Even though the sky seems to darken around us, we shine from within to provide light and hope to our communities and for each other. This collective light helps us see what this country could and should be. And every day, we strive to make that vision a reality.
Now, two years into the COVID-19 pandemic—complicated by vaccine misinformation, deep racism, climate crises, and economic insecurity for millions of people—women leaders, communities of color, and a new generation of activists are rising up. Together, we are supporting a bold new vision. Just look how much our c3 and c4 work has grown over the past three years!
WDN and WDN Action Are Powering
Movements Across the Nation
WDN Initiatives
United by a shared vision of justice and equity for all, our members boldly invest their wealth, time, and talents together. We listen deeply to leaders and movements fighting injustice, move funds quickly, and foster creative strategies that advance systemic change. Our initiatives are deeply investing in Black-led movement building and the leadership of Black women, changing the narrative and culture around climate change, organizing around a Care Economy, and protecting our democracy from disinformation.
In 2021, we continued our commitment to amplifying the voices and strategies of marginalized communities—expanding our framework to include an explicit reparations lens and power-building in LGBTQIA+ communities of color.
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Opportunity & Equality Impact Collective
The organizations we supported in 2021 are working at the intersection of gender, worker safety, and justice. They are furthering public education, legislative advocacy, litigation, and other resources to protect and expand opportunities for women and girls.
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Participation & Representation Impact Collective
While movement leaders recorded many successes in 2020, voter suppression continues to be a major concern in many states. In addition to protecting voting rights, our grantees are helping people fully participate in democracy.
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Safe & Sustainable Future Impact Collective
A safe and sustainable future includes the right to clean air, water, land, food, environmental justice, and gender equality. Recognizing the centrality and intersection of women’s rights and environmental justice, we share a commitment to supporting women’s powerful leadership, in particular, Black and Indigenous women.
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Co-created in 2016 by Women Donors Network, Solidaire Network, and other partner donor networks, the Emergent Fund is a queer, women of color-led, movement-aligned participatory grantmaker with intersectional, collective liberation values.
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In 2021, the Reflective Democracy Campaign expanded its groundbreaking research on the demographics of political power and awarded nearly $1 Million in grants, investing in strategies to build a truly democratic future.
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Images (left to right and top to bottom) Leaders Igniting Transformation, All*Above All, New Georgia Project, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, Emergent Fund, Reflective Democracy)
Photo: AZ Poder
There Are No Off-Years in Political Organizing
As the c4 sister organization to the Women Donors Network, WDN Action brings a unique gender justice lens to political giving and advocacy. We invest in both state-based and national groups that are building political power, expanding the base, fighting voter suppression, and fueling inspiring wins.
We understand the political reality of the moment we are in. We have razor-thin majorities in Congress, and we can’t risk losing Democratic control in the midterm elections. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and that’s why we are standing steadfast in our commitment to building political power to fuel the progressive wins of our time.
In 2021, we moved $7.66 million in c4 funding via WDN Action, even more than in 2020, because there are no off-years in political organizing. We invested in organizational capacity, innovative cultural and narrative strategies, and the year-round organizing that it takes to engage and activate communities in the political process.
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