News
Celebration, Recognition, Elevation: Black Women & Femmes Are Bringing Us Into the Future – Part 1
Black women and femmes are at the center of transformation in America. In their hometowns, states, and nationally, Black women and femmes are resourcing their communities and battling injustice across intersections of oppression. This February, in honor of the history they’ve come from and the world they’re building towards, we lift up some of these […]
Resourcing Black & Brown LGBTQ+ Youth Organizing and Voter Engagement – A Funding Update from WDN’s Jean Hardisty Initiative
WDN’s Jean Hardisty Initiative just granted $300,000 to Black LGBTQIA+ youth organizing and a budding voter engagement nonprofit. In 2021, transgender and gender non-conforming people of color in the US continued to face disproportionate rates of violence, discrimination, poverty, and houselessness. Through leadership development, direct action, mobilization, and culture change, Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ youth […]
Building Resilience on the Frontlines of Climate Chaos
For communities of color throughout the Gulf South, climate change is already here, and it’s only getting worse. The 2021 hurricane season was the third most active in recorded history, and 2020 was the most active ever. The devastation of climate change only amplifies environmental catastrophes, like the BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster, that have hit […]
A Snapshot of Our Impact in 2021
WDN’s mission is to advance a just, equitable, and sustainable world. United by a shared vision of justice and equity for all, our members boldly invest their wealth, time, and talents together. We listen deeply to leaders and movements fighting injustice, move funds quickly, and foster creative strategies that advance systemic change. So far this […]
Sogorea Te’ Is Growing a Just Future by Looking to the Past
Sogorea Te’ Land Trust envisions a Bay Area in which Ohlone language and ceremony are an active, thriving part of the cultural landscape, where Ohlone history is taught, and where intertribal Indigenous communities have affordable housing, social services, cultural centers, and land to live, work and pray on. When the Spanish touched down on the […]
Funding the Frontlines: $1.75 M Grantmaking Update
We are proud to share an update about our collective grantmaking. At WDN we are moving $1.75 million in funding to 17 impactful organizations that are building power where it is so desperately needed. Thanks to the collective investment of this network, we are able to continue mobilizing critical funding to support the work of […]
Voter Formation Project Is Changing How We Mobilize Voters
In October we hosted Change How We Mobilize Voters Digitally, a webinar featuring Voter Formation Project (VFP). WDN is a proud funder of VFP. Founded by Tatenda Musapatike, VFP’s innovative digital mobilization and organizing strategies push back against voter suppression efforts and make it easier for communities of color to vote. Here we’ll share more […]
Meet Our Three New Board Members: Suhad Babaa, Ellie Friedman & Nadia Ismail
Suhad Babaa (she/her/hers) What led to your interest in joining the WDN Board? I was told once that no matter what you do, you should make sure you do it with good people. Those that I have come to know in WDN’s community – its leadership and staff, members and importantly, its partners – are […]
Highlights from WDN Connect: Shine On
WDN Connect: Shine On crackled with energy. Over the span of three days, we heard from leaders who are shaping a new vision for action, rebuilding our democracy, and continuing to push philanthropy to respond to the moment. Take a look at highlights from our conference! Opening Keynote With Kat Vellos: We Should Get Together […]
Beginning a Thoughtful Leadership Transition
Next August, I will complete 20 years of service and leadership at WDN, four of them including our c4 arm, WDN Action. That’s quite a run! After a great deal of soul searching, I’ve decided to retire at the end of December 2022 as President and CEO. I know deep in my heart that it’s […]
