News
Empowering Change: Takeaways from WDN’s 2023 Impact
In 2023, we mobilized an incredible $20.2 million via WDN and WDN Action, funding 175 organizations and projects. We strengthened our community by welcoming new members and hitting three decade member anniversaries for others! And we harnessed our collective wisdom and deepest aspirations to chart our next era through our new strategic plan. We’re proud […]
ABC Fund: Dobbs Doesn’t Stop Us
By Amanda Beatriz Williams, Abortion Bridge Collaborative Fund Director June 24 marks the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, a landmark decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and decimated abortion access across the country. Since Dobbs, the majority of states – 27 […]
Making Climate Justice Inevitable
Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) formed in response to a simple truth: traditional environmental movements are not fighting for the communities most impacted by climate change. The environmental justice landscape has historically been dominated by white-led organizations that work through moderate legislative policies, single-issue campaigns, and market-based solutions driven by profit. Only 1.3% of climate philanthropic […]
4 Ways These Mother-Daughter Pairs Are Influencing Each Other’s Philanthropy
Did you know that WDN has nearly 10 mother-daughter duos in our network? Activism and philanthropy can be a lot more joyful when done with a community – but often, it goes further than that. When we spoke with some of our mother-daughter member pairs, they shared how they are making each other better philanthropists […]
Q&A With Member Jane Segal Following First All-Initiative Meeting of 2024
One of the things revealed during our strategic planning process is that the vast majority of WDN members want to move towards a Participatory Grantmaking Model, with 87% of our survey respondents in support. One reason for this is that participatory grantmaking empowers impacted communities to decide who and what gets funded. Last month all four […]
Highlights from WDN Connect 2023
In November, we gathered in Charlotte for WDN Connect 2023: Rise & Renew. From our opening night workshop on art and culture to a discussion about how our fates are intertwined, WDN Connect 2023 in Charlotte was full of inspiring content and powerful connections. This year’s conference was full of ideas, inspiration, camaraderie, and some […]
WDN’s Impact in 2023
When we step back and look at our work in 2023, we see a constellation formed from moments of mobilization. Like stars in an unchanging sky, movement leaders and organizations guide us toward a more just future, which is why we prioritized and robustly supported existing partnerships with unrestricted funding. We also introduced new partnerships […]
We Sent $3.8M to the Field This Fall
We close 2023 with one of our largest funding pushes to date – over $3.8 million in grantmaking this fall! WDN’s members, staff, and movement partners collaborated to channel these funds to 48 organizations championing progress across Black liberation and feminism, workers’ rights, economic justice, abortion access, a Just Transition, year-round voter engagement, and pro-democracy […]
Together in Community, Solidarity, and Action
Our hearts are breaking, but our commitment to justice and action does not waver. At WDN, our work on Palestine-Israel is deep-rooted. Many of our members have spent much of their lives grappling with their understanding of this ongoing cycle and working together to bring more justice to the region. In 2009 WDN members traveled […]
To See Takes Time: Re-Imagining Democracy and Its Future
After several years of headline-grabbing research, intensive strategy development, and project incubation, WDN’s Reflective Democracy Campaign has been a bit quiet recently as they develop the next phase of their work, centered around an experimental vehicle designed to meet the profound challenges of democracy-building in our moment. Campaign Director Brenda Choresi Carter explores the remarkable historical juncture we’re currently in and how the Campaign – a unique think tank with an action arm – is building on its pioneering work and breaking new ground.
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