What is the most impactful investment you have made thus far through your gender lens philanthropic giving? Why did this gift resonate with you in particular?
One impactful gift was to the Giving List to help create the first Giving List Women. This was an exciting project for me because it was a combination of my idea to create a giving list for women and the very successful platform of the Giving List (Montecito Publishing Group) which created a unique product and event and brought information about many different organizations supporting women and girls to a broad new audience. This taught me the value of collaboration and also reaching out to those we don’t know who might be able to partner with us in meaningful ways.
Another impactful gift was to She Can (Supporting Her Education Changes A Nation). I was contacted by Barbara Bylenga who (similar to above) had a great idea of sending young women from war torn nations to the US for leadership level college education. I immediately knew it was a great idea and gave Barb her first grant. This was ten years ago and she has since sent 100 young women to college on full scholarships from Rwanda, Liberia, Cambodia and now Guatemala. I mentor a young woman from Liberia and see first hand how She Can helps change lives.
What is your process for identifying and supporting grantee partners who are aligned with your values and who you believe will move the needle on advancing gender equality?
I have had a number of methods for finding organizations. At the beginning, I went to the Global Philanthropy Forum for a couple of years and met and connected to Global Fund for Children, Room to Read, and other organizations who started to set my path. After that we changed our foundation into the Girls Rights Project, created a website and then people started to come to me, like She Can.
I also love to use travel as a way to find aligned organizations. While in Burma with Global Fund for Women, I met with Colorful Girls, an amazing organization helping girls in Burma (Myanmar). In Cambodia I visited Cambodian Children’s Fund and saw the transformative work they have done to rehabilitate a garbage dump into new homes, schools, health centers, etc. In India I became convinced that I had to work on stopping the trafficking of girls.
I am joining the Board of Amplify Girls which I have watched grow since it was started by Margaret Butler who founded the Komera School in Rwanda. Amplify Girls is a network of girl serving organizations in Africa and is doing amazing work researching and doing advocacy on behalf of the network, which will impact girls everywhere.
What does it mean to you to be part of a community that shares your values and vision for a gender equal world? How do you apply the idea of community to your broader work?
This year has been exciting for me becoming the Board Chair because I made a commitment to interacting more deeply with the community of WMM but also the broader community of people working for a sustainable, just and equal world more broadly. I attended Freedom School and met women from other networks and am now connected to them. I (finally) attended WMM’s Philanthropic Leadership Program and now have a special cohort of 16 colleagues and dear friends. I have continued to expand my understanding of the sisterhood that WMM brings to our lives as well as the opportunities to connect more broadly with others who are motivated by the same goals. The more I dive in the more I get out of it.
What opportunities do you see for impact in the wider philanthropic landscape and what advice would you give to others considering a bold investment in women and girls?
I see so many opportunities for impact in the wider philanthropic landscape. For one thing, through this year’s Strategic Planning process, WMM is committing to both broaden our membership to include those who invest in women led and women serving ventures and also those who give to 501c4 advocacy efforts to help women and girls. We are also going to create stronger relationships with the broader philanthropic community and I am certain that these changes will result in many opportunities in the future. As the dollars in the hands of women continue to grow at an unprecedented pace there will be continued opportunities for bold investments and we hope for the growth of Women Moving Millions as our community grows and continues to make such a difference.
