Conducted through our Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning program, our inaugural report, Catalyzing Change: Powering the Movement through Community & Collaboration, revealed the ways in which WMM is impacting our membership community, their gender-lens philanthropy, and the broader gender equity funding movement.
In 2023, WMM members consistently reported finding immense value in the WMM community and in their relationships with one another, helping members to articulate their philanthropic purpose, grow their philanthropic leadership, and deepen their understanding of the gender equality movement. WMM has helped diversify their investments, emboldened them to be more ambitious and take more risks, and impacted members’ support of trust-based philanthropic approaches and grassroots funding. The WMM community collectively gave nearly $160 million to women and girls, with total giving reaching $252M. Members gave more than their peers and did so with greater speed, collaboration, and confidence. Nearly all members who reported completing their $1M membership commitment did so in less time than initially anticipated and went far beyond their initial investment—with a median pledge of $3M and extending up to $40M. These efforts have created a ripple effect in the gender equality space, as WMM members frequently serve as “first in” investors, seeding new and innovative organizations and initiatives advancing women’s and girls’ rights globally.
