Backing feminist movements, driving equitable grantmaking

Movements to advance women’s and feminist causes and the funds that support them are more than advocates for women and gender-expansive people; by advancing an equitable world, they transform society as a whole for the better. Black feminist movements, in particular, respond to and understand how a multitude of intersecting oppressions like racism and patriarchy cause and exacerbate societal injustices.  

Of the $99 billion in grants distributed globally in 2017, just $422.3 million went to women’s rights organizations. In the United States, less than 2% of philanthropic funding goes to causes advancing the rights of women, girls, and gender-expansive people, and even less to movements led by Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people. Philanthropic organizations committed to a just and equitable world will continue to fall short if feminist movements, and the specific needs of Black feminist movements, remain underfunded. 

Feminist movements are growing but remain underfunded 

The good news: In a year in which the first fund supporting women, girls, and gender-expansive people, Mama Cash, celebrates 40 years, there is now a constellation of women’s and feminist funds. From the Dalan Fund and FRIDA, Young Feminist Fund, to the Black Feminist Fund, the landscape of feminist philanthropy has expanded. Many of these funds were born from activism, and funds like the Black Feminist Fund, ISDAO, and UHAI Eashri, are led by and serve Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people. This increase and improved diversity are a positive step for philanthropy.  

The bad news: Despite the growing movement of feminist philanthropy, with so little funding going to women, girls, and gender-expansive people overall, feminist movements remain severely under-resourced. The opposition, on the other hand, is a rising anti-rights movement with deep pockets. Data shows the combined income of just three anti-rights organizations identified by the Global Philanthropy Project totals over $1 billion. 

Why fund Black feminist movements? 

In 2023, Black Feminist Fund, a global fund both resourcing Black feminist movements and radically changing the way Black feminist movements are funded, published a first-of-its-kind report showing the state of funding to Black feminist movements. Where is the money for Black feminist movements? shows that 0.1%-0.35% of all philanthropic funding went to Black feminist organizing, and 53% of Black feminist organizations do not have funding for the next fiscal year. 

Unfortunately, nothing significant has changed in the year since the report came out. Black feminist funders continue to work with limited resources, funding movements that navigate the many crises of our time. For example, there are now approximately 10 million displaced people in Sudan—but the United Nations has struggled to raise the funds needed for an effective humanitarian response, including the protection of women, girls, gender expansive people, and all those most excluded by societal structures. It’s not surprising that funding mobilized for Sudan has been steered by Black feminist funders. The humanitarian crisis left in the wake of war has seen the scale of sexual and gender-based violence increase. Urgent Action Fund Africa has provided rapid emergency grants, and Black Feminist Fund, alongside its Black Feminists in Philanthropy network, has raised over $1 million.  

“The racialized and gendered biases of philanthropy are on display in full force,” says Black Feminist Fund co-founder Hakima Abbas. “The Sudanese people are being largely ignored by philanthropy because philanthropy normalizes Africa as a continent of war and disease.” Anti-Black racism means that funding is not being directed to Black communities globally—even in a crisis—despite the many promises philanthropic institutions have made since 2020. The onus of philanthropic mobilization should not solely be on Black-led organizations. More can be achieved if philanthropy leverages its capacity and unlocks more resources, diversifying its funding strategies beyond the current traditions to increase global impact.  

Funding for gender and racial justice should be global 

At a time when funders should be resolute in their commitments to gender and racial justice, we are seeing uncertainty. Following U.S. rulings against affirmative action, some organizations report being asked to amend racial justice language. These reactions are unhelpful, and as the MacArthur Foundation notes, “Now is not the time to step back from racial justice.” Additionally, Black feminists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have reported receiving threats to their person and livelihood, which renders all of us less safe. Philanthropy often prefers to shield itself behind the need to remain neutral on political issues. Yet, philanthropy’s mission and moral imperatives should include speaking out about the value of all lives.   

Funding strategies for feminist movements must evolve 

From anti-LGBTQI laws in Ghana and Uganda to the rollback of sexual and reproductive health access across multiple countries, we’re seeing the impact of consistent and substantial funding in the U.S. and globally. It is critical that funders who champion equality and human rights take action to meet this challenge, which means: 

• Fund at scale, which means sizable investments that enable real transformation.  

• Fund accessibly, which means debunking risk, the often immovable shield used to justify racialized bureaucracy. 

• More unrestricted, multi-year funding that enables organizations to both respond to immediate needs and build capacity for the long term.   

To change the world, fund feminist movements 

Feminist philanthropy is at a critical juncture. The road traveled is full of milestones, from legislative wins to enhanced worker rights. It is right to celebrate this while noting the long road ahead. The recent commitment of $1 billion by Melinda French Gates could be a game changer, but this moment also requires an array of funders moving money quickly and abundantly, particularly to where it flows the least.   

In coming years, we don’t want to see data showing that feminist movements receive less than 2% of funding, or worse yet, that Black feminist movements a fraction of that. The work of building a free and fair world needs funders to embrace and flank these feminist movements. 

Photo credit: FG Trade via Getty Images