OUR IMPACT
Today, women and girls of color only receive 2% of philanthropic dollars while making up 19% of the U.S. population. The Collaborative distributes critical dollars to women and girls of color and by providing them the platform to amplify their voices and experiences.
Impact on Young Women of Color and their Communities
The YWI model is built on the knowledge that those closest to challenges are best positioned to identify solutions. Each of our foundation members supports a local Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC), which is a cohort of 15-30 young women, girls, and gender expansive youth of color who work together to identify and address the key challenges they face individually and as a community.
“The Washington Area Women's Foundation and YWI provided me with the support, resources, and guidance to help me bring my vision of restorative healing circles for my community to life. I received mentorship through one-on-one sessions and participated alongside a cohort of other young female entrepreneurs as part of the Rock Star Fund.”
— Kyninyah Graham, DC Rockstar Fund
Impact on the Nonprofit Sector
Each YWI member partners with a youth-focused community-based organization to steward the YWAC. This model enables funding for leaner, grassroots, women of color-led nonprofits that are otherwise overlooked by mainstream philanthropy.
“Being able to partner with the Boston Women's Fund to run Grow Up LeadHership for the YWAC partnership has been transformational for me as a woman of color in a leadership position for youth programming. Not only has it allowed me to create a space for our youth to transition into as they explore adulthood, but it has also allowed me to further my professional development. Through this intentional partnership, I've felt empowered, included, supported and encouraged as a woman in the nonprofit sector, and the network it has created for me has been invaluable.”
— Jamila G., GROW Up
Impact on Systems
The YWI Collaborative believes that policy change is necessary for the large-scale transformation needed for young women and girls of color to thrive. Members fund grantee partners leading policy reform efforts, organize advocacy campaigns themselves, and provide advocacy training for YWAC participants.
“Alabama ranks next to dead last in the American South in labor force participation for women. Increasing women’s workforce participation is one of the most remarkable economic developments of the past and current century and in our state, permanently removing structural barriers to work, such as childcare, is a critical vehicle.”
— Melanie R. Bridgeforth, President and CEO of Women’s Foundation of Alabama
Impact on the Philanthropic Ecosystem
The unique cohort approach of YWI provides foundation leaders and their staff with peer learning networks for professional development and collaboration. All members come together with a clear north star, unifying values, and shared ownership of the work.
“Participating in the YWI Collaborative has really helped us on the journey to racial equity throughout our foundation. My sister CEOs are like an informal cabinet I can turn to when I want to make bold and equitable change.”
— Women’s Fund of Western MA