WFN and "Unfinished Business"

Late last year I decided to join the board of the Women’s Funding Network after careful deliberation of how I was going to use my resources: my time, my treasure, and my talent, to make a difference in the lives of women and girls, globally. Last week they held their annual conference in Washington D.C. which brought together women leaders from around the world. As a network of over 125 funds, these leaders collectively grant over $50 mm a year with most of the money going to grantee partners that help women survive and someday, thrive. We heard a representative in Latin American that women struggle with issues of poverty, gender related violence, as well as economic and financial security. In Africa the affects of violent conflict hit women and children hard. In Asia, the lack of political representation of women is driving their fund in to action. Around the world women are working, tirelessly and collectively to make for a better world. As one African leader put it, “Fighting for Women’s Rights is Unfinished Business.”

I had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl Saban at this conference, a regular writer for the Huffington Post and an amazing woman philanthropist. In a recent blog she states that “it's been proven that women who are provided with basic resources can make the difference between a family rising above poverty, or being trapped by it. “ Amen to that sister!