Organizations led by women and nonbinary leaders of color stand at the forefront of the most urgent struggles of our times, resolute in their commitment to constructing a just society where all can thrive. Supporting, investing in, and demonstrating genuine care for these leaders is not a mere choice; it is an imperative.
Building from Ms. Foundation for Women’s groundbreaking report, Pocket Change: How Women and Girls of Color Do More With Less, this latest research, Living With Pocket Change: What It Means To Do More With Less, examines the impact and real-life experiences of chronic philanthropic underinvestment and disinvestment in the leadership of women and nonbinary people of color, as well as underfunding of the organizations they lead, and highlights their needs, experiences, and the profound toll it takes.
Pocket Change: How Women and Girls of Color Do More with Less, 2020
Women and girls of color are pivotal frontline leaders and organizers in the powerful social change movements that pave the way for a more equitable and just democracy. Our report, Pocket Change: How Women and Girls of Color Do More With Less, seeks to better understand how they do this work and asks critical questions of philanthropy and donors: How is philanthropy supporting or not supporting women and girls of color? Are philanthropic practices in alignment with the breadth of advocacy and services that women of color-led organizations actually provide? How can we change our practices to center women and girls of color in our giving and hold ourselves accountable?
As feminist activists and philanthropists working to advance gender and racial equity, we must grow and expand movements for equity while making space for taking care and healing. Each day brings significant challenges and pressures on women and girls of color, especially indigenous and transgender women. Pocket Change is a data-driven testament to how they rise to these challenges with ingenuity, resilience, fortitude, and integrity.
These are unprecedented times, and there are many, many ways to engage in philanthropy and activism. We hope that Pocket Change will provide new tools and a mandate to give more, better, and with greater transparency to our gender and racial justice movements. The model of feminist, trust-based philanthropy that centers women and girls of color is needed now more than ever.