MAY 5, 2022
“At a time when so many funders are calling for transformative change, feminist movements, especially those led by Black women and women of color, are at work around the world, creating the solutions everyone is looking for. Resourcing them at a level that matches their immense power and promise is one of the most potent and underutilized strategies we have to secure the future we need.
—Pamela Shifman, Shake the Table founder, president of the Democracy Alliance + study’s co-author
The gist:
Two groups, Shake the Table, working to bridge the gap “between philanthropy and social justice movements,” along with the nonprofit global advisory firm Bridgespan Group, have teamed up to “examine how to better connect global philanthropy with feminist movements.”
Why?
Their work “illustrates the potential of feminist movements” with real-world success stories, including feminist movements:
- in Argentina, Ireland, and Mexico that: realized crucial gains in reproductive rights;
- in Mali, Mexico, and the U.S. who secured better wages and working conditions for domestic workers—including curbing sexual violence, and
- feminists in Nigeria who organized intense protests to bring an end to an abusive special police squad, among others.
When, as one study by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development reveals for example, that “in 2018, less than one percent of gender-focused international aid, was directed to women’s rights organizations,” these authors’ joint report, calls on “philanthropy to invest an additional $6 billion by 2026 to ‘hold ground against the anti-gender movement and gain traction in shifting power.’”
“In the United States, for example, where women’s rights and democracy itself are under sustained attack, women of color and feminist movements are holding the line, resisting authoritarianism, and fighting for the rights of all…trusting and investing in their work is our best hope for a just, equitable, and multiracial democracy for everyone.”
—Pamela Shifman, Shake the Table founder
For purposes of their research, the authors used this definition of feminist movements from women's rights advocate Srilatha Batliwala: “organizations, leaders, and networks working together to change power structures that reinforce gender and other inequalities.“
The good news is feminist movements are already doing this hard, integrative work. They provide us with a vision of what can be attained with flexible, sustained, community-driven investments, and they remind us of the immense joy that can come from being part of realizing a collective vision of a more just world. This is a pivotal moment for philanthropy as threats to humanity mount—the climate crisis, the rise of authoritarianism, a global pandemic, and extreme income inequality—backing feminist movements has the opportunity to holistically respond to, as well as anticipate, some of the enormous changes taking place on the front lines across the world.”
—Swatee Deepak, co-author, social justice and philanthropic advisor, and Shake the Table founding partner
Do this:
The report “offers practical ideas for everyone, including philanthropists whose core focus is not gender equality, on how to invest in feminist movements,” including:
- Understand the power structures that shape our homes, communities, and systems.
- Re-examine risk. Recognize the greatest risk is not investing in the feminist leaders and organizations that are actively tackling systemic injustice—and facing well-funded opposition.
- Fund feminist funds, which are primary funders of feminist movements.
- Shift your practices. Expand your sourcing beyond your close-in network, and ensure your diligence practices are not screening out feminist movements. Fund across the ecosystem and provide long-term, general operating support.
- Measure what matters to movements. The multifaceted work of movements will likely require a range of measures. Work with grantees to define success—and allow them to pivot as needed.
Full report is here.
Connect with the Globe Newswire post here.
