October 2024

Progress Newsletter

By Savannah Lira, PVF Program Manager

Did you know that nearly 50,000 organizations in the U.S. are dedicated to women and girls, yet they consistently receive less than 2% of all charitable giving according to research by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute?

October 11th marked the 3rd annual Give to Women and Girls Day, a groundbreaking effort to increase funding for women’s and girls’ organizations and change this statistic, launched by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute in 2022.

PVF would like to use our October Progress as an opportunity to recognize several of our own fiscally sponsored projects supporting women and girls! The following projects champion women's careers, financial health, motherhood, and education by making funding accessible where it's needed.

In supporting women and girls, we can amplify their voices and ensure they have the resources and opportunities they deserve. 

• In 2015, Vickie Saunders created a global community of women and non-binary funders and entrepreneurs to revolutionize and make the funding system more equitable. Coralus (formerly SheEO) embraces a unique model that pairs Activators, individuals who contribute to a fund that is loaned out, interest-free, to Ventures, women and non-binary led companies and nonprofits. These funds are then paid back over five years, and reinvested over and over again. Ventures all work for social good, ranging from expanding healthcare to fighting for food justice to improving education access in their communities across all corners of the country. 

• Cocokind Impact Fund is an awards program supporting early stage female entrepreneurs in the health, wellness, and sustainability industries who are focused on creating social impact.

• We Are Enough is a charitable initiative whose mission is to to grow women's wealth, especially women of color, with the sole goal to educate women how and why to invest in women-owned or led businesses.

• The Jackie Speier Foundation is addressing poverty, lack of housing and childcare, and domestic violence. In addition to more traditional foundation activities, the Jackie Speier Foundation functions as an innovation incubator with the Baby Bonus Program as its initial project launching in January 2025, aiming to show how a small amount of money can impact the health and well-being of infants and families with challenging living experiences in San Mateo County. You can read about their recent Diaper Drive organized by a group of students from Westmoor High School in Daly City.

YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula Donor Advised Fund 20th Anniversary Event Attendees

• The YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula Donor Advised Fund was established in 2004 to support organizations whose programs align with the Fund’s dual mission of Eliminating Racism & Empowering Women and Girls in areas previously served by the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula. Those programs include: education, teen pregnancy, termed out foster care girls, rape crisis intervention, domestic violence, women entrepreneurs, LGBTQ+ issues, immigration rights, public policy advocacy training, and numerous barrier breaking racial justice programs. Earlier this month, PVF staff joined the annual YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley Inspire Luncheon as guests of the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula Donor Advised Fund.

• The Time + Tide Foundation forges educational and economic pathways for some of the most historically disadvantaged residents in the communities that immediately neighbor their Time + Tide lodges, namely children with special needs, pre-adolescent girls and women who dropped out of school. Time + Tide Foundation's female empowerment initiatives inspire primary school girls from some of the most faraway communities in Madagascar and Zambia to believe in their self-worth, aiming to increase the number of primary school girls who successfully transition to, and eventually complete, secondary school.

• Hella Heart Oakland, a multi-generational giving circle, was founded in 2012 over drinks and food, born from our collective love for Oakland—a place many of us call home and have deeply invested our time and energy in. Joining a national movement of Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander giving circles, their mission is to strengthen and improve the health and wellness of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women and girls, particularly refugees and new immigrants.

"Being part of the Hella Heart Oakland Giving Circle is more than just charitable giving. It's a place where we come together to celebrate, grieve, raise the next generation of givers, and build community."

Hella Heart Giving Circle Participants

PVF is proud to work with these and many other projects! Check out our website to review our 50+ current Designated Funds, many of whom are working on various issues affecting women and girls today.

WANDA: Investing in Single Mother Success

Founded by women for women, WANDA (Women and Allies) is a strong community of women and allies committed to investing in single mother success. Since 2007, WANDA has been instrumental in helping hundreds of powerful women create positive mindsets and invest in their first homes, pursue higher-paying jobs, seek promotions, start successful businesses, build their savings, advocate for themselves and their families, and secure their financial future.

Savannah Lira, Program Manager, is responsible for program management and development, as well as communication materials at PVF. She is an AmeriCorps Alum and has a background in economic development and grantwriting.