The Challenge
Climate change and subsequent damage to water, land, and clean air impacts women disproportionately. They walk farther when water and firewood runs out, work harder for less when erratic weather patterns wreak havoc on crops, and die at higher rates when natural disasters strike.
To confront these pressing environmental challenges, women must have their voices heard. Astonishingly, less than 1 percent of international philanthropy goes to women’s environmental initiatives. That must change.
Our Solutions
Solutions to climate change exist on the frontlines of the battle to save our planet. Grassroots women leaders are already stepping up to the challenge. Global Greengrants stands in solidarity beside these leaders and promotes their rights to, and solutions for a safe, healthy, and clean environment.
Global Greengrants Fund supports over 300 women-led projects per year to protect the planet, making us one of the top organizations in the world supporting women’s environmental-action initiatives.
Since 2014, we have increased grantmaking to projects that address the unequal and gendered impacts of environmental damage.
Global Greengrants Fund also actively advocates for increased support of women’s environmental projects throughout the philanthropic community, sharing analysis on how funders can increase the amount of resources going to the intersection of women’s rights and the environment.
Publications
Seeds for Harvest: Funding gender, climate, and environmental justice
Through data analysis, case studies, trends & opportunities, Seeds for Harvest, published in collaboration with Prospera, GAGGA, and HRFN, brings new insights to the funding landscape for gender, environmental & climate justice.
A Holistic Approach to Funding Women Environmental Defenders
This report offers an overview of the state of funding for women facing violence due to their environmental activism and makes concrete recommendations for a more holistic philanthropic approach to supporting them.
Women on the Frontlines of Extractivism: How Funders Can Support Women Environmental Defenders
This report draws upon and synthesizes independent research conducted by GAGGA, Global Greengrants, and SAGE Fund. It aims to expose how natural resource extraction both fuels and reinforces structural violence, with particular attention to the impacts on women and girls.
Executive Summary
Our Voices, Our Environment: The State of Funding for Women’s Environmental Action
This report represents the first-ever benchmarking of philanthropic funding in support of women in the environment. Its research shows that only 0.2% of all foundation funding focuses explicitly on women and the environment, signifying a missed opportunity for funders committed to ensuring a healthy environment and equitable world.
Our Voices, Our Environment: The State of Funding for Women’s Environmental Action
Produced by Global Greengrants Fund and Prospera International Network of Women’s Funds, this report is the first ever comprehensive mapping of funding in support of women and the environment. It includes case studies and success stories of women-led strategies, as well as opportunities and guidance from women’s rights activists worldwide.
Next Steps for Funders
Our Voices, Our Environment: The State of Funding for Women’s Environmental Action
This publication provides three key opportunities for foundations to support gender equality and environmental justice work more effectively.
Climate Justice & Women’s Rights: A Guide to Supporting Grassroots Women’s Action
Drawing on case studies and lessons from funders already supporting women’s climate change initiatives, this guide orients grantmakers to realities of funding at the intersection of climate justice and women’s rights, and provides guidance for directing timely, appropriate funding to women and their communities.
