Women's funds seek out initiatives that offer the greatest potential for lasting
impact on issues from poverty to women's political representation. They
invest in these programs, partnering with community organizations and
leaders to ensure these ventures have the money, resources and skills
to succeed.

Most women's funds rely on contributions large and small to carry out their work. They tap into the financial power of every woman -- from the $1 donor to the $1M dollar donor -- to promote change for generations to come.

Like mutual funds, women's funds expect a return on their investment. Instead of financial gain, the return on a women's fund is the transformation of the lives of women and girls and lasting impact on the communities in which they live.

To see all our member funds and read about particular funds in your area, please go to our member fund directory.

What Makes Women’s Funds Unique?

Women and girls hold unique solutions to challenges such as poverty and problems with healthcare, education and the workforce. Women's funds infuse long-term financial investments into these innovative and effective solutions to age-old problems. They also share a vision of achieving long-term social change

Research has shown women's funds have developed a unique approach to grant-making that sets them apart from the mainstream in terms of impact and effectiveness.

Women’s funds:

• Focus on 'systemic' solutions – changes to the policies and systems that shape women's opportunities in society
• Invest in women who are poor and pushed to the margins – over 80% of women's fund grants flow to women and girls with low-income or no income
• Consist of start-up and venture investors, kick-starting many new community organizations and projects
• Don't just give money – they build the leadership, skills and influence of their grantee partners
• Believe everyone can be a philanthropist, engaging diverse audiences in giving, leadership and decision-making
• Share a common focus on critical issues including combating poverty and violence, and improving access to healthcare and education

The Role of the Network

The Women's Funding Network is a hub for women's and girls' funds across the globe. We enable collective actions, solutions and knowledge sharing among member funds, offering them the tools, clout and connections to develop and thrive.

The Women's Funding Network has become a role model for other movements and networks in developing such services. Our proprietary impact measurement tool, Making the Case™, has been adopted by major corporations for corporate social responsibility reporting and there is growing sector and community interest in our innovative organizational development and leadership programs.

The main office of the Women's Funding Network in San Francisco does not give grants to community organizations or accept applications for grants, but instead works to advance the collective impact of its member funds.