This essay is part of a Women & Democracy package focused on who’s funding the women and LGBTQ people on the frontlines of democracy. We’re manifesting a new era for philanthropy—one that centers feminism. The need is real: Funding for women and girls amounts to less than 2 percent of all philanthropic giving; for women of color, it’s less than 1 percent. Explore the “Feminist Philanthropy Is Essential to Democracy” collection.
In the push for stronger democracies and gender justice, there is a missing element: a full-throated feminist philanthropy movement.
Feminist philanthropy abides by three distinct tenets: respecting local contexts and knowledge; providing long-term, flexible funding to women’s rights organizations working on systemic change; and supporting women’s leadership at all levels.
It is true that traditional philanthropy can bolster essential democratic elements like a vibrant civil society and independent media. It support activists, feminist movements and groups who help position issues that are absent from the public agenda and holds power accountable.
But its progress could be further amplified with a feminist approach. In particular, philanthropy that focuses on feminist systems change—and ensures public systems work for, respond to and represent all women and girls’ needs and interests—can in turn strengthen the social contract between the State and its citizens, the very foundation of democracy.
Feminist philanthropy is about systematically dismantling power imbalances, not perpetuating them. It involves ensuring that local organizations with deep roots in impacted communities have ongoing, reliable support. It enables those doing the groundwork to apply an intersectional lens, recognizing the layered struggles women face. And critically, it entails fostering collaboration among equals, individuals and organizations.
Co-Impact brings together local changemakers and philanthropists from around the world to make health, education and economic systems stronger and more inclusive. We provide flexible grants and strategic support to locally rooted, predominantly women-led organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Feminist principles and our commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s leadership are central to Co-Impact’s approach.
Locally-rooted. A strong democracy relies on a diverse and sustainable civil society sector. We trust our partners’ deep knowledge of their specific contexts and political economies. They are, after all, closer to the issues and the solutions that will create lasting change. This approach inherently shifts the power balance towards those most affected by inequality.
Women-led. Less than 2 percent of philanthropic funding goes to women’s and girls’ organizations. If we apply an intersectional lens, the picture is even more dire; the Black Feminist Fund estimates that “a mere 0.1 percent to 0.35 percent of foundation giving globally went to Black women, girls and trans people.” Democracies cannot be representative of women’s needs and interests if organized movements and civil society organizations are not inclusive and intersectional.
Women’s leadership. Despite some progress, women are still underrepresented across all forms of political and societal leadership. This is one of the many reasons why gender inequality persists. Co-Impact encourages women’s leadership from households and local communities to Finance Ministries and Supreme Courts. By fostering women’s voices at all levels, we are creating pipelines for champions of gender justice.
We know that reforming systems, breaking down institutional barriers and changing social norms is complex. It’s not linear, takes time and needs an ample coalition of diverse organizations that include key government actors. Applying a feminist lens to this work requires us to look at where the power is—how to create lasting change in a given system—and strategize accordingly. Our goal in doing so is to put the onus on the State as the essential entity that can guarantee women’s and girls’ rights.
The rise of anti-gender rhetoric and backsliding on women’s rights are symptoms of a broader democratic decline. A feminist response is essential, and philanthropy must adapt by collaborating and unlocking more funding for gender justice.
The goal must be to build a healthy and diverse ecosystem of actors, who are tackling gender inequalities from their unique vantage points. Too often, competition for resources and influence creates zero-sum thinking. Philanthropy must do its part to break this cycle by becoming more collaborative and more feminist.
Envision a world where activists, grassroots organizations, government reformers, think tanks, academia, journalists, artists and more all work together to dismantle gender inequalities. This is what feminist philanthropy can achieve: a stronger, more resilient environment for democracy itself.
Think investing in women is essential to democracy? We do too. Sign up for our daily or weekly emails to hear from (and join!) the feminist philanthropists funding the future. (We heard alliteration is back in style.) Or go back to the essay collection.
