Women’s Rights Organizations, Movement building and the

Funding Landscape

for GFW, August 6th, 2006

Sources

Regional analysis AWID M&M meeting, Queretaro Nov 06 AWID survey of 958 women’s rights organizations AWID Fundher Reports (2006 and 2007) GFW PO interviews (Michelle Morales) GFW grants assessment report by Lydia Alpizar (2007) Various inputs from Srilatha Batliwala, Lydia Alpizar, Joanna

Kerr, Lisa Veneklasen, Ellen Sprenger

Looking at…

o Key conceptso Achievements and challenges to dateo Funding landscapeo Emerging funding trends

Quoted from GFW’s strategic plan 2003-2008:

“The guiding principle of this plan is to strengthen the infrastructure of the global women’s movement by providing grants to support women’s rights in order to give voice and access to choices at all levels”

1 Key Concepts

o What is a social movement?

o What is movement building?

o Why movements?

Social Movements, what are they?

Social movements are forms of collective action that have: o A political agenda;o A membership or constituency base;o Some degree of organization (formal or informal);o Collective or joint actions in pursuit of common

goals at different levels; o Some continuity over time; o Activities that combine extra-institutional

(marches, protests) and institutional (advocacy & lobbying) forms of action.

o Diverse ways of resource mobilization to support their struggles.

(based on a definition developed by Srilatha Batliwala)

What is Movement Building?

o Different activities and strategies aimed at strengthening the visibility, voice, influence and capacity of different actors that form part of a particular social movement (individuals, groups, organizations, networks, etc.)

o Process by which the collective power of a particular movement to advance its goals and agendas is strengthened and therefore the capacity of its different constituents to work together and with other key actors enhanced.

Movement building is tied to a core vision: building collective power is key to advance our

agendas; but movement building processes do not happen on their own - we need to make

them happen

What do we look at when we talk about movement building?

o The herstory/origins of feminist and women’s movements around the world

o The characteristics of current women’s movements and our diverse organizing ways

o How we work together and what kind of impact this has on our strength, sustainability, inclusion, etc.; our capacity to build alliances among ourselves and with other social movements

o And also…what does feminism have to do with all of

this?

In other words we look at…

The challenges of our work, the issues that get talked about in meeting corridors, cafes, kitchen tables, bars…and sometimes(!) in conferences and meetings as well, for example…

but also…

…analyzing how the political-economic-cultural-geographical context(s) influence the way we do our organizing and strategizing…

…looking at the work done on particular issues or areas and how it gets affected by our capacity to work together effectively...

And looking at…

o Reflecting proactively on how organizations (rich in forms, strategies, shapes, sizes, etc) are linked to movement building processes

o Which forms feminist and women’s movements and organizations should take at this historical juncture? Reinvent ourselves by building on our own movements building herstory

“Is doing good work and getting sufficient resources as organizations enough to change society? No it is not. Our capacity to bring about major social change is influenced by our capacity for connecting our strategies, for sharing our dreams, for forging alliances and thus going beyond the survival of our organizations by thinking and acting collectively.”

Lydia Alpizar

Why movements?

2 Achievements and challenges to date

Raising visibility and voice public consciousness, breaking the culture silence,

acknowledgement

Exposing the nature of gender discrimination data, development indices, new analytical frameworks

Advancing formal equality removal of discriminatory laws, putting in place new laws, precedent

setting litigation, prosecution

Creating and engendering international norm structures Beijng Platform for Action, CEDAW (180 countries of 194)

Achievements

Building new institutional arrangements and mechanisms to advance equality

UNIFEM, special raporteurs, SC Resolution 1325 (on women and peace and security), national women’s agencies & policies, quotas & affirmative action for women, gender & women’s rights budgets

Building organizations, networks, movements A breadth, depth, and diversity of organizations working on

women’s rights issues and for gender equality within countries and globally

Mobilizing and empowering women in communities (substantive equality)

Layers of organizing work with poor, marginalized, minority, oppressed, excluded women at the grassroots, national, regional and global levels

More than a “numbers” game – building a political base and the constituency

More achievements

..and more

Holding the lineAdapting to constantly changing terrainMost successful social revolution, relatively

bloodlessYoung feminists organize, increasingly vocal,

visible and engagedGrowing emphasis on cross movement

building Women’s funds in many parts of the world

Challenges

Challenges

o Fragmentation and challenge of inclusiveness, linking global to local, collaboration

o More thinking & work around movement building needed (within and across)

o Imbalance between reactive - pro-active work; between normative frameworks – implementation

o Difficulties to build common political agendas and pacts

o Ability to measure and communicate impact

More challenges

o Competition (for funding, for profile)o Challenges in constituency building and grassroot

mobilizatono NGO-izationo Succession processeso Power and leadership / feminist leadershipo HUGE challenges and responsibilities while limited

capacity and resources

PAUSE

Comments?Questions?

Regional Achievements & Challenges

Europe/CIS

EU and non EU divide Forced labor migration (women

and men) is big issue Many post soviet countries

experience unemployment, male out migration, instability, alcoholism, drug addictions (e.g. Tajikistan)

Shrinking gov’t funding for social services, growing divide btw rich and poor

Abortion & sex work issues divide movements

NGO-ization and elitism Generation gap though

young feminists are gaining momentum(!)

Growing emphasis on cross movement building

Europe/CIS funding trends

Many funders have left the region, USAID too influential, EU funding difficult to access & directive

One of three regions with the most difficulty raising money

Recent growth in number of women’s funds in response (last 5 years)

Latin America and Caribbean

Growing number of leftist governments creates new opportunities and challenges

Political polarization in society reflected in women’s movmts: lack of common strategic vision

Armed conflict and political unrest in several countries Role of religion /Churches politics getting stronger

Lots of work around free trade liberalization

Creative, political, courageous mvmts

Growing use of information & communications technologies

Strong indigenous and rural women’s mvmts

Problematic leadership styles Beginnings of cross movement

building but much more work needed

LAC and funding trends

o Dramatic drop in funding, especially from government development cooperations (bilaterals) and International NGOs

One of three regions with the most difficulty raising money

o Strong women’s funds have emerged in response

Middle East and North Africa

War and conflict (especially Iraq, Pal, Lebanon, Afgh) and lack of security

Role of religion getting stronger Women not involved in formal

peace building processes Bilateral agreements (US-Arab

countries), poverty and marginalization

Political participation (national and local level) advances and focus area

Issues of violence more widely acknowledged in societies

Highly fragmented mvmt- little regional collective organizing

Most groups working on legal reform

Most feminist tend to be academics – few links with poor, uneducated, rural women

Not enough new young leadership

MENA funding trends

Illegality of accepting money from overseas (Iran, Syria, ..)

Stigma of accepting money from overseasConditional funding coming in: “democracy”

next to religious charity fundingOne of three regions with the most difficulty

raising moneyWomen’s funds in the process

Sub-Sahara Africa

Trade liberalization and privatization of social serv

Co-optation of “gender” by governments

HIV/Aids epidemic Growing influence of

religious institutions, meanwhile ‘culture’ used against whr

More women participate in political process

More women participate in peace building & conflict prevention

Growing civil society pressure for govt accountability

Challenge of ageism, elitism and rural/urban split, though changing

Young feminists gaining in strength

Lack of capacity of feminist organizations - financial & human

Sub Sahara Africa funding trends

Lots of governmental aid $$ going to Africa, but to governments with “gender policies”

African governments support conservative women’s organizations

Resources for feminist organizations declining Strong and fast growing women’s fund

South Asia

Rising # of IDPs and refugees

Land & inheritance rights overlooked

China and India ignoring HIV/AIDS

Micro-credit as the solution.. Women becoming more

visible in HIV/Aids communities

Fragmentation: dalits, sex workers, Muslims, lesbians - caste etc. Divisions in society also in women’s mvmts

Growing recognition of working collaboratively

Growing # young feminists Many women part of huge self-

help groups, one of the oldest and most complex set of women’s movements - deep & broad -from which to build

South East Asia & Oceania

Sex workers rights very strong (and divisive) Religious fundamentalism on the rise, pol conflict and

militarization More focus on natural resource and the environment

than in other regions Growing recognition of working collaboratively Geographic spread is organizing challenge Growing # young feminists

Asia and Oceania funding trends

“Tsunami project or no money”Oceana receiving hardly any donor fundingGrowth of local philanthropy, especially in

IndiaSeveral women’s funds, limited growth

US & Canada

Challenging political climate No long-range strategies or

plans Insufficient leadership

succession Still struggling with diversity,

inclusion

Feminist label as stigma still pervasive

Divide between ‘global work’ and national level work

Organizing of migrant women, domestic workers

US & Canada funding trends

Lack of resources, competition has severed relationships, moving from government funding to philanthropy (Canada)

Big opportunities for funds from individuals (transfer of wealth) and corporate sector

Around 100 women’s funds in the US, 1 in Canada

Developing alternative models of resource mobilization, e.g. super market philanthropy but also “can the movement be funded?”

Transnational or global work

Contrived nature of ‘global work’ - has no meaning w/o nat/reg’l

Challenge of linking local and global

Had to work defensively, responding to backlash

Highly specialized and often fragmented

Seduction of often short sighted, short lived campaigns w/o reconciling internal challenges

Global work, but not global movements

Perceived to be ‘giant’ mvmt, yet orgs and capacity are small!

Transnational or global workfunding trends

o Women’s rights organizations working internationally (n=152)o average annual income = USD 197,000o median annual income = USD 25,000o average grant size = USD 30,000

o Most (still) based in the Global North, largest percentage with budgets over USD 100,000

4 The funding landscape

Regional Distribution

31%

25%

15%

13%

9%

4%

Africa - South of Sahara

Latin America and Caribbean

Asia

CEE/CIS

Western Europe and NorthAmerica

Middle East /N.Africa

In what country is your organization based? (Recoded from country)

Base: 958 Respondents

N = 299

N = 244

N = 139

N = 84

N=128

N=38

Budget Size AWID Survey RespondentsWhat was your organization’s total income in 2005?

34%

32%

12%

19%

4%

Under $10k

$10k to $50k

$50k to $100k

$100k to $500k

$500k +

US Dollars

Sample = 845 respondents

Budget sizes - 1995 to 2005

58%

22%

9%

8%

3%

44%

28%

11%

14%

4%

34%

32%

12%

19%

4%

199520002005

US Dollars

Sample = 379/598/845 respondents

Note that these figures are absolute dollars and do not reflect changes in inflation and purchasing power over the study period.

N=35

N=157

N=100

N=268

N=285

N=22

N=84

N=64

N=167

N=261

N=13

N=31

N=33

N=84

N=218

Under $10k

$10k to $50k

$50k to $100k

$100k to $500k

$500k +

Overall Revenue Ranges by Region: 2005

30%

24%

43%

29%

36%

32%

42%

35%

28%

23%

25%

15%

12%

23%

18%

13%

15%

19%

21%

23%

17%

25%

1%

4%

4%

3%

3%

15%

4%

17%

Africa - South of Sahara

Asia

Latin America and Caribbean

Middle East/ N. Africa

CEE/CIS

North America and WesternEurope

Under $10k $10k to $50k $50k to $100k $100k to $500k $500k +

Please enter your organization’s total income in each of the following years in $USD

Respondent’s Region

Sample = 845 respondents

Five-year Trend in Organization Funding – Among only those who existed five years ago -

56%

61%

39%

36%

47%

62%

13%

16%

24%

17%

11%

30%

25%

37%

27%

38%

27%

5%

4%

13%

Africa - South ofSahara

Asia

Latin America andCaribbean

Middle East/ N.Africa

CEE/CIS

North America andWestern Europe

More Same Less Not Sure

Compared to five years ago (2000), what is the funding situation for your organization’s work?

Excludes organizations less than five years old.

Respondent’s Region

Base: 836 respondents

Income Sources: Percent of Income 1995 - 2005

25%

13%

13%

16%

0%

6%

1%

7%

6%

2%

6%

4%

23%

20%

11%

12%

0%

3%

1%

10%

6%

1%

3%

9%

23%

13%

14%

10%

0%

5%

0%

11%

7%

1%

2%

14%

Bi/Multilateral Development Assistance

Large Private Foundations

Public Foundations/INGOs

Individual Giving

Small Private Foundations

Women's Funds

Corporate Giving/Philanthropy

National/local governments

Organization's resources

Membership fees

NGO with grantmaking function

Other

199520002005

Percentage of all revenue in 1995 which came from each source. (Totals to 100%)

Sample = 454/504/729 respondents

Income Sources: 1995-2005

33%

14%

22%

30%

1%

37%

2%

24%

31%

36%

11%

37%

19%

20%

26%

1%

28%

1%

20%

34%

37%

9%

35%

13%

25%

28%

1%

46%

2%

27%

34%

36%

11%

Bi/Multilateral DevelopmentAssistance

Large Private Foundations

Public Foundations/Intern'lNGOs

Individual Giving

Small Private Foundations

Women’s Funds

Corporate Giving/Philanthropy

National/local governments

Organization’s resources(income gen.)

Membership fees

NGO with grantmaking function

1995 2000 2005

Sample = 454/504/729 respondents

Percentage receiving income from each source.

Percentage receiving income from each source.

Top 20 Donors: 2005

$7,325,103

$4,122,910

$4,031,399

$3,198,628

$3,195,872

$2,674,955

$2,600,000

$1,980,736

$1,673,875

$1,482,246

$1,235,768

$1,186,237

$1,079,000

$916,541

$885,910

$852,361

$749,741

$730,951

$725,322

$657,300

Individual Donor(s)

Dutch Government

Ford Foundation

Local foundations

Oxfam International Members

Global Fund for Women

HIVOS

Swedish Government

European Commission/EU

Norwegian Government

DANIDA

United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

Packard Foundation

MacArthur Foundation

CORDAID

Church

Local groups

Mama Cash

USAID

Open Society Institute

Base: 729 respondents

Total Donations to All Participant Organizations

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Highlights women’s organizations

o In 2005, 729 women’s rights organizations worldwide had the collective income of USD 79 million (compare Amnesty with USD 230 million annually)

o Organizations in the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Eastern Europe/CIS have the most difficulty raising money

o Women’s organizations are in a state of “survival and resistance”: o More than half of the survey respondents are receiving less funding

since 2000 o by August 2006, only 13% of organizations had secured full funding

for the year, 61% had raised ½ or less.

o Most significant funding sources for women’s organizations 1995-2005:o Bilateral and multilateral agencieso Large Private Foundations o International development NGOs (HIVOS,

Oxfams, etc.)

o A downward trend in large foundation funding for women and girls (though international funding is growing)

Highlights funding sectors

o The Gates Foundation dwarfs other large private foundations (USD 62 billion in assets), but new ones are on the horizon. o What kind of influence will this privatization have

on social change processes?

o A general interest in “scaling up” translates into funding fewer and larger groups, with larger grantso Disconnect between funding and movement

landscapeo Opportunities for ‘intermediaries’?

o “Where is the Money? Concentrated in corporations!”o Only 1% of combined revenue is from corporations but is

growing

o Renewed attention for women’s rights focus in bilateral donor circles and to some extend INGO’s

o Greater interest amongst (high net worth) individuals, more women than ever before will inherito Women’s funds raised 34% of their combined income from

individuals (up from 25% in 2004)

o INGO’s increasingly competitors in fundraising

o Women’s funds are growing in numbers and revenue:o Made USD 15 million in grants (of which around

50% by GFW)o Reach 46% of groups surveyedo Hold 27 million in long term assets

o Still, women’s funds are small players, unable to demonstrate collaborative advantage and systemic impact

4 Emerging Funding Trends?

Pendulum swinging in terms of resources for women’s rights? Mostly bilaterals and from (high net worth) individuals Not a level playing field

o Growing role for “intermediary funders”?

o Movement building brought back into “theory of change”?

o More strategic collaboration between women’s funds?

Back to the Global Fund for Women and outcomes and strategies for 2008 - 2013….

Let’s talk!