Women First International Fund

Women First International Fund is a public foundation – a grantmaking public charity with funding from individual and corporate donors, as well as from our endowment. For 50 years, Women First has been giving grants to women-led organizations in countries where gender inequities remain pervasive. Our grantee partners implement programs focused on economic empowerment as a way to improve the lives of women, girls and trans people.

In 2020 Women First we will be supporting 20 new and 5 ongoing grantee partners. We will support those groups for 6 years, adding 10-15 new grantees each year.

We support grantee partners in Eastern Africa and India who are advancing economic empowerment as a means of strengthening the livelihoods of women, girls and trans people.

Our Vision

Women First envisions a world where gender equity prevails & where women and girls can access or create opportunities for themselves.

Our Mission

We invest in grassroots initiatives driven by women and girls in developing economies that sustainably advance their lives.

Our Work

We have developed a unique grantmaking model disrupting traditional approaches and designed specifically to support and partner with new and emerging grassroots women-led organizations in countries where gender inequities remain pervasive. Ultimately, real success depends on far more than money. Our flexible funding, network building, and targeted capacity support not only strengthens our grantee partners’ organizations, but their programs and communities too.