Global Fund for Women
Encyclopedia
The Global Fund for Women is the largest non-profit foundation
in the world funding women's
human rights
. It was founded in 1987 by New Zealander
Anne Firth Murray
, and co-founded by Frances Kissling and Laura Lederer to fund women's initiatives around the world. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California
.
In September 1996, Murray retired and was succeeded by Kavita N. Ramdas. Ramdas ended her 14-year tenure at the Global Fund in September 2010, and will be succeeded by Musimbi Kanyoro
in August 2011.
Since 1988, the foundation has awarded over $93 million in grants
to over 4,000 organizations supporting progressive
women's rights
in over 170 countries.
In September 2005, the Global Fund for Women created the Legacy Fund, which is the largest endowment in the world dedicated exclusively to women's rights
. It donates over $8.5 million annually to women-led organizations.
that supports groups working to advance the human rights
of women and girls. They advocate for and defend women's human rights
by making grants to support women's groups around the world.
Funds that support the Global Fund for Women are raised from a variety of sources and are awarded to women-led organizations that promote economic security
, health
, safety
, education
and leadership
of women and girls.
The Global Fund for Women accepts grant proposals in any language and in any format.
reporting their financial status, information on their grant partners, and recognition of their donors. This report also contains reflections, statistics
and projections about the status of women and girls around the world.
The Global Fund for Women also publishes "Impact Reports" which focus on specific issues impacting women and girls.
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
in the world funding women's
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. It was founded in 1987 by New Zealander
Kiwi (people)
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
Anne Firth Murray
Anne Firth Murray
Anne Firth Murray is a New Zealand author, professor, and nonprofit founder.Murray is the founder of the Global Fund for Women, the largest non-profit organization in the world exclusively funding women's human rights. She founded the organization in 1987 and continued to act as president until...
, and co-founded by Frances Kissling and Laura Lederer to fund women's initiatives around the world. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
History
The Global Fund for Women awarded the organization's first grants in 1988 to eight grantees totaling $31,000.In September 1996, Murray retired and was succeeded by Kavita N. Ramdas. Ramdas ended her 14-year tenure at the Global Fund in September 2010, and will be succeeded by Musimbi Kanyoro
Musimbi Kanyoro
Well known for her leadership in international non-government organizations , Musimbi Kanyoro is passionate advocate and popular speaker for the promotion of health, sustainable development and human rights, with a special focus on women, children and minority groups...
in August 2011.
Since 1988, the foundation has awarded over $93 million in grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
to over 4,000 organizations supporting progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
in over 170 countries.
In September 2005, the Global Fund for Women created the Legacy Fund, which is the largest endowment in the world dedicated exclusively to women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
. It donates over $8.5 million annually to women-led organizations.
Profile
The Global Fund for Women is an international grantmaking foundationFoundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
that supports groups working to advance the human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of women and girls. They advocate for and defend women's human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
by making grants to support women's groups around the world.
Funds that support the Global Fund for Women are raised from a variety of sources and are awarded to women-led organizations that promote economic security
Economic security
Economic security or financial security is the condition of having stable income or other resources to support a standard of living now and in the foreseeable future...
, health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, safety
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
of women and girls.
The Global Fund for Women accepts grant proposals in any language and in any format.
Issues and Initiatives
- Health & Sexual Rights
- Peace & Gender Violence
- Economic & Environmental Justice
- Civic & Political Participation
- Access to Education
- Social Change Philanthropy
- Women Dismantling Militarism
Publications
The Global Fund for Women publishes an annual reportAnnual report
An annual report is a comprehensive report on a company's activities throughout the preceding year. Annual reports are intended to give shareholders and other interested people information about the company's activities and financial performance...
reporting their financial status, information on their grant partners, and recognition of their donors. This report also contains reflections, statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
and projections about the status of women and girls around the world.
The Global Fund for Women also publishes "Impact Reports" which focus on specific issues impacting women and girls.
See also
- Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
- Human Rights WatchHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
- Women's Environment & Development OrganizationWomen's Environment & Development OrganizationThe Women's Environment & Development Organization is an international non-governmental organization based in New York, U.S. that advocates women’s equality in global policy. It was founded in 1990 by Bella Abzug and Mim Kelber to take action in the United Nations and other international...
- Reproductive rightsReproductive rightsReproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows:...
- FeminismFeminismFeminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
- Human TraffickingHuman traffickingHuman trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
- Sexual SlaverySexual slaverySexual slavery is when unwilling people are coerced into slavery for sexual exploitation. The incidence of sexual slavery by country has been studied and tabulated by UNESCO, with the cooperation of various international agencies...
- Kavita RamdasKavita Ramdas-Background and Affiliations:Ramdas was born in Delhi, India and grew up in Mumbai, Delhi, London, Rangoon, and Bonn. She attended high school at the Nikolaus Cusanus Gymnasium in Bad Godesberg, Bonn, Germany; the Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai, and graduated from Springdales School, New...
External links
- The Global Fund for Women Official website
- Latest Annual Report Another World is On Her Way, 2009 - 2010 Annual Report
- A Powerful Force for Change 2008 - 2013 Strategic Plan
- Caught in the Storm: The Impact of Natural Disasters Impact Report
- What Girls Need to Grow: Lessons for Social Change Philanthropy Impact Report
- More Than Money: Strategies to Build Women's Economic Power Impact Report
- Global Fund for Women Announces Largest Endowment Ever for Women Around the World $20 Million Fund Addresses AIDS, Trafficking, Post-Disaster Recovery, Other Critical Threats; Investing in Women Key to Ending Violence, Promoting Democracy (Press Release 2005)
- Kavita Ramdas publications in the Huffington Post Kavita Ramdas publications in the Huffington Post
- Global Fund for Women on YouTube Official Global Fund for Women YouTube Channel