Here is a snapshot of our many programs that strengthen women's and girls' funds and promote them as the best way to give back for those that want to invest in the power of women and girls.
Women of Color / International Development Incubator (WOCIDI)
WOCIDI is a nine-month program designed to significantly expand the fundraising skills of North American and European women of color, and women from the Global South. Participants are women who are already in leadership positions within WFN member funds. They receive intensive training in fundraising, strategic planning, annual campaigns, working with major donors, corporate sponsorships/special events, endowments/ planned giving, online resources, donor circles, and more. The program consists of a 5-day in-person training, monthly calls, individual consulting/coaching, and general assistance in reaching fundraising goals.
A core concept in WOCIDI is that fundraising is a form of social advocacy. Social transformation involves both giving and asking. If women of color are doing both, in their own voice, they are creating the full scope of social change. The WOCIDI program is designed to:
- Increase diverse leadership within women's funds in particular and throughout philanthropy in general;
- Involve more women of color in key fundraising positions; and
- Provide an ongoing support system for WOCIDI graduates in order to retain these leaders in the Network for the future.
Since its inception in 2003, WOCIDI graduates have participated in fundraising over $23 million USD!
Cultures of Giving
Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Cultures of Giving (COG) is a fundraising program designed for collaborative implementation among five African American women-led teams. Each team will participate in an intensive two-day fundraising training followed by implementation of a one-year fundraising project. Facilitated cohort calls and follow-up sessions will provide team participants with ongoing support as they complete their projects. At the conclusion of the program in fall 2007, an independent evaluation team will publish a curriculum and lessons learned. This program will enhance and expand upon learnings gained through the Women of Color/International Development Incubator (WOCIDI) program. The five teams consist of representatives from these five funds: Delta Research and Education Foundation, Faith Partnerships Inc., the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Women's Foundation of Greater Memphis, and the African American Women's Fund of the Twenty-First Century Foundation.
^ back to top
Promoting Women's and Girls' Funds
is a shared brand developed by and for women's and girls' funds. fund>>forward presents the power of women's and girls' funds as part of a global movement for social change. This brand was designed with the input of members, media and branding experts, and was tested on numerous focus groups. It was launched in 2004 and has since been used by many members to bring a global dimension to their work.
This shared brand presents a unified story to each members' community. It is a story of women's and girls' funds making incredible strides, together. Women's and girls' funds have pushed domestic violence out of the home and into the spotlight; held the line on Title IX to support female athletes; and made reproductive rights a global priority.
The fund>>forward logo is not meant to replace each WFN member fund's existing logo or identity, but to show that their fund is part of a worldwide women's funding movement. WFN uses the fund>>forward brand and concept to promote women's funds online and in the media. For more information, visit fundforward.org.
^ back to top
Making the Case: A Learning and Measurement Tool for Social Change
The Making the Case (MTC) tool provides our member funds with a framework for measuring the social change they create. MTC includes exercises for funds and their grantees to use in planning the social change they want to make, and for evaluating their progress in making that change through their investment of time, resources and money. Funds can use MTC to capture and describe the impact of their grantmaking-and make a powerful case for support to donors, the media and other community stakeholders.
MTC is available free of charge to all member funds and their grantee partners. WFN is currently determining the best method for making MTC available to other social change organizations.
^ back to top
U.S. Women Without Borders
U.S. Women Without Borders (USWWB) is an online initiative to mobilize the public in the U.S. to influence U.S. foreign policy and media. Our first campaign focused on anti-violence. Next, we will focus on the work being done by 80% of WFN members worldwide to fight poverty.
On the site, guest experts share stories that make the connection between women in the U.S. and women internationally. Participating WFN members reached out to their constituencies to educate and engage them in actions that help protect women and girls from violence made available on the USWWB website in partnership with WFN's online community.
In six months, more than 40,000 actions were taken on the U.S. WWB website, including letters and phone calls to key decision-makers and media outlets. Given the opportunity to impact the lives of women around the world, U.S. women took action by:
- Signing our petition to support the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act which requires "mail order brides" to be informed of the criminal records of their husbands-to-be. The law was subsequently passed. (15,000 signatures)
- Signing a petition to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging her to preserve the rights of Iraqi women. Rice went from saying there was nothing she could do to support women's rights in the Iraqi constitution to declaring women's rights as her top priority. (6,000 signatures in two weeks)
- Increasing awareness of the trafficking of women and girls through house parties to view a two-part show on Lifetime Television network. Over 70 house parties were held in 28 states in the U.S. when the series aired in October 2005.
Click here to visit and join US Women Without Borders.
^ back to top
SheSource.org
SheSource.org is a database of women who are distinguished experts in their fields and experienced spokespeople. This database serves as an online resource for journalists. A joint venture of WFN, the White House Project and Fenton Communications, SheSource.org was created to close the gender gap in news media. As women's visibility and influence in news media increases, so too will their leadership, credibility, and effectiveness in shaping public policy. Along with the SheSource.org database, WFN and its partners strategically pitch, book, and place women to speak on radio and television.
WFN Knowledge Center
The Knowledge Center is an online clearinghouse of information and resources collected from our network. This searchable library is available only to WFN members and provides users with around-the-clock access to relevant data, documents, templates, research, and directories. The Knowledge Center also allows users to conduct targeted searches for other member funds based on size, location and other criteria.
^ back to top
Smart Growth: A Life-Stage Model for Social Change Philanthropy
Smart Growth is an organizational assessment tool based on a model of six life stages and 12 major organizational capacities. WFN created Smart Growth to help women's funds navigate organizational development and strategic planning. Smart Growth includes a life cycle model, an online quiz which provides a quick top-level assessment, a more detailed assessment of 12 major capacities, and an extensive list of resources. Smart Growth was originally designed for women's funds, as well as other social change organizations. There are versions for public foundations, private foundations, and women's funds within community foundations. Smart Growth helps social change organizations plan for an effective and secure future.
^ back to top
WFN grantmaking programs
WFN grantmaking programs support members in the launch and development of fundraising and/or programming initiatives. Current grant making programs are:
Venture Fund
Supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Venture Fund supports WFN member fund projects with the potential to make significant impacts on social change philanthropy for women and girls. Since 2003, the Venture Fund has awarded more than $600,000 to 30+ funds. 2006-2007 is the final Venture Fund cycle.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
Through the generous support of W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Ms. Foundation for Women, WFN awarded $500,000 in grants to five member funds providing strategic support to address the immediate and long-term needs of women and children impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The goal is to ensure that women's leadership and priorities are central in the recovery and rebuilding efforts. Click here for more information.
Healthy Relationships/Healthy Marriage Fund
Through the generous support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation (ACEF), WFN awarded $90,000 to five members to bring women's perspective in promoting healthy relationships and marriages. This in turn will improve the outcomes of children in low- income families; amplify the voices of low- income women on the subject of healthy relationships and marriage; and, inform discussions about what constitutes healthy relationships and marriages. Grantees-located in nine AECF target cities-are get technical assistance from the Center for Women's Policy Studies to help them compete for public and private sector marriage promotion funding, while maintaining the integrity of their organizational values.
^ back to top
Annual Conference
As the broker of collective wisdom from more than 100 women's and girls' funds around the world, the Women's Funding Network uses innovation and technology to capture the learnings of this sector. Our annual conference draws a capacity crowd with a high ratio of returnees, eager for more and ready to learn. The conference blends tips and tools for funds (public and private), cutting-edge issues-based updates, and a peek around the corner for the future of the Network. The conference is open to the public.
READ MORE 
^ back to top
Resources and Publications
Learn more about WFN through our publications and resources, such as our "how to help your clients give back" tool for professional advisors.
^ back to top
Multimedia Gallery
Click here to view fun e-cards, videos and flash presentations.
^ back to top | 
