from activist leaders who will expand your thinking about living a courageous life. Plus, you’ll discover a seemingly unlikely partnership that can transform the future for women, girls, and our climate.

Our actions and accomplishments are only as powerful as the visions of justice we hold. Courage gives us the energy to become active and move forward on the journey, justice chooses the path we take on that journey. Courage without justice can be just a “feel good” activity, while justice without courage becomes a moment of silence. Together, they are the fire that brand the change to create a new world. Chris Grumm, Co-Founder, WMM Campaign and Founder, Chris Grumm Consulting Group, will explore the interchange between these two. Introduction by Jessica Houssian, Senior Advisor, WMM.

While it can be difficult to pinpoint when a movement begins or the direction in which it is headed, we are acutely aware when a moment of a movement unfolds: #MeToo, Time’s Up, and Resistance. How do you leverage a moment to catapult forward a movement? How do you invite others to join? What does it take to keep the world’s attention on the movement after a moment has had its day in the sun? You will hear from some of the top activists in the world who invite you to help transform the moments of movements. Panelists include Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan, Associate Counsel, Latino Justice, PRLDEF; Gary Barker, Founder & Executive Director, Promundo; Samantha Fuentes, Survivor & Activist; and Saru Jayaraman, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. Moderated by Kathy LeMay, Founder & CEO, Raising Change and Interim Executive Director, WMM. Introduction by Annie Liu, Vice President and Regional Market Executive, Charles Schwab.

Young people and future generations have the most at stake in the climate crisis, yet their voices, which are loud, abundant, and stern, are often dismissed. As girls and young women of all genders comprise the majority of youth activists in climate struggles, they face – and persevere through – unique challenges and obstacles to bolster their participation and leadership. What does the landscape of girl-led climate action in the United States look like, and what strategies and actions – such as civic engagement, grassroots organizing, and even suing the federal government –have been most successful? What do young women and girls need to strengthen their leadership and sustain their activism, and what is philanthropy’s support role? Listen to the experiences and perspectives of three courageous young climate justice leaders: Jasilyn Charger, Youth Organizer and Founder, InternationalIndigenous Youth Council; Jamie Margolin, Founder, Zero Hour; and SarraTekola, Co-Founder, Women of Color Speak Out. Moderated by Erin Rogers, Program Officer, Environment, William + Flora Hewlett Foundation. Introduction by Jane Breyer, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Energy Foundation.

Hear from WMM leadership as we map the future of Women Moving Millions and invite your participation in shaping the global women’s philanthropic blueprint.

Each workshop presenter will share a preview of what’s to come and invite you to join them. From there, it’s up to you!

Workshop 1: Understanding Gender and Its Impact on Social Issues
This workshop explores what we know about gender lens investing and its impact on all of our giving. What does it look like to apply a gender lens to all the areas we fund: education? climate change? racial justice? Join this participatory workshop that will help take a deep dive into your understanding of gender, explore key gender concepts, and map how you can apply a critical gender lens to all of your philanthropy. Workshop facilitators include Kristen Envarli, Senior Program Manager, Gender Equality, Stanford University; Sarah Henry, Director, Global Programs and Executive Director, Gender Equality Center of Excellence, Stanford University; Lucero Quiroga, Senior Gender Equality Consultant; and Pam Scott, Founder, The Curious Company and Member, WMM.

Workshop 2: Public Narrative: Introduction to Story of Self, Us and Now
Public Narrative is “a leadership craft through which we translate values into action.” The Public Narrative model, originally developed by renowned community organizer and Harvard Kennedy School lecturer Dr. Marshall Ganz, is rooted in decades of organizing experience, and informed by insights from social science and teaching in diverse contexts. It has been widely applied in the U.S. and globally in support of change efforts on issues such as healthcare, arts education, climate change, and immigration reform. It is a powerful relational tool that supports the development of authentic community relationships. Because it engages the “head” and the “heart,” narrative can instruct and inspire—teaching us not only why we should act, but moving us to act. Through narrative, we learn how to make choices in response to challenges of an uncertain world—as individuals, as communities, and as nations. Responding to urgent challenges adaptively requires drawing on sources of hope to beat fear, empathy to beat alienation, and self-worth to beat self-doubt. Each participant will learn to tell their own story (a story of self), and will learn the framework of how to also tell stories of us and now. This session will be taught by Sarah ElRaheb, an arts educator, coach, and Senior Public Narrative Trainer at Harvard Kennedy School, who has been doing and developing this work alongside Marshall since 2015.

Workshop 3: Understanding and Combating Hatred
This workshop will lead participants through an exploration of the relationship between communication and conflict: how do the two interact, and what role does communication play in identity-based violence? Questions answered include why people come to accept – and even participate in – targeting based on identities, whether through discrimination or even violence. And what can we do to combat the hatred and division spreading through our communities? Your facilitators will be Rachel Brown, Executive Director, Over Zero, and Sally Smith, Executive Director, The Nexus Fund, both of which have on-the ground experience, work on genocide and atrocity prevention and peacebuilding, and share decades of learning and cutting-edge research from diverse fields such as marketing, neuroscience, human-centered design, and social psychology.

Workshop 4: Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD): A Feminist Movement Whose Time Has Come
Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) grew out of the feminist movement. It has been crafted over the past five decades by women with backgrounds in psychology, social work, sociology, education, and martial arts. It is based on a deep analysis of the types of violence women and children are most likely to encounter. Understanding the anatomy of gender-based violence is only a beginning. ESD is a holistic system of tools and techniques for recognizing violent behavior as it begins to become apparent, and what to do as the threat level increases. It is about understanding our rights to make decisions about our own bodies (self-efficacy), how to set and maintain boundaries (verbal strategies), and the physical techniques to escape and defend. Research in the US and Kenya shows that women who learn self-defense skills, a violence prevention protocol, are half as likely to experience sexual violence. Yet while individual programs have shown efficacy, the majority of women around the world don’t have access to high-quality self-defense training. This workshop will unpack the myths and stereotypes surrounding self-defense and martial arts training, and give the participants a taste of the tools taught in a quality ESD program. AND you might even get to break a board! Led by Yehudit Zicklin-Sidikman, Founder & CEO, El HaLev and Member, WMM.

Workshop 5: Donors of Color Project: Learning from a Constituency That Will Forever Transform Philanthropy
People of color and women of color with high net worth are making significant investments, giving in creative ways and present in philanthropic and political initiatives across the country. Yet they are not present in significant numbers in any existing donor network, nor are they networked with each other across race
and background. This workshop shares insights from the only national project that is researching the giving and engagement of HNW people of color. The workshop will present original data from 100 donors of color the presenters have interviewed (including over 50 women), and brainstorms with participants how existing networks may need to change and grow to incorporate the perspectives and experiences of donors of color. The interactive session will invite participants to respond to the data with their own experiences working with donor networks. Brainstorm how women donors who are part of WMM can support and foster greater engagement and network building among HNW women of color! Led by Hali Lee, Founder and Director, Asian Women Giving Circle; Co-Founder and Managing Director, Faces of Giving, Inc.; and Co-Founder, Donors of Color Project, and Ashindi Maxton, Co-Founder, Donors of Color Project and Senior Advisor to the Women Donors Network and Vaid Group.