HOW WE FUND
We are flipping the script on traditional philanthropy by providing flexible funding directly to feminist activists who know exactly how to use it.
As a feminist funder, we recognize grassroots people power as one of the most effective mechanisms to create and sustain long-term social transformation. Yet movements are consistently under-resourced, and funders have struggled to effectively meet their needs. That’s where Global Fund for Women comes in: we seek out movements, give them the resources they need to succeed, and let them call the shots.
Who We Fund
We fund those left out of traditional philanthropy, putting money directly in the hands of Black and Indigenous people, LGBTQI+ people, rural women, disabled people, sex workers and so many more.
To identify new movements for support, we combine cutting-edge data analysis and firsthand knowledge shared by movement leaders on the ground. Our Gender Justice Data Hub allows us to identify and prioritize emerging feminist movements that can benefit the most from our funding in their early stages.
How We Fund
We provide general operating support grants—unrestricted, flexible money—to cover the real costs of social justice work. We offer multi-year grants so that groups can plan long-term.
We don’t dictate priorities. We follow grantee partners’ leadership, supporting them in addressing needs, opportunities, and challenges as they arise, on their own terms.
The movements we support determine where funding goes, what success looks like, and how to measure success. In short, movements make key decisions, not Global Fund for Women. Because there is no one-size-fits-all for movements, we aim to listen in radical ways and adapt to what movements decide. We’re staging a feminist takeover of philanthropy—showing a more radical way is possible.
While each grantmaking process in our movement-led approach is tailored by the movement, many follow the below general model.
01.
A movement committee is nominated by a participatory process within the movement.
02.
That committee determines how to award grants, the size, and how to measure success.
03.
This process allows us to reach new groups outside of our existing networks.
84%
of grants awarded to groups working in repressive societies.
We focus our work in countries where civil society is closed, repressed, or obstructed by governments.
79%
of program funding is multi-year.
Longer-term support allows groups to plan ahead and stay agile.
See Us in Action
In addition to financial resources, we support gender justice movements holistically by creating spaces for collaboration, and advocating for feminist, intersectional, and intergenerational practices and policies across philanthropy and key global arenas.
Crisis Funding
In times of crisis, grassroots leaders and first responders know their community’s needs best. Our crisis funding incorporates short-term response, medium-term rebuilding, and long-term resilience through core, flexible grants to feminist groups and feminist funds on the frontlines.
Read more about our feminist crisis response here.
Gender Justice Data Hub
Imagine a world where movements, even in their earliest stages, receive the support they need exactly when they need it. The Gender Justice Data Hub identifies early sparks of movements to provide timely support that fuels lasting impact.
Learn more about the Gender Justice Data Hub.
Anti-Corruption
For nearly 40 years, Global Fund for Women has supported grassroots feminist movements tackling oppression worldwide, from abortion rights in West Africa to climate justice in the Caribbean. In 2022, a group of feminist leaders came together to address corruption's impact on historically marginalized communities, funding organizations that are driving critical anti-corruption work.
Additional Funding Resources and Information
Global Fund for Women understands the challenges grassroots feminist organizations are facing in accessing funding, and while we are not able to financially support every group who needs it, we are committed to working with partners to unlock more and better funding to support leaders working across the gender justice ecosystem. Please see additional gender justice funding resources and ways to stay in community with us below.
Follow Us
Follow us on social media, where we share campaigns, conduct advocacy, and use #ShowMeTheMoney to share timely opportunities from other
Gender Justice Funders
Check out our list of gender justice funders, a comprehensive list of other gender justice and human rights funders that we keep updated for the field.
MCAT 3.0: A Movement Capacity Assessment Tool
MCAT is a free online tool that helps social movements determine their needs in order to most effectively advance their vision for social justice and achieve the change they want to see.
InMotion, our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan
In our current Strategic Plan, We are doubling down on our mission to provide more money, resources, and decision-making power to movements and shift power toward women, girls, and all marginalized people worldwide.
Philanthropic Advocacy
Insights, findings, and tools from our efforts to advocate for Generation Equality Forum resources to be directed to feminist groups.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Our e-newsletter contains gender justice news and analysis, including a “Show Me The Money” section with funding opportunities.
Financial Information
Access up-to-date financial information including our latest and previous audits.