Many feminist women’s funds heavily rely on foreign institutional funding, which can affect their identity and accountability. This collaboration aims to support them in strengthening their financial foundations within their local contexts.
Mobilizing local resources holds strategic significance. Three funds in Asia are teaming up to explore raising funds at regional, national, and community levels. Establishing a robust local resource base involves engaging individuals, local funders, and companies aligned with the vision of women’s rights. This is particularly challenging amidst rising authoritarianism and a growing anti-gender movement, which shapes narratives around gender roles. Overcoming these narratives is crucial for attracting supporters and converting them into donors.
The collaborative seeks to craft a clear, compelling narrative about women’s funds. This narrative can take various forms, such as a written piece, a short film, or a video featuring key figures discussing the role of women’s funds. Key questions include distinguishing women’s funds from other forms of philanthropy and articulating their unique role in feminist movement-building.
Collaborators
Korea Foundation for Women
KFW is collaborating with two other women’s funds that are serving marginalized populations in Asia.
Inspiration
Domestic resource pipelines are crucial for national women’s funds to raise their profile, build local support, and mobilize resources. However, most national funds haven’t fully tapped into domestic funding potential.
Regulatory compliance enforced by right-wing and authoritarian governments stifles civil society and hinders smaller women’s funds and women-led organizations from receiving resources.
Recent restrictions on international funding make it essential for women’s funds to focus on domestic resource mobilization. A significant barrier is the lack of understanding about women’s funds and their vital role in movement-building for women and human rights.
This collaboration aims to help women’s funds better present themselves and make a case for public support. The group will develop a communications product (e.g., short film, video, or write-up) that can be tailored to different audiences.
The Process
The collaborative aims to develop a narrative explaining the work of women’s funds and their significance. This involves online workshops, interviews with potential donors, and creating context-specific narratives to engage local supporters. The next step is producing creative content for digital and offline platforms based on these narratives. Additionally, the collaborative will document their journey through case studies from each fund.
KFW serves as the grant holder and fiscal sponsor for the collaboration. Each organization appoints a representative as the point person, and decision-making is collective, either by consensus or majority vote. A Project Coordinator oversees the collaboration and documentation, liaising with resources such as designers and communication experts.
Success Criteria
Success entails developing a narrative adaptable to various regional and local contexts. The narrative should effectively communicate the work of women’s funds to diverse audiences and garner support from local donors and funders. Additionally, establishing a strong narrative on feminist philanthropy’s history in each country can attract new audiences and corporate donors.
Between the Lines
Mobilizing resources from the general public requires specialized skills and a nuanced approach. It’s not merely about asking for money but about building relationships and overcoming existing narratives and barriers. In contexts lacking a tax infrastructure supportive of philanthropy, organizations must make compelling cases to potential donors. This collaboration focuses on mobilizing local resources in challenging contexts to enhance fund legitimacy and sustainability by diversifying income sources.