Now’s the Time to Fund Women's Leadership Like We Mean It
Women-led organizations are powerful engines of change. Yet for decades, they’ve faced chronic underfunding and now an escalating backlash against women’s rights.
Imagine what’s possible if we stopped asking them to do more with less.
To answer that question, we turned to the experts: our partners — women-led, grassroots organizations in 20 countries leading change across: climate and environmental justice, economic opportunity and security, women’s health, girls’ education, and ending gender-based violence.
We asked them how we can best support them, especially in times of crisis.
This Playbook shares their insights — and lays out six principles every transformative philanthropist can use to help women-led organizations not just survive, but thrive.
Who We Asked
This Playbook is built on the insights of women leaders at the frontlines of change – gathered through surveys, in-depth interviews, and other sources.
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women-led organizations supported by WomenStrong
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countries
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movements:
environmental & climate justice, health, girls’ education, economic opportunity, gender-based violence prevention
What They Told Us: Six Principles
01
Unrestricted is Essential
What We Heard: 82% said unrestricted funding is essential.
Why It Matters: Unrestricted funding is recognition of local expertise. When organizations can invest resources where they’re most needed, innovation happens. According to the Center for Effective Philanthropy, just 27 percent of funders provide multiyear unrestricted support.
What They Said: “There’s this idea that when funds are unrestricted, they will be spent on salaries only…[but] over the years we’ve piloted new projects and tried out different concepts that later scale.”
02
Money Alone Isn’t Enough
What We Heard: The majority said support that strengthens infrastructure is critical right now, and more than half said time to build meaningful connections with sister organizations across movements and geographies is important.
Why It Matters: Strong infrastructure (fundraising, communications, strategic planning, and leadership development systems) keeps organizations resilient — able to pivot in crisis and scale what works. When women’s groups are given funding and opportunity to connect with their peers, they adapt faster, mobilize resources more effectively, and multiply their reach.
What They Said: “Resilience is really about…structures—what structures have you put in place to keep you standing when things are not good?”
“Being able to come together in a group where you see other people facing the same conditions, still carrying out their work… it’s really uplifting and it’s really empowering. And for us, just knowing that we can reach out at any moment has an impact.”
03
Think in Decades, Not Grant Cycles
What We Heard: Mutual partnership and long-term flexible funding are the best ways to sustain women’s rights organizations.
Why It Matters: Regressive, backlash movements didn’t emerge overnight — they were built systematically over generations. Women-led organizations and the movements they champion require the same long-term investment — 5-10 years — to change what’s possible.
What They Said: “[We’re] embracing long-term planning, looking ahead five years or more to align strategic priorities.” / “[But] you don’t know what next year would look like, which funders are recommitting. It’s really a gamble.”
04
Invest in New Models
What We Heard: Even in the face of crisis-level threats, women-led organizations are demonstrating innovation and risk-taking.
Why It Matters: New challenges demand new strategies — from social enterprises to hybrid financing structures — women-led organizations are already testing new models. Philanthropy must catch up, taking risks and learning alongside movement leaders.
What They Said: “We’ve started to think outside the box—what services could fund our mission while advancing it?”
05
Prioritize Safety & Wellbeing
What We Heard: 100% of organizations are prioritizing psychological safety of their staff.
Why It Matters: Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a barrier to impact. Mental health support, competitive salaries, and inclusive leadership practices aren’t luxuries — they’re essential infrastructure for sustainable change. At a time when gender is under attack and feminist work is dangerous, protecting people is as important as protecting the movements they lead.
What They Said: “[We’ve] come to understand that collective wellbeing is necessary for the work and not just important for the personal. It must be considered a necessary factor for success.”
06
Join Forces With Other Funders
What We Heard: When funders align practices, women-led organizations free up time to focus on what matters – their mission and goals.
Why It Matters: Networked philanthropy is as critical as networked organizations. Joining forces with other investors can multiply results and drive lasting systems change. This is how we move from short-term wins to transformative, long-lasting change.
What They Said: “Every funder is different. So you find that you are being pulled to different corners, and before you know it, you’re [spending your time there] yet you should be focusing on attaining your organizational goals and objectives.”
Ready to Put the Playbook Into Practice?
It’s time to fund women’s leadership differently. WomenStrong International is proud to highlight four co-investing opportunities that embody these principles — creating impact at different scales:
- Immediate Impact | The Abundance Collective for Women & Girls
A collaborative investment circle testing innovative financing models to fund women-led organizations in new ways in the U.S. and worldwide, with labs and immersive learning journeys for investors.
- 5+ Year Impact | Shares of the Future
Instead of short-term projects, this co-investment invites donors to invest in a share of a women-led organization’s future — joining others to cover five years of core costs. WomenStrong adds organizational strengthening and our Learning Lab — giving leaders the time, trust, tools, and runway to thrive.
- 10+ Year Impact | Leadership Endowments
Endowed funds, similar to the University endowed chair model, that give women leaders the ultimate gift: time. Multiyear flexible capital paired with organizational strengthening and global learning networks, freeing leaders to focus on changing the world, rather than chasing grants.
- Generational Impact | GirlStrong
An intergenerational initiative training girls and young women to become philanthropists and community investors. Through participatory grantmaking, these girls direct real dollars to organizations advancing health, safety, education, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.
For co-investment opportunities contact: skriksciun@womenstrong.org
The Bottom Line
As public and philanthropic investments in gender equity decline, women’s organizations are again being asked to do more with less. Yet history proves that these groups are among the most effective engines of change: deeply rooted in community, and rich in scalable solutions.
It’s time to stop asking women-led organizations to do more with less. It’s time to trust, fund, and empower them to lead lasting change.
Now is the moment to fund women’s leadership differently.
Join us in moving from scarcity to strength.
As public and philanthropic investments in gender equity decline, women’s organizations are again being asked to do more with less. Yet history proves that these groups are among the most effective engines of change: deeply rooted in community, and rich in scalable solutions.
It’s time to stop asking women-led organizations to do more with less. It’s time to trust, fund, and empower them to lead lasting change.
Now is the moment to fund women’s leadership differently.
Join us in moving from scarcity to strength.
About WomenStrong International
WomenStrong is an award-winning, grantmaking organization that moves money, power, and resources to women-led organizations in the U.S. and globally. Our model is shaped by the insights and guidance of women-led organizations. We provide:
- Flexible, multiyear, unrestricted funding
- Tailored organizational strengthening support
- Access to a Learning Lab that unites women leaders and shares solutions across countries and movements
Together with our co-investors, WomenStrong multiplies impact — ensuring that women-led organizations have the time, trust, and tools to thrive.