Women’s Fund ing Network

W o m e n ' s E c o n o m i c M o b i l i t y Hu b s I n i t i a t i ve

ASnapshotoftheKeyStrategiestoAdvancingWomen’sEconomicMobilityandSecuritybytheWomen’sFundingCommunity

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BARRIERS TO ADVANCING WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY

Barriers and Opportunities: Women'sFundingNetwork(WFN)andwomen’sfoundationsacrosstheU.Shavedocumentedsignificantbarrierstowomen’seconomicsecurityandmobilitywhich

include:lackofemployment,affordablechildcare,affordablehousing,education/training,transportation,andmentors.Additionally,systemicandintergenerationalpoverty,genderedincomeandwealthgaps,historicaltrauma,gender-basedviolence,lackofeconomicopportunity(especiallyinruralareasandforparticularpopulations)andtheotherwidelyacknowledgedsocial/culturaldeterminantsofeconomicopportunityandhealth—racism,classism,sexism,able-body-ismandimmigrationstatus—allsignificantlyimpactwomen’seconomicmobilityandsecurityandchancesforadvancement.

Inparticular,singleandworkingmothersfacetremendousburdensinfindingaffordableandaccessiblechildcare.Adearthoffamily-friendlypoliciesblocksadvancementforwomenintheworkplaceatalllevels.Additionalhurdlesexistforwomenreturningtotheworkforceaftertimeawayforfamilycareandforthosereleasedfromemploymentduetotheperceptionofage-incompetence.Womenofcolor,immigrantwomen,formerlyincarceratedwomenandIndigenouswomenfaceparticularintersectionalbarriers(race,gender,class)withinthelabormarketandtheeconomy.Specificsectorsincludingteachers,earlychildhoodeducators,home-healthcareworkers,andcleaners,inparticularneedincreasedwages.Increasingwomen’saccesstohigherpaidjobs,traditionallyheldbymen,isalsoapriority.

Atthesametime,WFNanditsmembershaveidentifiedmanystrategicopportunitiestoadvancewomen’seconomicmobility,opportunitiesandsecurity.Theseinclude:

• Focusingoneducation,training,andworkforcedevelopment,includingsupportforwomeninattainingeducationalcredentialsforhigh-demand,high-wagefieldslikeSTEM,healthcare,andtourism.

• Investingincommunity-ledprogramsandpolicysolutionstoaddressthechildcareshortageandaffordabilitysomorewomencanenter,growwithin,andremainintheworkforce.

• Focusingonclosingthewagegap,withattentiontoracialdisparities.

• Identifyingopportunitiesandbettersystemstoprovideaffordablehealthcare.

Acrossthecountry,burgeoningevidencedemonstratesthatwomenarefundamentaldriversofeconomicgrowth.Economistshaveshownthatadecreaseinhumancapital(i.e.,women’slabor)strainsgovernmentresourcesanddecreaseseconomicopportunitiesatthecommunitylevel.

Violence Against Women and Girls

Gender and Racial Wage Gaps and Income Disparity

Lack of Access to Education and Training

Lack of Transportation

Intersectional Barriers: Race, Gender and Class

Housing and Homelessness

Lack of Affordable Childcare

Systemic and Intergenerational Poverty

Lack of Mentoring/Coaching

Lack of Economic Opportunities – Regional & for Specific Populations

Affordable Health Care and Insurance

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Regional Differences Matter:Incorporatingregionaldifferencesintotheequationyieldsfurtheropportunitiesforimpact.Forexample,theWomen'sFundofGreaterBirminghamcreates,funds,andimplementsprogramsthattargetlow-tomoderate-incomewomenandtheirchildrentoleadmoreeconomicallysecurelives.LatinaandAfricanAmericanwomenexperiencethehighestlevelsofpovertyinAlabama.Withjust50%ofwomenparticipatinginthelabormarket,ithasthesecondlowestlaborparticipationrateofanystate.Womenrepresentoneofthestate’slargestpoolsofuntappedworkers.Thewomen'sfoundationisworkingtoraiseAlabama’slaborparticipationratetothenationalaveragewhichwouldaddanestimated81,000womentotheworkforce.

NewYorkCityprovidesanotherexample,whereinfamiliesmayliveinonearea,accessservicesandworkinanother,andhavechildrenattendingschoolinyetanother.TheNewYorkWomen'sFoundationdevelopedaplace-informedapproach(asopposedtoplace-based)toaddressconcentratedlevelsofneedwithinthecity,whichisessentialtoaccountforthecomplexnatureofwomen'sandfamilies’lives.

Women and the Labor Market: AccordingtotheU.S.DepartmentofLabor,the2015unemploymentrateamongwomenwas5.2percent.ForBlackandLatinawomen,theunemploymentrateswere8.9percentand7.1percent,respectively.Unemploymentwashighestamongwomenwithlessthanahighschooldiploma,at9.4percent.At15.9percent,theratewasevenhigheramongAfrican-Americanwomenwithoutahighschooldiploma.1

Today,manywomenareonthemarginsofthelabormarket.Inorderforwomentocompeteforjobsandearncompetitivewages,theyneededtohavereceivedadequatetrainingandeducationpriortothestartoftherecessionin2007.Thisreality,coupledwithsteepcutstostateandlocalbudgets,speakstoanurgentneedtocoordinateeffortsamongthoseworkingtosupportwomeninthischallenginglandscape.Thewomen’sfundingcommunityisposedtoidentifybestpracticesandstrategiesatregional,stateandnationallevelsandtosharelearningsacrosscommunities,furtherextendingitsreach.

Toadequatelyfostertrainingandcareerpathwaysforwomen,asystemsapproachisneededtoaddressobstaclesandbarriersandtotakeintoaccountthemanylayeredrolesandresponsibilitiesofwomenoutsidetheworkplacewithintheirfamiliesandcommunities.Womenstillregularlyencountermythsandstereotypesaboutwomen’swork,sexdiscrimination,payinequity,andinstitutionalpracticesthatdisproportionatelybenefitandpromotemen.Meanwhile,womenremaintheprimarycaregiversforchildrenandagingparentsandcontinuetocompleteover80%ofhouseholdtasksandresponsibilities.Overwhelmingly,agenderlensisnotappliedwhendeveloping,implementing,andevaluatingworkforcereadinesscurriculum,programs,andoutcomes.Pathwaystosuccessforwomenintheworkplaceandthebroadereconomymustbecreatedby,for,andaboutwomen.

1U.S.DepartmentofLabor.2015.HouseholdDataAnnualAverages.Washington,DC:BureauofLaborStatistics.RetrievedApril14,2016.

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WOMEN’S FOUNDATIONS: EMPLOYING A GENDER LENS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Women’sfoundationshavealonghistoryofworkingtoaddresswomen’seconomicsecurityandmobilitywithintheirowncommunitiesacrossthecountry.Withover100

women’sfoundationsandgenderequityfundersasmembers,WFNunitestheirfinancialpower,expertiseandinfluenceinordertoaddressandsolvecriticalandcomplexsocialissuesrangingfrompovertytogender-basedviolencetoglobalsecurity.

Fromadozenwomenleadersintheearly1980s,whoassertedthatphilanthropyneededtoincludewomen’svoicesandsolutionsinordertocreatesocialchange,WFNisnowaninternationalcommunitycomprisedofUS-basedwomen'sfoundationsacross36statesandin14othercountries.Collectively,membersinvest$100million/yeartowardadvancingthelivesofwomenandgirls.Weareamovementofwomeninvestingtogetherinwomen-ledsolutionsandinnovations.

WFNistheessentialconnectivetissue,expandingitsmembers’knowledgeandstrengths,andamplifyingimpactthroughitsconferences,regionalsummits,cross-sectorpartnerships,accesstoinnovativetoolsandresearch,connectionswithwomenleadersandwomen-ledorganizationsaroundtheworld,andfacilitatedlearningcommunities.ThemostrecentbeingthePartnershipforWomen’sProsperity,a6-yearcohortofwomen’sfoundationsinsixstates,focusedonestablishingpipelinestosecureemploymentforlow-incomewomen;andtheTwoGenerationAdvocacyCohort,a2-yearcollaborativeofwomen’sfoundationsinfourstatesadvocatingforbetterworkforcepoliciesandprogramstosupportlow-incomewomenandtheirchildren.Skilledfacilitationofeachcohortsupportsthesharingofcommonchallenges,innovationsandbestpractices,andthedevelopmentofsharedaimsandmetrics.

SNAPSHOT OF STRATEGIES FOR ADVANCING WOMEN’S ECONOMIC MOBILITY

ThemajorityofWFNmembersprioritizeadvancingwomen’seconomicmobility,opportunitiesandsecurityasakeyfocusoftheirwork.All,regardlessofwhethertheyinvest$100,000/yearor$1,000,000/year,employarangeofstrategies,includingusingtheirconveningpower,fosteringpublic-privatepartnerships,promotingresearch,

collaboratingwithacademics,nonprofitsandgovernmentpartners,andengagingincommunicationsstrategiestomovetheneedle.Thechartonthenextpageshowstheinvestmentsmadebywomen’sfoundationsonvariousissuesimpactingthelivesofwomenandtheirfamilies.Economicsecuritytoppedthelist,withasmuchas$12Mbeinginvestedin2018.

Asmorewomen'sfoundationsapplyaholisticsystemschangeapproach—fromconnectingadeepunderstandingoftheunderlyingeconomicandsocialcontextwithprogramsandinterventiondevelopment,topolicychangeandserviceprovision,toscalingeffortsbyresourcinginfrastructureneeds—tothecomplexchallengesinherentinadvancingwomen’seconomicmobilityandsecurity,greatstridesarebeingmade.

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Women's Foundations Put Their Money Where the Need Is Economicsecurityiscriticalforwomenandgirlseverywhere.Fundingitisapriorityforwomen’sfoundationsthatinvestedover$12Millionin2018.Yet,lastingeconomicsecurityalsorequiresthatviolencebereduced,leadershipincreased,andhealthoutcomesimproved.Thiscombinationofmovingpartsworktogether,andin2018,46women'sfoundationsinvestedcloseto$50Milliontowardmovingwomenandgirlsfrompovertytoprosperity.

Women’sfoundationsutilizeanarrayofprovenstrategiestoadvancewomen’seconomicsecurityincluding:(1)seekingwisdomandsolutionsdirectlyfromthewomenandcommunitiesmostimpactedbyeconomicchallenges;(2)engagingincutting-edgeresearchwithacademicandcommunitypartnerstosurfacekeydriversofwomen’seconomicinsecurityandpossiblesolutions;(3)recognizingthatgenderequityandjusticeareinherentlyinterconnectedwithracial,economicandhealthequityandjustice;(4)supportingmulti-facetedapproachessuchaspolicychange,organizing,andsystemschangeefforts;(5)fosteringcross-sectorcollaborationsbybringingtogetherdiversestakeholdersandsectorsforsharedlearningandstrategydevelopment;(6)investinginculturechangeworkbyelevatingtheissues,promisinginnovations,andthevoicesofthosemostimpactedthroughsavvycommunicationsstrategiesandsocialmedia;and(7)leveragingimpactbyinvestingincommunitypartnersandprogramsovermultipleyearsthroughgrantmakinginitiativesandtrainings.

Examplesarefeaturedonthefollowingpagesofferingasnapshotofthecurrentnationallandscape.Whiletheseprovidearichsampling,manymoreexamplesofthebroaderimpactofthewomen'sfundingcommunityarefeaturedonourwebsite.

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STRATEGY 1: SOLICIT WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE & SOLUTIONS FROM THOSE CLOSEST TO THE ISSUES

Listeningtours,focusgroups,communityconversations,andadvisorycouncilsarecommonstrategiesthatwomen’sfoundationsusetoliftupthevoicesandexpertiseofthosewithlivedexperience—low-incomewomen,womenofcolor,youngwomenandIndigenouswomen—in

developingfundingstrategiesandinitiativestoadvancewomen’seconomicmobility.

TheWomen'sFoundationofColoradolaunchedChat4Change,aseriesofcommunityconversationstoinform,illuminate,andconnectthecommunityinsupportofwomenwhoareonthepathtoeconomicsecurityinColorado.Chat4Change’sfirsteventhighlightedtheeconomicstatusofimmigrantandrefugeewomeninColorado,theuniquechallengestheyfaceasnewcomers,andtheresourcestheyneedtosucceed.Giventhatwomen65andolderarethefastestgrowingpopulationandamongthemostlikelytoliveinpoverty,thenextChat4ChangewillhighlighttheeconomicchallengesofColorado’sagingwomen’spopulation.

Community Conversations 2

InanefforttounderstandhowtheIowaWomen’sFoundation(IWF)mightpositivelyimpacttheeconomicself-sufficiencyofwomenandgirlsinIowa,IWFhelditsSHEMATTERS:WeListenandIowaWinslisteningtourwithfocusgroupsin19communitieswithlow-incomewomenandnonprofit,public,education,lawenforcement,philanthropicandbusinesssectorparticipants.Fromthefocusgroups,IWFlearnedtherearesixkeybarriersfacingwomenwithregardtotheireconomicsecurity:employment,affordablechildcare,housing,education/training,transportationandmentorship.

Listening Sessions 1

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Comprisedofsixsinglemotherslivingbelowthefederalpovertylevel,theWomen'sFoundationofSouthernArizona’sFamilyAdvisoryCouncil,advisesonallthefoundation’sworkanddecisions,includingitsgrantmaking,research,legislativedrafts,strategicdirectionandpriorities.

AdvisoryCouncils

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TheWomen'sFundoftheGreaterCincinnatiFoundationestablishedanAdvisoryCouncil,comprisedof15womencurrentlyexperiencingbarrierstoeconomicmobility.TheCouncilinformsthefoundation’sresearchandadvocacyeffortsandisthesoledecision-makerforitsprogrammaticgrants.

Advisory Councils

Wearebuildinguponinvokingfamilyvoiceinourwork.Thatisapartofthe2Genworkthatmaynotbetalkedaboutasmuch.Wehaveafamilyexpertisecouncil.Weareworkingtoexpandandbroadentheirinfluenceinwhatwedo. “

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STRATEGY 2: RESEARCH TO FOSTER BETTER UNDERSTANDING

Women’sfoundationssupportresearchtofosterbetterunderstandingofthelandscape,

driversofgender-specificpoverty,keyissues,andopportunitiesforinterventions.

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TheWomen'sFoundationofSouthernArizonacollaborateswithUniversityofArizonaresearcherstostudytheeconomicmobilityofsinglemothersparticipatinginitsPathwaysProgram,andrecentlypublishedtworeports:"RelationshipofEconomicIndependenceandAccesstoChildcare"and"Women’sWork:RealitiesandPossibilitiesforArizona."

Women’sFoundationofMississippicommissionedtheInstituteforWomen’sPolicyResearchtoconductanin-depthstudyonfemalecommunitycollegestudents,barrierstotheiracademicprogress,andresourcestoenablesuccess.Thereport,“SecuringaBetterFuture:APortraitofFemaleStudentsinMississippi’sCommunityColleges”criticallyinformsthefoundation’sAccesstoOpportunityinitiative,whichenhancescareercounselingandremedialeducation,improvesstudentservices,andincreasesaccesstofinancialaid.

AWomen'sFoundationofArkansasstudylookingatthestatusoflow-incomeBlackwomenbusinessownersintheArkansasDelta,gathereddataaboutlivedexperiencethroughpersonalinterviews,focusgroups,andquestionnaires,seekingtoidentifybarriersintheentrepreneurialecosystemandhownetworkssupportbusinessdevelopment

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Including50directinterviewswithAfricanAmericanwomenatvarioussocio-economiclevels,theWomen'sFundoftheGreaterCincinnatiFoundationresearchexaminesincome,wealth,economicmobilityratesandoccupationalgroupsegregationtounderstandAfricanAmericanwomen’spathsandobstaclestoeconomicmobility.

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TheVermontWomen’sFund,VermontCommissiononWomenandVermontWorksforWomenpartnerintheChangeTheStoryinitiativetoalignpolicy,program,andphilanthropytosignificantlyimprovewomen'seconomicstatusinthestate.Thepartnershipresearchedandpublishedfourseminalreports:"Women,Work&Wages,""WhereWomenWork,""Women-ownedBusinesses,"and"WomenInLeadership.”

TheChicagoFoundationforWomenregularlyresearchestheneedsoflow-incomewomenacrosstheChicagoregion.Oneofitsreports,"SteppingOutoftheDebtSpiral"foundthatcityfinesandfeeskeptfamiliesfromemploymentandstuckindebt.Thereportledtothepassageofreformstothecity’sfinesandfeespolicies,whichultimatelybenefitedlowincomewomen.

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STRATEGY 3: LIFT UP INTERSECTIONALITY

Women’sfoundationsliftupintersectionality,andfocusonandinvestinkeypopulations—teens&youngwomen,Indigenouswomen,womenofcolor,singlemothers—toensure

they’resupportingculturallyrelevantandeffectivestrategies.

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TheChicagoFoundationforWomenfoundhistoricsegregationandlackofinvestmentincommunitiesofcolor-particularlyAfricanAmericanandLatinx-asignificantbarriertowomen’seconomicmobility.Understandingthatgenderequityisinherentlyinterconnectedwithracial,economicandhealthequity,thefoundationstructureditsgrantmakingandprogramswithanintersectionallens.

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TheWomen’sFoundationofMinnesota’sYoungWomen’sInitiativeaimstoincreaselaborforceparticipationofyoungwomenwithfourpriorities:(1)pathwaystohigh-skill,high-wagecareersandjobs;increasedparticipationinSTEMfields;andincreasedopportunitiesinfemale-dominatedemploymentsectors;(2)increasedaccesstoaccessible,affordable,high-quality,culturallyappropriatechildcareandearlyeducation;(3)pipelinestosupportpost-secondaryeducationalattainmentforyoungwomenwiththegreatestdisparities;and(4)publicawarenesscampaignsontheimpactsofgender-basedviolence,de-stigmatizingsurvivors,andprovidingmoreservices.

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Giventhatsecuringbasicneeds(e.g.food,housing,andhealthcare)isalargebarrierformanywomenandgirlsinitscounty,theWomen'sFoundationofCollierCounty(FL)providesscholarshipawardsandsocialdevelopmentmentoringtoaddresseconomicmobilitychallengesofat-riskteensinordertoshifttheintergenerationalimpactsofpoverty.

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TheWomen'sFoundationofSouthernArizona’sPathwaysProgramprovidestuition,childcare,monthlystipends,emergencyfunds,transportationassistance,educationalandjobcoaching,andprofessionalclothingassistancetosupportsinglemotherstoparticipateincertificateprogramslinkedtocareerpathswithaself-sufficientwage.

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MaineWomen’sFundprioritizesfoodsovereigntyprojectsinTribalcommunities,enablingNativeWomentoaddressfoodinsecurity,decreaserelianceongovernmentresourceslikethefoodstampprogram,reclaimculturalpracticesandreturntotraditionaldietarystapleslikewildrice.

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Understandingthecentralityofadvancingracialjusticetoallofitswork,theWomen'sFundofGreaterBirminghamprioritizesandinvestsinraceequitytrainingforitsstaff,boardandgrantees.Thisisalsopartoftheirtwo-generationalwork.

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STRATEGY 4: EMPLOY MULTI-FACETED APPROACHES

Women’sfoundationsemploymulti-facetedapproachestoadvancingwomen’seconomicsecurity.Theexamplesbelowcapturethediversityofapproachesfromplace-informedtoplace-based,tocollaborativesaddressingchildcaresolutions,tohealthcarenonprofits

pavingthewaytolivingwageemploymentforthelowestpaidhealthworkers.

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TheWomen'sFundofRhodeIslandadvocatesforpolicies—suchaspaidfamilyleave,paidsicktime,increaseinminimumwage,fairpaypolicies,increasedpayforgendersegregatedindustrieslikechildandhealthcare—toimprovewomen'seconomicsecurity.ThefundisamemberofboththeFightfor$15/FairPayCoalitionandtheClosingtheWomen'sWealthGapCoalition.

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TheWomen’sFoundationforaGreaterMemphisadvancesasystemschange,place-basedapproachtoreducingwomen’spoverty.Withafocusonazipcode(38126)withdramaticpoverty,thefoundationaimstoreducepovertyinthatcommunitybyonepercentperyearoverfiveyears—byleveragingeffectivestrategiesofpartnerorganizations,agencies,andgrantees.Theprojectemploysatwo-generationapproach,intentionallyintegratingsupportforservicesforchildrenandadultstotackleintergenerationalpoverty.Thefoundationalsoleveragesnewemployer-drivenpartnershipstosupportincreasedjobplacementsandhasdevelopedaWorkforceDevelopmentCurriculum.

TheWomen’sFoundationofCaliforniasupportedgranteesworkingtoredesignthelabormarkettopavethewaytolivingwageemploymentforwell-trainedcommunityhealthworkers,interpreters,homecareproviders,andnursingandmedicalassistants,whobringvaluableskillstofront-linehealthcaredelivery,yetremainamongthelowest-paidinthehealthcareworkforce.Granteescreatedsocialenterprises,offerdirectemployment,andadvocateforlastingchangewithinthehealthcaresector.

TheNewYorkWomen’sFoundationinvestsinresearchfocusedontheimpactofthecriminaljusticesystemonwomen’seconomicsecurity.Granteepartnerstestnewapproaches,suchaspayingforcertificateprogramsforformerlyincarceratedwomentoaccesshighereducation.Thefoundationactsasaconvener,bringingtogetherstakeholdersacrosstheprivate,public,andnonprofitsectors,tolearndirectlyfromitsgrantees.

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STRATEGY 5: FOSTER CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION

Women’sfoundationshavealonghistoryofworkinginpartnershipwithkeylocalstakeholdersincludingphilanthropy,community-basedorganizations,businesses,

colleges/vocationaltrainingprograms,andpublicsectoragenciestoadvancecommoneconomicopportunitygoals.

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TheAuroraWomenandGirlsFoundation(CT)partnerswithhighereducationinstitutions,womenandgirlsservingnonprofits,thephilanthropicsector,stateagencies(i.e.,theConnecticutGovernor'sCouncilonWomenandGirls)andcorporateandbusinesspartnerstoadvanceeconomicsecurityforwomeninitsregion.

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TheWomen'sFoundationofColoradoconvenesaworkinggroupof50+workforcedevelopmentandearlycareandeducation(ECE)cross-sectorstakeholderstoidentifyactionablesolutionstoimproveaccesstohigh-quality,affordablechildcareforworkingfamilies.Thegroupincludesexpertsfromtheprivate,government,andnonprofitsectorsandrepresentsECEbusinessowners,professionals,andleadersinthelocaleconomy.AplantomorefullymeetColorado’sgrowingchildcareneedsbydiversifyingeducationalandtrainingpathwaysforECEprofessionalswasdevelopedwithinputfromstatewidestakeholders.

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TheWomen'sFoundationofMississippipartnerswithnonprofits,businessesandotherfunderstocreateasuccessfulnon-traditionalworkforcedevelopmentprogramfocusedonwomeninconstruction.Thecollaborationincludesbusinessleadersandfundersandisbeingliftedupforreplicationthroughoutthestate.

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TheWashingtonAreaWomen’sFoundationbringsagenderlens,itsexpertiseandcommunity-derivedinsightstonumeroustablesthroughouttheDCregion.Forexample,inservingontheleadershipcouncilofRaiseDC,whichadvancescradletocareeropportunitiesforDC’syouth,thefoundationinfluencedthecounciltoanalyzeandcollectdataspecificallywithagenderlensandtoconsidertheimpactofitsprogrammingonyoungwomeninparticular.

6 TheWomen'sFundoftheGreaterCincinnatiFoundationiscollaboratingwiththeUniversityofCincinnatitoupdateresearchontheCliffEffect,whichwillinformworktopassstatelegislationonthisissue.Theyarebringingtogetheracomprehensivegroupofemployers,governmentofficials,serviceproviders,chambersofcommerce,andacademicstodevelopactionablepolicysolutionsfortheCliffEffect.

TheWomen’sFoundationforaGreaterMemphisforgescross-sectoremployer-drivenpartnerships(incollaborationwithcommunity-basedorganizations,post-secondaryinstitutions,andlocalandstategovernmentorganizations)tosupportincreasedjobplacementsandothereconomicopportunitiesforlow-incomewomen.

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TheTexasWomen'sFoundation’sfive-yearplusfundingofthepublicradioseries,OneCrisisAway,hasgarneredmultiplenationalreportingrewardsandisheardacrossTexas.Theserieshasalargefocusonwomenandfamilies,redefiningwhatpovertylookslikeinTexas.Thisyear,thefoundationwillalsofeatureaudiostoriesandphotographyof12womenchallengedbythekeybuildingblocksforeconomicsecurity(housing,healthinsurance,educationandchildcare)toamplifytheissuesthroughthevoicesofthosemostimpacted.

STRATEGY 6: ENGAGE IN CULTURE CHANGE STRATEGIES

Women’sfoundationsengageinstrategicculturechangeandcommunicationsstrategiestoamplifytheissuesandshiftthenarrative.

Understandingthatracialandgenderhierarchyunderpinsmanysystemsinthestate,theWomen'sFoundationofMississippiworkstochangemindsetsbyshiftingthenarrativearoundgenderequity.Thefoundation’s“ConsiderThis”paneldiscussionsprovidethought-provokingconversationsonavarietyoftopics,including#MeToo,LeadingBeyondGenderandRace,andMentalHealth.

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TheWomen'sFundofMiami-Dade’saward-winningsocialmediapublicengagementcampaignaimstoovercomebarriersandfostersolutionsforwomen’seconomicsecuritybyfocusingonequalpay,healthaccess,mentalhealthaccess,anti-humantrafficking,affordablehousingandotherissuescentraltoadvancingwomen’seconomicmobility.Reflectingitsdemographic,allofthefund’scommunicationsstrivetobeinamixofSpanish,Creole,andEnglish.

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STRATEGY 7: LEVERAGE IMPACT THROUGH CONVENINGS

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4 TheWesternNewYorkWomen’sFoundationconvenescross-sectorcommunitypartnerstojointlyimproveeconomicconditionsforwomen.Giventhattheburdensofchildrearingandeldercareoftenfalltowomen,whothenfacechallenges(i.e.skillsgap,lackofnetworks)re-enteringtheworkforce,thefoundationidentifiedtheneedforreconnectionservicesforthispopulation.AsaresultofitsconveningofBuffalo,NYworkforcedevelopmentnonprofitsandcommunityorganizations,theorganizationsarepoisedtocollaborateonsharedgoals,andavoidreplication.

TheWomen'sFundofWesternMassachusettspartnerswiththeMassachusettsStateTreasurerandlocalcommunitycollegestoofferfreesalarynegotiationworkshopsforwomen.

Women’sfoundationsleveragetheirimpactbyusingthepowerofconvenings,trainingsand

capacitybuilding

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TheWomen'sFundofRhodeIslandalsooffersworkshopsonfinancialgenderequityandsalarynegotiation.

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BUILDING ON SUCCESS WITH REGIONAL WOMEN’S ECONOMIC MOBILITY HUBS

Women’sfoundationshavealonghistoryofaddressingwomen’seconomicsecurityandmobilitywithintheirowncommunities.Toincreasetheirindividualimpact,WFNfacilitatesmulti-year,multi-foundationcohorts,collaboratingacrosstheU.S.Buildingonthelong-termimpactofwomen'sfoundationsapplyingagenderlenstopovertyalleviationandwomen’seconomicsecurity,WFN,inpartnershipwiththeBillandMelindaGatesFoundation,isnowsupportingthecreationofupto10regionalWomen'sEconomicMobilityHubsbywomen’sfoundationsindiverseregions.

Hubswillreflecttheiruniquegeographicanddemographiclandscape,andwillmagnifyexistingpartnershipsandstrategiesofthewomen'sfoundations.Targetedcommunityengagementwillhelpidentifycommunityassetsandkeyinfluencerstocollectivelymovestrategiceffortsandinvestmentsthatbuildlastinglivelihoodsforwomenandadvancetheireconomicopportunitiesmobilityandsecurity.Hubswillfocusonthecriticalrangeofsocial,economic,health,andenvironmentalconditionsnecessarywithintheirregionalecosystemsforwomentothrive.

QUESTIONS DRIVING OUR INITIATIVE

Ø Whateffortsareeffectiveinpovertyalleviationacrossregionsandwithinspecificregionsforwomenandgirls?

Ø Whatopportunities,byregion,existtoacceleratepovertyalleviationforwomenandgirls?

Ø Whatwillbeneededtosustainpovertyalleviationamongwomen'sandgirls’effortstoachievetheoutcome?

Ø Howdoesthelearningcommunitysupporttheworkofregionalhubleaders?

Ø Whatotherinputsorconditionsareneededforsuccessinadvancingwomen'seconomicmobilityatregionalandstatelevels?

Ø Howcanphilanthropicpartnersanddonorsfurthersupportwomen'sfoundationstoincreasetheirimpactandtaketheirworktoscale?

WiththeRegionalWomen'sEconomicMobilityHubs,wehopetobringmoreconcentratedeffortincommunities,fromruraltourban,withtheleadershipofwomen'sfoundations.Asbestpracticesandinnovationsareidentified,wehavethelonger-termgoalofcompellingadditionalfunderstojointheseefforts,applyingagenderlenstopovertyalleviation,andtoreplicatetheHubsbeyondtheoriginal10sitesinordertofurthertheinitiative'sreachandimpact.

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Acknowledgements ThisreportwasproducedbyCynthiaNimmo,Women’sFundingNetwork;AnujaMendiratta,Philanthropic+NonprofitConsulting;andLisaKorwin,KorwinConsulting.

Thecontentofthisreportdrawsuponconversationswithmembersaswellasthefollowingdocuments:

§ PartnershipforWomen’sProsperityevaluationreports § Two-GenerationalPolicyCohortmemberinterviews § Two-GenerationalPolicyCohortmemberreports § KorwinConsultingTwo-GenerationalPolicyCohortevaluationreports § WFN2020LandscapeAnalysissurveyofwomen’sfoundations(n=20) § WFN2019MemberGrantmakingSurvey(n=46)