Conference turris::womannotes-v3

997.0. "Charity Money for Women" by GALLAH::KAHN () Mon Aug 26 1991 13:32

I thought it might be useful to have note to list and talk about
places to send our charity money so it will primarily benefit women.


On April 25, 1989, (I know it's old but I think it's still current and
interesting) the Christian Science Monitor ran an article on p. 14,
entitled "Foundations Run by Women, Helping Women."  

Copied without permission from the Christian Science Monitor.  Article
submitted from Toronto.

During the past decade, Americans have applauded the new successes of women
more readily than they have confronted women's new - and not-so-new -
problems.  As a result, finding money to help battered women, pregnant
teen-agers, and homeless mothers and children remains one of the great
unmet needs today. 

Now, little by little, women themselves are taking the lead in offering
financial help through innovative new sources:  foundations run by women to
benefit projects that serve women and girls.  With names like Womens Way in
Philadelphia, Chicago Foundation for Women, Minnesota Women's Fund and
Women's Funding Alliance in Seattle, these groups are quietly aiding such
diverse projects as battered-women's shelters, parenting classes for
teen-age mothers, older women's networks, and child care for young mothers
in job training.

Earlier this month, when representatives of women's philanthropies gathered
here for their annual conference of the National Network of Women's Funds,
they had reason to celebrate.  Just 10 years ago, women's funds were almost
nonexistent.  Today more than 50 are scattered around the United States, 10
of them emerging within the past year alone.

If the idea of gender-specific philanthropy seems strange, consider a few
sobering statistics.  According to the Foundation Center, only 3.4 percent
of traditional foundation money goes to programs that focus on women and
girls.  Other studies show that even when awards are gender-specific, boys'
organizations in some areas have been eight times as likely to receive
grants as comparable girls' organizations. 

In a new report, "Far from Done:  The Status of Women and Girls in
America," published by Women and Foundations/Corporate Philanthropy, other
figures are equally bleak.  The number of women and children in poverty has
climbed to more than 75 percent of the nation's 32 million poor.  But from
1981 to 1987, the share of foundation funding for programs specifically
serving them grew by only one-half of 1 percent.

In addition, families headed by women are five times as likely as those
headed by men to be poor and at risk of nutritional deficiencies.  Yet in
1987, traditional foundations reported only 16 grants totaling $1.3 million
for hunger and nutrition programs aimed specifically at women.

And although women and children make up the fastest-growing segment of the
homeless, foundations reported only $1.1 million in 1987 for housing
programs targeted directly to women.

Last year, women's funds raised more than $8 million and distributed about
$3 million, according to Carol Mollner, a staff member of the National
Network of Women's Funds.  Although these contributions may appear modest,
their influence is important, since women's philanthropies often fund
projects and organizations that other foundations are reluctant to support.
"Many of these organizations can then go later to larger, more traditional
foundations that wouldn't take the risk to fund them in the beginning,"
Mollner says.

Women's foundations also cut across class lines in helping women understand
the importance of philanthropy.  Most funds receive gifts ranging from 50
cents to $1 million, Ms. Mollner says, adding, "It isn't wealthy women
doing good for poor women, it's everybody working together and learning
from each other.  In the process of helping women, we're also making life
better for children and men."

In an ideal world of equal opportunity and equal pay, gender-specific
grants would probably not be necessary.  The trickle-down theory of
economics would benefit women and men equally, and the rising tide of
prosperity would lift all boats. 

So far that has not happened - if anything, the new and old needs continue
to grow in volume and urgency.  As Marie Wilson executive director of the
Ms. Foundation in New York, says, "Because people see that a few women have
succeeded, they think the problems are over.  But our work is far from
done." 

    Here is one to get things started:
    
    The National Women's Health Network
    1325 G Street N.W.
    Washington, D.C.  20005
    
    Their blurb says:  "The only national public-interest organization
    dedicated solely to women and health."
    
    They publish a news letter every few months plus special issues
    when something needs particular attention -- like the Congress is about
    to consider a bill sponsoring research on breast cancer.
    
    One interesting note in their most recent issue:  "Women have been
    either under-represented or omitted altogether from many important
    research studies.  For example, a 1982 study measuring the correlation
    between cholesterol levels, lack of exercise, smoking and heart disease
    included no women.  As recently as 1988, as study demonstrating that
    small doses of aspirin effectively prevented heart disease included
    22,071 men and zero women.
    

    
    WOMEN, INC.
    Dorchester, Massachusetts
    
    Women, Inc. is a private, non-profit agency which helps women move from
    dependence on drugs, alcohol, and public assistance to independent
    health and responsibility.
    
    The majority of clients are single parents.  Many women cannot or do
    not receive treatment for substance abuse because of
    child-care/child-custody issues.  Since its inception in 1973, Women,
    Inc has pioneered in the development and promotion of a treatment model
    addressing the needs of both mother and child.  Families are kept
    together.
    
    There are both residential and outpatient substance abuse programs
    focusing on counseling and advocacy, responsibility and skills
    development.  In addition, through links with hospitals and health care
    centers, adequate pre-natal care is assured pregnant clients.
    
    A one-year re-entry program including group and individual counseling
    helps women adapt successfully to working life, pressures of
    independent parenting and the reality of a world which is not drug-free.
    
    Over the years there have been dozens of children in residence.  As a
    result, in 1977 a child-care center was established to provide
    comprehensive care and early childhood development programs for the
    children of both addicts and non-addicts. At present the center
    provides for 34 children and is licensed to provide protective services
    to children-at-risk.

    
    With some international charities you can focus your money specifically
    at women if you like. For example, I sponsor a little girl in Kenya
    through Action Aid, money goes each month to pay for her education &
    towards general needs in her village. Also you can select a particular
    project to support, I don't think Action Aid have specific
    women-related ones, but I have heard of some others that do.
    
    Sarah.

International Fund for Family Planning
902 Broadway
New York, NY 10010

This doesn't quite fit the subject of the basenote, but I couldn't pass up the
chance to plug my favorite charity.  This is an organization which funds
distribution of birth control information and supplies to third world
countries.  The direct beneficiaries are women, but in context it's really
trying to save us all.

This organization does not provide abortions (for those with that particular
hangup).  I would guess from their literature that this is more for reasons of
economics than philosophy, though it may also help with fund raising.  It may
ultimately take a combination of heartbreaking police state tactics and mass
starvation to bring world population under control.  In the meantime, it seems
unconscionable not to make birth control available to anyone who wants it.

This organization is affiliated with Planned Parenthood International and gets
most of its funding from governments through the U.N.  This makes its financial
statements concerning fund raising and administrative expense ratios difficult
to evaluate.  But it appears that most of the money is put to good use.