In this moment of immense social, political, and economic upheaval, nonprofit leaders are shouldering a burden unlike anything we’ve seen in recent history. More than any prior administration, war, or national tragedy, we are navigating a convergence of systemic crises: a crumbling social safety net, a hostile policy environment, rising authoritarianism, and an unrelenting demand to deliver lifesaving services to communities at the margins—all while facing unprecedented funding volatility.
Feminist leadership is navigating frontline crises while also confronting an entrenched philanthropic structure that has chronically underinvested in our work.
This burden falls especially hard on leaders of institutions serving women and underrepresented communities. Feminist leadership is navigating frontline crises, while also confronting an entrenched philanthropic structure that has chronically underinvested in our work. Less than 2 percent of all philanthropic funding goes toward gender equity. An even smaller sliver is directed toward gender-based violence (GBV), the most pervasive and under-addressed global health issue of our time. For those of us working at the intersection of race, gender, immigration, and violence, the scarcity is even more acute. And yet, every day, we show up.
If we want a broader movement, we need to dismantle the barriers that are keeping bold, frontline leaders from shaping it.
With limited resources, we respond to survivors navigating systems that were never built to protect them. We advocate for policies that affirm the dignity of immigrant families. We develop culturally responsive interventions and, increasingly, fill the gaps created by harmful legislation and governmental neglect—patching up what broken systems have abandoned.
But we cannot do this alone. Not anymore.
The Philanthropic Disconnect
Too often, feminist leaders on the ground are expected to stretch ourselves thin, fill systemic gaps, and lead movements on shoestring budgets—all while fielding questions about our “impact metrics” or “scalability.”
Meanwhile, too many funders continue to rely on a narrow and outdated playbook: elevating removed voices over proximity to community experience, choosing safe bets over bold investments, and celebrating a handful of visible leaders at the expense of broader grassroots capacity.
We see the same names on conference stages. The same organizations in the spotlight. The same handful of funders in conversations about gender justice. But this moment demands more than performative visibility. It demands structural change within philanthropy, within leadership pipelines, and within our collective movement.
To build a stronger, more inclusive feminist future, we must build a bigger bench.
What Does It Mean to Build a Bigger Bench?
Building a bigger bench means recognizing that leadership doesn’t only look like well-polished executives fluent in philanthropic jargon. It looks like community-based organizers who have spent decades responding to crisis and having a deep impact. It also looks like queer, neurologically diverse, undocumented, and justice-impacted leaders who are innovating at the edges of the movement. It looks like multilingual social workers, legal advocates, and violence interrupters who understand the realities of survivors because they’ve lived them.
Meanwhile, too many funders continue to rely on a narrow and outdated playbook…
These are the architects of real systems change. Yet they are often left out of strategy conversations, policy roundtables, and donor briefings—not because they lack vision or expertise, but because philanthropic structures are not designed to elevate them.
Funders must take a hard look at how their practices may be reinforcing this gatekeeping. Are you sourcing grantees through open calls or closed networks? Are you funding leadership development across tiers, or only investing in executive directors? Are your reporting requirements accessible to community-based groups, or tailored for institutions with dedicated development teams and Ivy League pedigree?
Feminist Leaders Are Facing Burnout and Abandonment
For those who have found seats at the table, the toll of the work is immense. Feminist leaders are burning out at alarming rates, especially those leading organizations led by and for people of color.
The odds are stacked against us. Less than 2 percent of philanthropic funding is invested in women and girls, and only a paltry $100 to $150 million is allocated annually toward addressing GBV globally. We are expected to do more with less, constantly adapting to this shifting funding landscapes, and serve as symbols of hope—despite being denied the resources we need to survive.
In the past year alone, we’ve seen government cuts to programs supporting survivors, particularly immigrant and undocumented individuals, and government restrictions impacting organizations that speak the truth about GBV, systemic oppression, or the need for inclusive services. At the same time, philanthropic giving has declined or stagnated across many major institutions, especially toward racial and gender justice efforts.
At a time when bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and the safety of marginalized communities are under direct assault, we need funders to stand firmly, visibly, and unequivocally alongside feminist leaders.
This is not just a funding crisis. It is a crisis of values.
If feminist funders truly believe in equity, now is the time to align that belief with action. Not in the form of one-time grants or symbolic gestures—but through long-term, unrestricted, trust-based investments in the people and organizations doing the hard, often invisible work of justice.
Reimagining What Partnership Looks Like
This moment also presents a profound opportunity. Funders have the chance to be more than financiers—they can be coconspirators. True partners. Thoughtful risk-takers.
That starts with listening deeply and humbly to those doing the work. It means funding not just programs, but capacity. Not just services, but systems transformation. It means expanding your funding criteria to support organizations that may not have a 20-year track record or a high-powered board, but who are creating vital change in their communities every single day.
Partnership also means moving beyond the grant cycle. Offer thought partnership. Facilitate introductions. Provide political cover when grassroots leaders are under attack. Use your platforms to amplify voices that are often overlooked.
The Time Is Now
Feminist leadership is not a luxury—it is a necessity. At a time when bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and the safety of marginalized communities are under direct assault, we need funders to stand firmly, visibly, and unequivocally alongside feminist leaders. We need you to invest in us not as grantees, but as partners. Not just in this crisis, but for the long haul.
The work ahead is daunting. But it is also full of possibility—if we choose to expand our definitions of leadership, resource our communities with care, and build a movement that is as inclusive and courageous as the world we imagine.
Let’s build the bench. Let’s build it wide together.
