So what does it mean to catalyze change in an ecosystem? When the board of the Hewlett Foundation invited their Global and Development team (since renamed to Gender Equity and Governance) to submit a concept for a special initiative, they joined forces with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to commission research to inform the […]
By Shama Dossa What does it mean to use power-building and feminist approaches to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in philanthropy? This is the question we Shama Dossa, [Fenomenal Funds] and fellow feminist practitioners Clara Desalvo [FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund], Boikanyo Modungwa [Purposeful], and Ramatu Bangura [CRIF]) posed to funders at the […]
Fenomenal Funds is a feminist funder collaborative that aims to strengthen the resilience and visibility of women’s funds members of the Prospera International Network of Women’s Funds (Prospera INWF). Fenomenal Funds is predicated on the recognition that, while feminist movements across the globe continue to make gains in challenging the norms, systems, and structures of […]
Fenomenal Funds is pleased to announce the award of $5,247,744 to 13 collaboration groups formed by 37 women’s funds members of the Prospera International Network of Womenʼs Funds. The Collaboration Grants support women’s funds to form deeper connections and stronger partnerships with each other. As they work to co-create solutions, they harness the community’s collective power, wisdom, and creativity to reimagine practices, […]
Drawing on Emergent Learning in Feminist Philanthropy by Shama Dossa When I joined Fenomenal Funds (FF) last year in September 2022 as Feminist Manager Learning and Evaluation I was excited to be tasked with the challenge of how to put together a learning agenda for this unique initiative through a participatory process. FF had already […]
“Staying flexible and responsive to what feminist movements truly need by offering core support is a profound gesture of genuine solidarity.” Magdalena Pochek, FemFund Established in 2018 in response to the growing backlash against women’s rights in Poland, the Feminist Fund (FemFund) is the only grantmaking organization in Poland that focuses on feminist philanthropy. FemFund […]
When we receive flexible funding that supports us to carry out important organizational strengthening processes, it contributes to FRIDA’s long-term sustainability and resilience, and our ability to effectively serve the young feminist movements that we support.” Majandra Rodriguez Acha, FRIDA | Young Feminist Fund Founded in 2010, FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund is the […]
We are the ones who know the causes [of our problems]; we are the ones who can create change, who have the solutions, and we are the ones who can speak with traditional leaders to change the situation. We are the agents of change. Julienne Lusenge, Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises As the only women’s […]
“The process of institutional strengthening ensures sustainability and resilience of any organization. This is also one of the most under-resourced areas of need, especially for feminist organizations and women’s funds.“ Anisha Chugh, Women’s Fund Asia Women’s Fund Asia (WFA) works across 18 countries in Asia to cultivate a vision of a just, equal, and democratic […]
“With this grant, Fondo Alquimia, has addressed its own sustainability, invested in its team, and created conditions that allow it to continue amplifying those at the margins of activism in the territories.” Sara Mandujano Méndez, Fondo Alquimia Fondo Alquimia (FA), the only women’s fund in Chile, is committed to mobilizing resources for feminist movements and […]