With COVID-19 exacerbating gender inequality and research showing that less than 2% of philanthropic funding in the US goes to women and girls, Women Moving Millions—a women-led organization—is using its collective voice to demand change, setting its own bold commitment to raise $100M in new funding through 2022.
“We are sending a strong signal with this campaign that it is time to end the funding crisis for women and girls,” said Sarah Haacke Byrd, the Executive Director of Women Moving Millions. “We have experienced a year like no other, where the disproportionate burden of the pandemic has fallen on women – from massive job losses to rising domestic violence cases and unpaid care. Without sufficient funding and intervention, the progress we’ve made in the fight for gender equality is at peril. It is our responsibility to step up and mobilize resources to ensure the leaders and activists on the frontlines have the capital they need to drive change.”
The low funding figure of 1.6% captures the proportion of money in the U.S. that goes to organizations fighting for equal rights for women and girls. As the country faces a moment of reckoning on racial injustice, further research from the Ms. Foundation indicates that giving to women and girls of color accounts for even less—at just 0.5% of the $66.9 billion given by foundations each year, a mere $5.48 for every woman and girl of color in the United States.
“We will never live in a gender equal world if we do not address this funding crisis faced by women and girls,” said Mona Sinha, Board Chair of Women Moving Millions. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to step up and do everything we can to end this disparity once and for all. We call upon every person to step up and take this moment to decide how we each can Give Bold.”
“Women and girls of color have been at the forefront of almost every civil rights movement in this country and now is the time to invest in our power,” said Teresa C. Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women. “It is critical that philanthropists do more than raise an eyebrow at what little is being invested in women and girls of color; now is the time to fund and elevate their necessary work. Women and girls of color have been able to do so much with so little, imagine what we could do with more.”
The Give Bold. Get Equal campaign kicks off today, September 10, with this powerful video, in conjunction with the organization’s Annual Summit. Entitled the Power of Us, the virtual and free global event takes place on September 10 and 11, challenging attendees to reimagine a future that is more equitable, re-examine the role of philanthropy to support systems change, and co-create solutions for collective impact. Speakers at the event include Laverne Cox, Alicia Garza, Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Shaun Robinson, and Gloria Steinem.
Women Moving Millions is the largest global philanthropic community of committed, purposeful women who have each made a minimum commitment of $1 million or more to organizations or initiatives of their choosing that benefit women and girls. A growing community of over 330 members in 15 countries, Women Moving Millions has elevated the power of women’s philanthropy to accelerate progress toward gender equality, with its members deploying more than $750 million since its founding. We support our members’ philanthropic leadership development and make connections across sectors to catalyze resources to accelerate change. Follow Women Moving Millions on Twitter @WomMovMillions or like us on Facebook. Follow the campaign here: #GetEqual.
