Philanthropy for girls' and women's causes encompasses multiple funding interests both in the United States and abroad. These include health, human rights, safety, social and economic equality, representation in the arts, and even infrastructure issues related to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Women's and girl's issues are receiving attention from an increasing number of funders with a diverse range of interests. Many have modest resources and offer grants in the ballpark of four figures—although some offer grants that run far higher. As more individual funders and foundations bring attention and grant dollars to women's and girl's issues, we will update these profiles with new information. Only paid subscribers can access this resource. (Subscribe here.)
Funders
ADOBE FOUNDATION
The Adobe Foundation invests in women’s economic empowerment and economic security projects.
ANGELICA FOUNDATION
The Angelica Foundation funds organizations that advocate for women’s rights in Mexico.
ARSENAULT FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Arsenault Family Foundation supports female empowerment and inclusion efforts in the United States and abroad.
BEYOND OUR BORDERS FUND
The Beyond Our Borders Fund invests in girls and women’s organizations, which a led by both women and diverse people from the local community, to inspire "systemic change."
SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION
The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation supports girls and women’s causes both in the United States and abroad.
DARIN BUTZ FOUNDATION
The DaRin Butz Foundation invests in organizations that encourage girls and women to pursue careers in science.
BUSHROD H. CAMPBELL AND ADAH F. HALL CHARITY FUND
Campbell and Hall Charity Fund invests in girls and women’s organizations based in the United States; however, it prioritizes funding organizations serving or based in Boston. It also awards grants to reproductive health organizations working internationally.
CATERPILLAR FOUNDATION
The Caterpillar Foundation funds organizations that alleviate the root causes of poverty.
DONALD AND CAROLE CHAIKEN FOUNDATION
The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation broadly supports women’s organizations across the United States.
CHANEL FOUNDATION
In addition to supporting female empowerment through economic, educational and training projects, Chanel also prioritizes giving to cultural events and female artists. It supports emergency projects that affect vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, on a case-by-case basis.
CHANNEL FOUNDATION
The Channel Foundation (not to be confused with the Chanel Foundation) seeks catalytic women’s human rights organizations on international, national, and regional levels around the globe. Channel supports organizations giving women and girls the knowledge, access, information, resources and training necessary to overcome gender barriers.
CIVILIAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
The Civilian Research and Development Foundation seeks scientists that address multiple global challenges. The foundation predominantly funds security. It also supports women in science.
J.A. CLARK CHARITABLE TRUST
The J.A. Clark Charitable Trust invests in girls and women across a variety of empowerment causes. Currently focuses on organizations working in Africa and Asia.
COCA-COLA FOUNDATION
The Coca-Cola Foundation invests its gender equity grants in women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
EVAN CORNISH FOUNDATION
The UK-based Cornish Foundation invests in women’s organizations around the world.
NATHAN CUMMINGS FOUNDATION
The Nathan Cummings Foundation broadly invests in organizations that address gender inequality.
DOBKIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Dobkin Family Foundation invests in women’s organizations across the United States.
EMBREY FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Embrey Family Foundation invests in organizations that bring gender rights and equality to the center of the human rights landscape.
FILIA FOUNDATION
The Filia Foundation awards grants to organizations combatting discrimination against girls and women on multiple levels including sexual orientation, ethnicity and skin color.
FIRELIGHT FOUNDATION
The Firelight Foundation funds organizations that focus on improving the health, education, resilience, and livelihoods of children in select African countries.
EILEEN FISHER FOUNDATION
The Eileen Fisher Foundation focuses its grantmaking on grassroots and local organizations and businesses.
FLORA FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Flora Family Foundation invests in an array of issues, which include women’s advancement.
FORD FOUNDATION
The Ford Foundation awards grants to organizations combatting inequality of all types.
FOUNDATION FOR A JUST SOCIETY
The Foundation for a Just Society focuses its grantmaking on advancing the rights of women, girls and LGBTQI people. Grantmaking focuses on relationship building, transparency and accountability.
FRIDA: THE YOUNG FEMINIST FUND
FRIDA supports organizations led by women, girls and trans youth who are working as change agents against inequality and oppression.
FUND FOR NONVIOLENCE
The Fund for Nonviolence invests in social change organizations across the country.
GAP FOUNDATION
The Gap Foundation invests in organizations that help transform the lives of girls and women around the world through skills-building, technical training, and healthcare.
BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports a variety of issues related to girls and women, which range from women's reproductive health to economic well-being.
DAVID GEFFEN FOUNDATION
The David Geffen Foundation supports a range of girls and women’s organizations across the United States.
GENERAL SERVICE FOUNDATION
The General Service Foundation invests in reproductive rights, the environment, and peacebuilding.
GEORGE FAMILY FOUNDATION
While the George Family Foundation is still developing its women-related grantmaking, it has invested in women’s rights and empowerment, leadership, and anti-sex trafficking causes.
WALLACE ALEXANDER GERBODE
The Wallace and Alexander Gerbode Foundation’s grants related to girls and women largelly center on reproductive health and rights.
VIRGINIA GILDERSLEEVE INTERNATIONAL FUND
The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund funds women’s rights and empowerment organizations in least-developed countries around the world.
GIRLS RIGHTS PROJECT
The Girls Rights Project supports organizations working in the fields of education, anti-trafficking, ending the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting, and locating missing girls.
GLOBAL GREENGRANTS FUND
The Global Greengrants Fund supports organizations that amplify women’s voices to bring increased global attention to rights issues. This small grantmaker focuses its funding energies on grassroots groups nearly exclusively.
GREENBAUM FOUNDATION
Greenbaum invests in animal advocacy, human rights and trafficking, human health, and education organizations.
GROUNDSWELL FUND
The Groundswell Fund supports grassroots groups fighting for the reproductive rights of women of color, low-income white women, and transgender people in the United States.
HEISING-SIMONS FOUNDATION
The Heising-Simons Foundation seeks rights groups focusing on women and girls, people involved in the criminal justice system, and undocumented communities.
HEXBERG FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Hexberg Family Foundation broadly funds causes that affect girls and women.
HILL-SNOWDON FOUNDATION
The Hill-Snowdon Foundation’s grants related to girls and women typically go to support community organizing and gender equality in the workplace.
HOPE AND GRACE INITIATIVE
The Hope and Grace Initiative funds organizations that address women’s mental health.
WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation invests in organizations and projects that benefit girls and women, advocate for improved policymaking, ensure women have the right to earn a living and plan a family, and grow civic participation.
INTEL FOUNDATION
The Intel Foundation seeks organizations and academic institutions that encourage diversity across technology, engineering and science.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MEDIA FOUNDATION
The International Women’s Media Foundation makes grants to female journalists that cover underreported matters that are globally significant.
ISABEL ALLENDE FOUNDATION
The Isabel Allende Foundation seeks organizations that empower women, secure their reproductive rights, and protect them from violence.
KATE SPADE AND COMPANY FOUNDATION
The Kate Spade and Company Foundation invests in women’s economic and empowerment organizations.
KENDEDA FUND
The Kendeda Fund dedicates its grants to girls and women to ending child marriage in South Asia.
LALOR FOUNDATION
The Lalor Foundation seeks organizations focusing on young women’s access to sexual and reproductive health information.
LEVI STRAUSS FOUNDATION
The Levi Strauss Foundation funds organizations that advance the rights and well-being of apparel workers in places where Levi’s products are made.
LIBRA FOUNDATION
The Libra Foundation funds women’s rights organizations across the United States.
REVA AND DAVID LOGAN FOUNDATION
The Reva and David Logan Foundation broadly supports girls and women’s organizations through grantmaking across the United States.
MAMA CASH
Mama Cash supports women’s groups that mobilize for the rights of all women, including the most vulnerable.
MARINEAU FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Marineau Family Foundation supports programs that help girls and women live economically secure lives that are free from violence.
MARY KAY FOUNDATION
The Mary Kay Foundation makes grants to organizations and projects that address domestic violence and cancers that predominately affect women.
MATCH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FUND
MATCH International supports women, girls and trans organizations around the world. Prioritizes grassroots organizations over larger international organizations.
MS. FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN
Seeks organizations that address broad policy changes for women’s rights. It invests in women’s health, safety and economic justice. It also supports capacity building and offers a journalism-based fellowship.
MIZE FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Mize Family Foundation funds organizations that promote global environmental justice, social justice, and gender equality.
MORIAH FUND
The Moriah Fund invests in organizations that combat gender inequality and those which support sexual and reproductive health rights.
MORRISON & FOERSTER FOUNDATION
The Morrison & Foerster Foundation supports local, national, and international organizations conducting work on behalf of girls and women.
MOTOROLA FOUNDATION
The Motorola Solutions Foundation invests in education, public safety, and disaster relief.
STEWART R. MOTT FOUNDATION
The Stewart R. Mott Foundation funds girls and women’s organizations that have a national focus rather than a regional or grassroots profile.
NEW VENTURE FUND
The New Venture Funds supports girls and women’s organizations across the United States that fund a wide-variety of women's issues, from women's empowerment to maternal health.
NOVO FOUNDATION
The NoVo Foundation invests in organizations ending violence against women and girls, seeking long-term policy change, and advocating for economic justice. Offers both project-specific and general operating support grants.
JESSIE SMITH NOYES FOUNDATION
The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation seeks organizations that protect and expand access to reproductive health services and information for girls and women. Prefers to make general support grants rather than project-specific grants, and encourages requests for funding to address multiple priority issues.
OAK FOUNDATION
The Oak Foundation, founded by billionaire Duty Free Shoppers co-founder Alan Parker, invests in organizations that take a human rights-based approach to women's issues.
OATH FOUNDATION
The Oath Foundation, formerly the AOL Charitable Foundation, seeks organizations empowering tomorrow’s world leaders and increasing access to education and technology in underserved populations.
PEPSICO FOUNDATION
The PepsiCo Foundation funds a range of women’s and girls’ organizations across the United States and the globe.
JOAN AND LEWIS PLATT FOUNDATION
The Joan and Lewis Platt Foundation supports organizations promoting economic opportunities in developing countries.
POLLINATION PROJECT
The Pollination Project supports projects that align with its compassion consciousness philosophy. In the girls and women grantmaking space, the foundation seeks organizations fighting for social change and improving their communities.
PRBB FOUNDATION
The PRBB Foundation supports women’s empowerment organizations in the United States and abroad.
JOSEPH AND FLORENCE ROBLEE FOUNDATION
The Joseph and Florence Roblee Foundation funds girls' and women's empowerment efforts.
ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
The Rockefeller Foundation makes grants to many organizations that address gender equality across global health and development fields.
SAMUEL RUBIN FOUNDATION
The Samuel Rubin Foundation funds women’s rights and gender equality nonprofit organizations that work in the United States and abroad.
CHERYL SABAN SELF-WORTH FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
The Cheryl Saban Self-Worth Foundation supports a wide variety of projects and programs aimed at women and girls. This foundation currently supports organizations in New York, London, Israel, Illinois, Florida, Colorado, Texas, Utah and California.
SALESFORCE FOUNDATION
The Salesforce Foundation seeks organizations improving the representation of women and girls in the technology and STEM sectors.
SCHERMAN FOUNDATION
The Scherman Foundation invests in organizations and projects that support girls and women and advocate for reproductive rights and justice.
SIGRID RAUSING TRUST
U.K.-based Sigrid Rausing Trust supports organizations combating the oppression of women. It supports work in countries known for egregious rights violations.
SUMMIT FOUNDATION
The Summit Foundation supports organizations that advocate for reproductive, economic, social and educational rights of marginalized girls. It also encourages collaboration among grantees in both the private and public sectors.
TARA HEALTH FOUNDATION
The Tara Health Foundation predominantly seeks organizations that improve women's and girls' health. The majority of the Tara Foundation’s funding comes in the form of investments rather than grants.
THIRD WAVE FUND
Third Wave supports organizations combating transphobia, homophobia and other forms of oppression. It seeks youth-led organizations that focus on the rights of women of color, trans, intersex, non-binary, gender nonconforming and queer youth of color.
URGENT ACTION FUND FOR WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights focuses its grantmaking on women’s rights and transgender rights. This funder seeks to effect systemic change with its responsive and flexible funding approach.
VISA FOUNDATION
The Visa Foundation focuses its grantmaking on helping micro and small enterprises succeed.
VERIZON FOUNDATION
The Verizon Foundation takes a broad approach to women and girls-related grantmaking. As a result, it invests in a variety of organizations dedicated to women and girls; however, it's giving emphasizes domestic violence prevention and education.
VODAFONE AMERICAS FOUNDATION
The Vodafone Americas Foundation supports organizations empowering women and girls in the technology sector, as well as projects and programs protecting them from violence.
WELLS FARGO FOUNDATION
The Wells Fargo Foundation invests in local, regional, and national girls and women’s organizations.
WEYERHAEUSER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Weyerhaeuser Foundation seeks organizations that help girls and women in least developed countries overcome poverty and violence.
WOODCOCK FOUNDATION
The Woodcock Foundation’s girls and women’s grants focus largely on gender equality efforts in the United States and around the world.
WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF CALIFORNIA
The Women’s Foundation of California seeks organizations that strengthen women’s rights and economic well-being. This funder supports local, grassroots and statewide women’s groups.
WOMEN IN FILM
Women in Film offers scholarships, grants, and film finishing funds to female filmmakers around the country. This funder supports long and short film formats in many genres.
WOMEN PHOTOGRAPH
Women Photograph supports gender nonconforming, transgender, genderqueer and nonbinary photographers.
ZIENTS FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Zients Family Foundation focuses its grantmaking on women’s social and economic empowerment and education.