Womens Foundation Of Minnesota

TO INVEST IN INNOVATION TO DRIVE GENDER AND RACIAL EQUITY IN MINNESOTA.

GRANTMAKINGIN FY22 (APR. 1, 2021 - MAR. 31, 2022), THE FOUNDATION AWARDED $2.48 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CREATE SAFETY AND OPPORTUNITY AND BUILD PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST DISPARITIES IN OUTCOMES, PARTICULARLY LOW-INCOME WOMEN AND GIRLS, WOMEN AND GIRLS OF COLOR, AND WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM GREATER MINNESOTA. IN 2020, WFMN PERMANENTLY SHIFTED ALL GRANTMAKING TO GENERAL OPERATIONS TO ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY AND HEIGHTENED NEED IN RESPONSE TO THE EMERGENT NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RACIAL INJUSTICE. (CONTINUED ON SCH. O)THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE NOT ONLY SHORT-TERM BUT WILL IMPACT GRANTEE-PARTNERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FOR YEARS TO COME. LONG-TERM RECOVERY FOR ORGANIZATIONS, PROGRAMS, AND PARTICIPANTS IS INCUMBENT UPON MULTI-YEAR SUPPORT, CONTINUED LISTENING, FLEXIBILITY IN PROGRAMMING, AND INCREASED CAPACITY TO SUSTAIN AND THRIVE.THE FOUNDATION'S $2.48 MILLION INVESTMENT ACROSS MINNESOTA IN FY22 INCLUDED:* 257 GRANTS TO 160 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND 14 INDIVIDUALS* 164,940 WOMEN AND GIRLS SERVED THE WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA HAS THE FOLLOWING GRANTMAKING FUNDS: GIRLSBEST (GIRLS BUILDING ECONOMIC SUCCESS TOGETHER) FUND, COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND, FUND FOR SAFETY, AND THE YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE OF MINNESOTA (YWI MN). A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITIES IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND A VALUE OF INCLUSIVITY ARE REFLECTED IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF ALL THE FUNDS. 1. GIRLSBEST (GIRLS BUILDING ECONOMIC SUCCESS TOGETHER)LAUNCHED IN 2002, GIRLSBEST AWARDS MULTI-YEAR GRANTS TO PROGRAMS THAT BUILD THE OPPORTUNITY AND FUTURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF MINNESOTA'S GIRLS, AGES 12-18. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED, UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS OF GIRLS AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME GIRLS, GIRLS OF COLOR AND AMERICAN INDIAN GIRLS, AND GIRLS FROM GREATER MINNESOTA. GRANTEES ARE FUNDED IN ONE OF FOUR PROGRAM TRACKS: ACADEMIC; ENTREPRENEURIAL; EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT & HIGH-PAYING/HIGH-SKILL CAREERS; AND PUBLIC EDUCATION & ADVOCACY. GRANTEE-PARTNERS INCREASE GIRLS' AWARENESS OF SYSTEMIC GENDER AND RACIAL INEQUITIES, GROW THEIR SENSE OF BEING CHANGE AGENTS, FOSTER THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS LEADERS, AND BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE ACTIVISM TO INCREASE GIRLS' READINESS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING.IN THE 20 YEARS SINCE LAUNCHING GIRLSBEST, WFMN HAS FUNDED SIX MULTI-YEAR COHORTS OF GRANTEE-PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE. THROUGH THESE COHORTS, WFMN HAS PROVIDED PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS TOTALING MORE THAN $5.1 MILLION TO 134 GIRL-LED AND GIRL-DRIVEN PROGRAMS STATEWIDE AND IMPACTED MORE THAN 45,202 YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS MINNESOTA. IN FY22, WFMN APPROVED $300,000 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE SECOND YEAR OF THE SIXTH COHORT OF GIRLSBEST GRANTEE-PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE WITH 20 MULTI-YEAR AND THREE SEED GRANTS FOR PLANNING. MULTI-YEAR GRANTS ARE RENEWED FOR UP TO THREE YEARS, BASED ON AN ANNUAL GRANT REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF PROGRESS TOWARDS GOALS. PLANNING GRANTS ARE LIMITED TO ONE YEAR. THE GRANT PERIOD IS JUNE 15, 2021, TO JUNE 14, 2022.LAST YEAR, GIRLSBEST IMPACTED THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF 2,089 GIRLS AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH THROUGH GRANTS TO OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. KEY OUTCOMES FROM OUR PROGRAM EVALUATION OF COHORT V (2018-2020) GRANTEE-PARTNERS ILLUSTRATES THE MODEL'S EFFECTIVENESS: - HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: GIRLSBEST PARTICIPANTS HAVE AN 98% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE, COMPARED TO 50-83% IN MINNESOTA OVERALL, DEPENDING ON ETHNICITY. - POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT: AMONG GRADUATES 93% OF GIRLSBEST PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE GRADUATING SENIORS WERE ON TRACK TO PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, COMPARED TO 31-73% IN MINNESOTA OVERALL, DEPENDING ON ETHNICITY. - UNINTENDED PREGNANCY: 99% OF GIRLSBEST PARTICIPANTS AVOIDED TEEN PREGNANCY RATE. IN THE CURRENT COHORT VI PROGRAM EVALUATION, THE PREGNANCY RATE OF PARTICIPANTS WAS 10 PER 1,000, COMPARED TO 25 PER 1,000 OF GIRLS IN MINNESOTA OVERALL IN 2019 (THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE), INCREASING THEIR ABILITY TO ATTAIN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ACCESS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.2. COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUNDTHROUGH COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND GRANTMAKING, THE FOUNDATION RESPONDS QUICKLY TO EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS AND FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE WOMEN'S SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVES. BECAUSE INEQUITY LOOKS DIFFERENT IN EVERY COMMUNITY, WE USE OUR INTERSECTIONAL EQUITY FRAMEWORK TO LOOK AT HOW GENDER, RACE, PLACE (GEOGRAPHY), AND ADDITIONAL IDENTITIES (ETHNICITY, SOVEREIGNTY, CLASS, AGE, ABILITY, LGTBQ+, IMMIGRATION) INTERSECT IN ORDER TO TARGET THE MOST INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR GENDER AND RACIAL JUSTICE. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENSURE SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVES FOR WOMEN, GIRLS, GENDER-EXPANSIVE PEOPLE, AND FAMILIES.IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, WFMN LEVERAGED THIS RESPONSIVE GRANTMAKING INFRASTRUCTURE TO AWARD FOUR ROUNDS OF EMERGENCY GRANTS TOTALING $1 MILLION TO ORGANIZATIONS LEADING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS FIRST-RESPONDERS IN A CRISIS. TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUING PANDEMIC AND DEEPENING SYSTEMIC DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES, WFMN INVESTS IN ORGANIZATIONS LEADING TRANSFORMATIVE WORK AT THE INTERSECTION OF GENDER AND RACIAL JUSTICE INCLUDING THOSE LEADING SKILLS BUILDING, CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESPONSES AND HEALING FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, AND MEETING THE INCREASED NEED FOR HOLISTIC WELL-BEING AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AS RIGHTS AND ACCESS ARE THREATENED. 3. WFMN FUND FOR SAFETYSAFETY IS THE UNDERPINNING FOR EQUITY FOR ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS; IT IMPROVES THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES, IMPACTS THEIR LEADERSHIP, AND INCREASES THEIR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. WITH THE MN GIRLS ARE NOT FOR SALE CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT SEX TRAFFICKING (2011-2019), WFMN CATALYZED A SEA CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITIES' RESPONSE TO SEX TRAFFICKING. THE WFMN FUND FOR SAFETY CONTINUES AND EXPANDS WFMN'S INVESTMENT IN WOMEN'S SAFETY AS IT WORKS WITH COMMUNITIES TO END GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, A CONTINUUM THAT INCLUDES INCLUDING SEX TRAFFICKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AS WELL AS STATE AND STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE. WFMN INVESTS IN THE ORGANIZATIONS, LEADERS, AND THE MOVEMENT TO CREATE A MINNESOTA WHERE WOMEN, GIRLS, AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE PEOPLE ARE FREE FROM EVERY FORM OF VIOLENCE AND CAN EXPERIENCE THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES AS SAFE PLACES. DURING OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR, WFMN AWARDED $336,000 TO 14 ORGANIZATIONS. BY RESOURCING THE CONTINUED PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT AND SUPPORTING EXISTING AND EMERGING PROGRAMMING BY AND FOR UNDERREPRESENTED CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, WFMN IS INVESTING IN ORGANIZATIONS, LEADERS, AND THE MOVEMENT TO BUILD STABILITY FOR COMMUNITY-SUSTAINING PROGRAMS. IN VIRTUAL SITE VISITS, GRANTEE-PARTNERS SHARED THAT THEY ARE SEEING A DECREASE IN GRANT FUNDING AVAILABILITY, ALONGSIDE GREATER COSTS AND NEED FOR SERVICES CAUSED BY THE HEIGHTENED ISOLATION OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. OF THE SAFETY PARTNERS, 14 PERCENT ARE RECEIVING WFMN FUNDING FOR THE FIRST TIME, 36 PERCENT WORK IN RURAL AND GREATER MINNESOTA, 57 PERCENT ARE LED BY BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND WOMEN OF COLOR. FUNDED PROGRAMS WILL DIRECTLY SERVE AN ESTIMATED 9,502 WOMEN, MEN, GIRLS, BOYS, AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.4. YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE OF MINNESOTA (YWI MN) LAUNCHED IN 2016, YWI MN IS A MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT AND A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO ACHIEVE EQUITY IN OPPORTUNITIES WITH AND FOR YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR, AMERICAN INDIAN YOUNG WOMEN, YOUNG WOMEN FROM GREATER MINNESOTA, LGBTQ+ YOUTH, AND YOUNG WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES. YWI MN IS ON A MISSION TO CREATE A MINNESOTA WHERE EVERY YOUNG WOMAN THRIVES WITH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, SAFETY, AND LEADERSHIP. AS AN EIGHT-YEAR, $11 MILLION STATEWIDE INITIATIVE, YWI MN IS FOCUSED BUILDING EQUITY IN OPPORTUNITIES WITH YOUNG WOMEN AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE PEOPLE, AGES 12-24, FROM EIGHT COMMUNITIES FACING THE GREATEST SYSTEMIC DISPARITIES IN OUR STATE: BLACK, INDIGENOUS, YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR, YOUNG WOMEN FROM GREATER MINNESOTA, LGBTQ+ YOUTH, AND YOUNG WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES. A PUBLIC-PRIVATE CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL FOR CHANGING INEQUITABLE SYSTEMS THAT CREATE BARRIERS FOR YOUNG WOMEN'S ABILITY TO THRIVE, DESPITE THEIR POTENTIAL. NO STATE IN THE COUNTRY HAS ESTABLISHED A FORMAL STATEWIDE INITIATIVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN (AGES 12-24) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A GOVERNOR UNTIL NOW. YWI MN IS BUILT ON GIRL-FOCUSED WORK WFMN HAS LED SINCE 2002, INCLUDING OUR GIRLSBEST (GIRLS BUILDING ECONOMIC SUCCESS TOGETHER) PROGRAM AND OUR MN GIRLS ARE NOT FOR SALE CAMPAIGN TO END SEX TRAFFICKING IN MINNESOTA. YWI MN IS DRIVEN BY AND WITH YOUNG WOMEN AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE LEADERS AND SUPPORTED BY CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERS INCLUDING BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE.

RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC POLICYSTATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN MINNESOTAIN 2009, THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED THE STATUS OF WOMEN & GIRLS IN MINNESOTA (STATUS) RESEARCH PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S HUMPHREY SCHOOL'S CENTER ON GENDER, WOMEN, AND PUBLIC POLICY. DATA SPECIFIC TO MINNESOTA WOMEN AND GIRLS HAS BEEN GATHERED, ANALYZED, AND PUBLISHED IN ECONOMICS, SAFETY, HEALTH, AND LEADERSHIP. THE STATUS RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY INPUT EXPANDS THE AVAILABLE DATA ON WOMEN AND GIRLS, PROVIDES ONGOING TREND ANALYSIS, INFORMS THE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL GRANTMAKING AND POLICY AGENDA, IDENTIFIES NEW AREAS WHERE RESEARCH IS NEEDED, AND RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN MINNESOTA. (CONTINUED ON SCH. O)DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION RELEASED THE 2022 STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN MINNESOTA, A ROBUST REPORT THAT INCLUDED DATA ON THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON WOMEN, GIRLS, AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE PEOPLE AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT COULD ADVANCE SYSTEMIC CHANGE. IN ADDITION TO THIS LEADING QUANTITATIVE REPORT, WFMN PRODUCED REPORTS FOLLOWING THE QUALITATIVE RESEARCH CONDUCTED THROUGH A ROAD TO TRANSFORMATION LISTENING SERIES WITH GRANTEE-PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ACROSS OUR STATE. THROUGH NINE ONLINE LISTENING SESSIONS, WFMN HEARD DIRECT TESTIMONY ON THE LIVED EXPERIENCES AND ISSUES FACED BY MINNESOTA WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ORDER TO STRATEGICALLY REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE CHALLENGES, BARRIERS, AND OBSTACLES THEY FACE AS A RESULT OF INEQUITIES AND INJUSTICE IN OUR SYSTEMS. PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19, RACIAL INJUSTICE, AND ADDITIONAL CRISES ON WOMEN, GIRLS, AND FAMILIES, AND SHARED THEIR SOLUTIONS TO CREATE A STATE WHERE ALL WOMEN, GIRLS, AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN THRIVE. THE INSIGHTS AND SOLUTIONS CONNECT WITH OUR LEADING STATUS ON WOMEN AND GIRLS IN MINNESOTA RESEARCH TO EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SYSTEMS MUST CHANGE. REPORTS WERE PRODUCED FOR EACH LISTENING SESSION, AS WELL AS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, SHARING THEMES AND SOLUTIONS THAT SURFACED ACROSS THE LISTENING SERIES, WHICH INFORM THE WOMEN'S FOUNDATION'S STATEWIDE AGENDA FOR GENDER AND RACIAL JUSTICE, USING OUR LEVERS OF GRANTMAKING, POLICY, PARTNERSHIPS, NARRATIVE CHANGE, AND FUTURE RESEARCH AND LISTENING.PUBLIC POLICYWFMN IS A SYSTEMS-CHANGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INVESTING IN TRANSFORMATIONAL POLICIES AND NARRATIVES TO ACHIEVE GENDER AND RACIAL JUSTICE. HARNESSING OUR POWER TO DRIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE, IN THE LAST YEAR WFMN DOUBLED ITS INVESTMENTS FOR POLICY CHANGE. WFMN IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING UNDERLYING SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITIES THAT IMPACT WOMEN AND GIRLS ACROSS MINNESOTA, INCLUDING RACISM, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, AND GAPS IN LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION. BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION'S HISTORICAL LEGISLATIVE WORK, WFMN'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ADVANCED PUBLIC POLICY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUNG WOMEN AND GRANTEE-PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. DURING MINNESOTA'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2022, WFMN HIRED A PUBLIC POLICY EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE TO ADVOCATE FOR AND ADVANCE THE WFMN POLICY AGENDA AT THE CAPITOL. THIS ROLE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CABINET OF YWI MN TO CARRY A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, MOBILIZE THE PUBLIC, AND INCREASE THE VISIBILITY AND PRIORITIES OF YOUNG WOMEN. WFMN PRESIDENT & CEO, GLORIA PEREZ, AND CABINET MEMBERS TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF THE WFMN POLICY AGENDA WITH LEGISLATORS FOR PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE, FUNDING TO COMBAT SEX TRAFFICKING, AND ISSUES CENTRAL TO ECONOMIC JUSTICE, SAFETY, AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE. THE GOVERNOR-APPOINTED YOUNG WOMEN'S CABINET CREATED A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY AGENDA AND ELECTED POLICY LEADERS TO WORK WITH A HIRED LOBBYIST TO PRIORITIZE AND MOVE FORWARD BILLS. TO PREPARE FOR THEIR ADVOCACY, YOUNG WOMEN RECEIVED RIGOROUS POLICY TRAINING USING A CURRICULUM THAT CENTERS PEOPLE OF COLOR TO ENGAGE IN POLICY FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE. STATE & NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPSTHE FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN COLLABORATIVE FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN MINNESOTA'S FOUNDATION COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO SOCIAL CHANGE GRANTMAKING. WFMN ENGAGES IN COLLABORATIVE FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN MINNESOTA'S FOUNDATION COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO SOCIAL CHANGE GRANTMAKING. WE ARE A MEMBER OF SEVERAL FUNDER COLLABORATIVES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC COLLABORATIVE OF YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVES, WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORK, MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF FOUNDATIONS, FUNDERS FOR REPRODUCTIVE EQUITY, GRANTMAKERS UNITED FOR TRANS COMMUNITIES, GRANTMAKERS FOR EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS, MN BLACK COLLECTIVE FOUNDATION, AND MISSION INVESTORS EXCHANGE.

BUILDING PHILANTHROPY FOR GENDER & RACIAL EQUITYA CRITICAL PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S WORK IS HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE POWER THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE WORLD THROUGH PERSONAL PHILANTHROPY. OUR DONOR-PARTNERS AND DONOR ADVISORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO EMBRACE THEIR PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP BY PARTICIPATING IN DONOR WORKSHOPS, SHARING COMMUNITY AND GRANTEE CONNECTIONS, AND ENGAGING IN GIVING OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS DONOR ADVISED FUNDS AND LEGACY AND PLANNED GIVING. ADDITIONAL DONOR ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES BUILDING PHILANTHROPY FOR GENDER AND RACIAL EQUITY INCLUDE: (CONTINUED ON SCH. O)* IN FY22, WFMN HELD IT ANNUAL EQUITY SUMMIT, BRINGING TOGETHER CORPORATE, PHILANTHROPIC, AND INDIVIDUAL DONOR-PARTNERS WITH POLICYMAKERS, YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS, AND STATEWIDE GRANTEE-PARTNERS FROM ALL OUR FUNDS - FOR A DAY OF INSPIRATION, LEARNING, AND CROSS-SECTOR NETWORKING. * WFMN CONCLUDED ITS ROAD TO TRANSFORMATION THAT BEGAN AT THE OUTSET OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE UPRISING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE TO LISTEN, AMPLIFY, AND INVEST IN THE VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE. THESE ONLINE LEARNING ENGAGEMENTS HIGHLIGHTED A RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES, INCLUDING ACROSS GEOGRAPHY TO ADDRESS THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA, PARTICULARLY THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY INEQUITY BECAUSE THEY HOLD THE KEY TO SOLUTIONS FOR A STRONGER MINNESOTA. THIS SERIES OF CONVENINGS INFORMED THE CREATION OF WFMN'S NEW SEVEN-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH DEEPENS THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION TO END SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND DRIVE INNOVATION FOR GENDER AND RACIAL JUSTICE. * WFMN ENGAGED A TRANSFORMATION COMMITTEE* DONOR-CENTERED GRANTMAKING: RIPLEY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, A DONOR ADVISED FUND OF THE WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA, AWARDED $117,000 IN GRANTS TO 14 ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION IN RAMSEY AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, A 29% INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF ITS ANNUAL GRANTMAKING. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THESE GRANTS ARE MULTI-YEAR INVESTMENTS. ORGANIZATIONS FUNDED WILL PROMOTE ACCESS TO WOMEN'S HEALTH EDUCATION AND SERVICES BUILT ON CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY STRENGTHS SO THAT YOUNG WOMEN AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH KNOW ABOUT THEIR BODIES AND CAN MAKE HEALTHY, INFORMED CHOICES AS THEY GROW AND AGE. RIPLEY MEMORIAL ADVISORS HAS INCREASED ITS RESPONSIVE SUPPORT FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ADOLESCENTS AND ALIGNED ITS STRATEGIES WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE OF MINNESOTA (YWI MN) TO ENGAGE WITH RECOMMENDATION #15 OF THE YWI MN'S BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION: TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO WOMEN'S HEALTH EDUCATION AND SERVICES BUILT ON CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY STRENGTHS SO THAT YOUNG WOMEN KNOW ABOUT THEIR BODIES AND CAN MAKE APPROPRIATE AND HEALTHY CHOICES AS THEY GROW AND AGE. * ENGAGED A PAID WENDA WEEKES MOORE INTERN AND DR. REATHA CLARK KING FELLOW AS WE INVEST IN BUILDING A PIPELINE OF LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN OF COLOR LEADERSA VALUE TO PHILANTHROPY, NONPROFITS, AND COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THE PROGRAM TO DATE, WFMN HAS ENGAGED 47 WOMEN OF COLOR AND AMERICAN INDIAN WOMEN IN ALL ASPECTS OF ITS OPERATIONS, INCLUDING EVALUATION, FUNDRAISING, GRANTMAKING, AND ADMINISTRATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES RIGOROUS TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.* AS OF 3/31/22, THE FOUNDATION HAS 69 DONOR ADVISED FUNDS. THE COMBINED ASSETS OF ALL DONOR ADVISED FUNDS TOTALS: $8,484,298.* IN FY22, WFMN PROVIDED EXPANDED VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DONORS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS TO ENGAGE WITH THE STATUS OF WOMEN & GIRLS IN MINNESOTA RESEARCH, SHARE THE THEMES AND SOLUTIONS FROM OUR ROAD TO TRANSFORMATION LISTENING SERIES, LEARN ABOUT WFMN PRIORITIES THROUGH A STATE OF THE FOUNDATION UPDATE. ENGAGING COMMUNITIES OF LEARNING AND PRACTICE, WFMN CONTINUED ITS MEN OF COURAGE CIRCLE CONVENINGS TO MAXIMIZE MEN'S ENGAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT IN SAFETY AND HOSTED A FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT SERIES FOR WOMEN LED BY A DONOR-PARTNER. PARTICIPATE IN THE ROAD TO TRANSFORMATION'S SERIES OF EVENTS TO GROW IN ACTIVATING THEIR PHILANTHROPY AND ABILITY TO ADVANCE GENDER AND RACIAL JUSTICE.