How can foundations center gender equity in their work?

In the 2024 Exponent Philanthropy blog “Integrating Feminism Into Philanthropy,” Nicole Baran, founding executive director and board member of the Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation, outlines practical ways funders can apply this approach, both within their organizations and through their grantmaking.

Steps Toward Gender Equity

Nicole’s blog highlights several practical insights for funders looking to advance gender equity in their work:

• Intersectionality is essential. Kimberlé Crenshaw’s framework reminds us that gender equity work must account for overlapping systems of discrimination affecting women of color and other marginalized groups.

• Funding gaps remain significant. Historically, only about 1.9% of charitable giving has gone to women and girls’ organizations. Recent data shows that share briefly rose above 2%, but funding remains a very small portion of overall philanthropy.

• Start within your own institution. Pay equity, inclusive leadership, and supportive workplace policies are foundational steps for foundations committed to gender equity. In a recent blog on the persistent gender pay gap in philanthropy, Alece H.M. Montez, co-executive director of the AJL Foundation, explores how funders can use sector data to examine compensation disparities.

• Apply a gender lens to grantmaking. Auditing portfolios, encouraging grantees to discuss gender equity work, and embedding equity into RFPs can help align funding with values.

• Representation and expertise matter. Elevating the leadership of women of color and consulting community experts can strengthen funding strategies and avoid unintended harm.

• Small shifts can create meaningful change. Adjusting language, collaborating with peers, or integrating gender considerations into existing programs can advance equity without requiring entirely new funding streams.

➡️ Read the full blog to explore practical strategies for integrating intersectional feminism into philanthropic practice.