GRANTMAKING

Approach

In 2018, responding to overwhelming feedback from the non-profit community, Gender Justice Fund transitioned to a “trust-based” approach to philanthropy, based on a model by the Whitman Institute. Trust-based Philanthropy is an approach designed to address power imbalances between grantmakers and grantees and is based on the following six principles:

  • Offering multi-year, unrestricted funding

  • Transferring the onus of due diligence from grantee to grantmaker ​

  • Simplification and streamlining of grant submission and reporting processes

  • Transparency and responsiveness on the part of grantmakers

  • Providing support beyond the check

  • Requesting and acting on feedback from grantees

Photo courtesy of PA Domestic Workers AllianceA coalition of organizations including grantees PA Domestic Workers Alliance, ROC Pennsylvania, One PA, Community Legal Services, and Women’s Law Project holding a rally for labor rights outside Philadel…

Photo courtesy of PA Domestic Workers Alliance

A coalition of organizations including grantees PA Domestic Workers Alliance, ROC Pennsylvania, One PA, Community Legal Services, and Women’s Law Project holding a rally for labor rights outside Philadelphia City Hall

Grantmaking Programs

 

Gender Justice Fund currently has four separate grantmaking programs. Potential applicants to any of these programs should contact GJF by email to discuss eligibility for any of these programs.

Issue Areas

Current grantees are working on multiple issues under a broader gender justice umbrella, including:

Economic Justice and Labor Rights

  • Protecting the rights of low-wage workers (who are disproportionately women)

  • Advocating for the elimination of tipped wages and a higher minimum wage

  • Affordable housing and community land control

  • Decriminalization of sex work

  • Addressing gender-based workplace discrimination

Reproductive Justice

  • Perinatal health, including racial disparities

  • Abortion and birth control access

  • Addressing reproductive and sexual health needs of the most marginalized, including those who are incarcerated

  • Regulation and defunding of anti-abortion centers

Trans Justice

  • Basic needs support for trans communities

  • Access to gender-affirming care

  • Support for LGBTQIA students and youth

  • Advocacy for gender-based protections at the state level

Gender-Based Violence

  • Promoting consent culture and comprehensive, inclusive, consent-based sex education

  • Addressing gender-based violence in the workplace

  • Supporting legislation that facilitates justice and healing for survivors of sexual violence

Criminal Justice

  • Advocacy for more humane treatment of incarcerated women, including access to reproductive health and menstrual supplies

  • Reentry support and organizing of formerly incarcerated women and femmes

  • Reform of diversionary programs designed to keep women and girls out of prison

  • Decriminalizaton of sex work

General Grantmaking Guidelines

 

  • We only fund with ties to the Philadelphia area

  • We have limited funding for event sponsorship and allocate those funds to organizations with whom we have existing relationships

  • We do not fund arts and media projects (films, etc.)