The withdrawal of state and private funding threatens feminist movements worldwide. Bureaucratic hurdles make access to resources difficult, while some corporations actively undermine equality. Can feminist philanthropy help build sustainable structures for lasting change?
The current funding crisis imposed by the US, the Netherlands and many more exposes deep vulnerabilities in the current funding structures, raising urgent questions about the role of funding institutions and funding hierarchies. While some governments with feminist foreign policies have attempted to fill the void, bureaucratic constraints often limit the effectiveness of their interventions. At the same time, the private sector's response has been inconsistent - some corporations and philanthropic institutions have stepped up, while others have withdrawn from gender equality funding altogether. Both examples show that the shift from short-term initiatives to long-term structural investments in feminist movements is long overdue, and feminist philanthropy is a necessity.
Channelling funds through feminist philanthropy
One approach is channelling funds through Black feminist philanthropy, which centres black feminist leadership and values in funding relationships.. Unlike traditional funding models, feminist philanthropy, such as the Black Feminist Fund, challenges hierarchical decision-making, fosters grassroots leadership, and ensures that resources are directed towards transformative, community-led solutions. The BFF established two participatory grantmaking funds: The Sustain Fund and the Solidarity Fund. In doing so, it reconfigures power dynamics in global development, making financial flows more equitable and responsive to the realities of Black feminist movements worldwide.
“The ultimate goal for us is to create a world where political and economic systems are enabling and nurturing people and the planet. A lot of philanthropy, and particularly funding programmes in International Development is rooted in colonial practises, colonial values and therefore in colonial legacies”, says Nadia Ahidjo, Senior Advisor at the Black Feminist Fund. One consequence of coloniality is that the dominant narrative of funding is very charity oriented. But we are not saviours of anybody, right?”
Nadia’s statement might seem at first very bold and raises the question whether it is even possible for donors to support feminist organisations without the notion of saving people. However, when diving into the BFFs calling, it becomes more clear what this criticism regarding charity-oriented funding is about. Funding feminist movements is more than a sole financial support. It is about paving the way for a future where feminist movements thrive on their own terms. In short, feminist movement building funding has to centre the leadership of the affected communities themselves.
Nadia Ahidjo is the Senior Advisor for Philanthropic Partnerships at the Black Feminist Fund. As a Pan African feminist with a passion for gender justice, racial justice, and social inclusion, Nadia has worked with TrustAfrica, the Open Society Foundations, Initiative Sankofa d'Afrique de l'Ouest, and the African Women’s Development Fund. She has also served on the board of Urgent Action Fund Africa.
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Responding to the withdrawal of the private sector and USAID
In light of the U.S. government’s dismantling of USAID, there is a significant risk that other governments might follow the path of defunding human rights work. Therefore, states that remain committed to gender justice programs must take their responsibility seriously. Additionally, we are now witnessing the increasing influence of private companies in politics, often advancing an anti-feminist agenda. In particular, big US tech companies have illustrated their power to target LGBTQ+ rights through algorithms and fake news but also through policy-making in the US and beyond.
“Efforts to reform funding structures must go beyond removing only a few bureaucratic barriers within government programs. In particular, governments with feminist foreign and development policies need to stop the bureaucratic gatekeeping of funds. Excessive administrative barriers restrict access, particularly for grassroots organizations that do not conform to traditional donor frameworks. As a result, youth-led grassroots movements face legal and institutional constraints when applying for funds. Missing out on the youth’s bold and refreshing perspectives is in particular a huge loss as we are in need of out-of-the-box solutions that challenge conventional policy approaches. “
While states with feminist foreign and development policies play a critical role in ensuring equitable access to resources, they are not the sole actors in this landscape. Given the challenges grassroots organizations face in accessing institutional funds, alternative funding avenues must be explored. The funding ecosystem is complex, shaped by both public and private entities, each wielding distinct forms of power and influence. However, expanding financial accessibility also carries the risk of pinkwashing, as some funding sources may prioritize symbolic commitments over substantive change. Navigating this tension is essential to ensuring that financial support genuinely advances feminist and anti-discriminatory objectives.
“We are witnessing an increasing withdrawal of the private sector from funding gender and racial justice in North America. At this critical moment, rather than dismissing all private-sector actors, we should strategically engage those willing to commit. When governments block conventional funding avenues, the private sector can offer alternative, innovative mechanisms. The Clara Lionel Foundation, founded by the singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is one example. It provides funding for climate initiatives in the Caribbean and the United States, focusing on disaster preparedness and resilience. We also work with the Fondation Chanel which supports gender and climate justice programmes. We simply cannot afford to neglect the financial power that these foundations and companies hold.”
Resourcing long-term transformation
While short-term funding by governments and the private sector may provide temporary relief, true transformation requires stable, long-term commitments that empower feminist movements to build resilience, expand their reach, and drive systemic change. As a feminist philanthropy, the Black Feminist Fund demonstrates the transformative power of community-centred funding that puts in place a financial infrastructure for feminist movements.
“At the BFF, we envision a world where people's dreams and aspirations shape our funding strategies. We are a feminist fund, and as a fund rooted in Black feminisms, the way we think about power hierarchies influences our understanding of funding structures. We think about privileges and about the structural oppressions Black feminist organisations are facing. Therefore, our programs are deliberately intersectional, flexible and trust-based.
Unfortunately, feminist movements often feel compelled to adjust their work to fit into rigid funding frameworks, which forces them to compromise their actual needs. Additionally, traditional funding programmes are failing to target intersecting inequalities. Consequently, feminist movements are often caught in a vicious cycle. It seems that a lot of traditional funding is about putting out a fire now, knowing that the fire will come up again. Feminist funding, therefore, must prioritize directing resources toward genuine, rather than externally imposed, needs, ensuring that marginalized communities set their own priorities.
Although we as a Black led Fund consider ourselves part of the feminist movement, we reject the notion that funding institutions should dictate how communities allocate their resources. I want to encourage every other funding institution to use the same critical lens and push for trust-based funding.”
The interview was conducted as part of a CSW69 side event on Feminist Funding conceptualised by Miriam Mona Mukalazi as a consultant for the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The focus of the CSW69 is the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).
