Give often! - Women's Funding Alliance

2008 civic engagemenT & leadershiP
develoPmenT granTs
Civic Engagement & Leadership Development grants
fund projects that 1) develop women who are marginalized
to be leaders and, 2) implement voter registration/
education efforts to increase female voter turnout in marginalized
communities.
OneAmerica - $25,000: OneAmerica’s mission is to advance
the fundamental principles of democracy and justice at the
local, state, and national levels by building power within immigrant
communities, in collaboration with key allies. WFA
funds were used to increase engagement and leadership in
the political process among refugee and immigrant women.
Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights
(POWER) - $15,000: POWER is an Olympia based organization
of low-income parents and allies advocating for a social
safety net while working towards a world where children and
caregivers are truly valued and poverty has been eradicated.
POWER used WFA funding to educate and register new
women voters and develop low-income, politically-involved
female leaders within Washington state.
Statewide Poverty Action Network, a program of Solid
Ground - $10,000: Statewide Poverty Action Network exists
to address the root causes of poverty with real solutions.
WFA funds were used to fund their Vote for a Change campaign
that increased voter turnout and participation among
low-income women in Washington state.
Equal Rights Washington (ERW) - $25,000: ERW is a statewide
political advocacy organization for the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community of Washington
state. WFA funding was used to build leadership and
civic engagement skills in lesbian, bisexual, transgender
and queer women in order to eliminate heterosexism and
homophobia throughout healthcare and public health systems,
as well as to engage them in voter registration outreach
and education.
PhoTo by david walega
granTs overview conTinued
6 Women’s Funding Alliance | www.wfalliance.org
imPacT sTory
workPlace camPaign granTee:
women’s housing equaliTy and
enhancemenT league
“[WheeL has] given me back my dignity, my self
respect, and the motivation to not only survive,
but to thrive. It shows women that no matter what
their circumstances are, they still have the power to
change the lives of others as well as their own, and
gives those who have finally made it the chance to
pass on their wisdom and to be an inspiration to
those who are just coming out of the confusion and
hopelessness of being on the streets.”
- A former WheeL program participant & active volunteer leader
Women’s Housing Equality and Enhancement
League (WHEEL) is a community-based, grassroots organization
which gives voice and leadership to homeless
and low-income women, facilitates campaigns around
increased services and safety for homeless women, and
develops and supports self-managed shelters. Through
its work, WHEEL is a catalyst for social justice organizing
and leadership development among these women in
King County.
Unrestricted operating support, like the funds
WHEEL receives from WFA, are critical to ensuring its
work continues and grows to the next level. WHEEL has
used these funds to strengthen its core organizing efforts
and to expand the number of ongoing projects. Further,
they have been able to offer a wider variety of opportunities
for homeless and low-income women to become leaders
in their communities, including engaging in political
advocacy, campaigning for survival shelter, staffing a shelter,
and facilitating a self-managed day center. In 2008,
approximately 100 women were involved in WHEEL’s
self-managed organizing and education/empowerment
efforts. Over 20 women emerged as leaders in WHEEL’s
ongoing activities.
One participant in WHEEL’s programs says that her
participation literally changed her life. She came to
WHEEL after having been homeless and laid off from
her job. After staying in a shelter and hearing about
WHEEL, she became involved as a way to pay back all the
help and support she’d received. She emphasizes that the
leadership of homeless and formerly homeless women in
WHEEL is what makes their efforts so effective. Finally,
she reflects that the more involved she became, the more
productive she felt and now lives independently, makes
her own income and sees herself beyond merely going
through the motions of life, but truly thriving.