NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2018 – The New York Women’s Foundation (The Foundation) today announced receipt of a $2.25 million grant from the CBS Corporation. The grant will support The Foundation’s Fund for the Me Too Movement and Allies (The Fund), to ensure that the movement is sustained beyond news cycles and hashtags. The Fund is focused on investing in organizations led by and for survivors of sexual violence and is announcing a partnership with women’s community foundations to expand its national reach.
Led by Ana Oliveira, President and CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation, and Tarana Burke, Founder and Leader of the ‘me too.’ Movement, The Fund, which is based in New York, supports organizations around the country working to prevent and disrupt sexual violence and harassment while supporting individual and community healing. Its creation builds on The New York Women’s Foundation’s long history of supporting local women leaders who are building transformational movements and investing in community-led solutions that confront gender-based violence.
“This funding will enable The Fund for the Me Too Movement and Allies to expand its support of women of color activists nationwide, particularly in under-resourced areas where support and investment are critically needed.” said Ms. Oliveira. “We know that the best solutions for problems faced by communities come from leaders within communities. That’s why we are partnering with women’s foundations across the country, to leverage their expertise in helping identify and support regional and local survivor-led organizations for investment.”
The partnership’s initial membership includes the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Women’s Foundation of California, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts and Women’s Funding Network. Other public women’s foundations are welcome to join the partnership.
“Work focused on supporting survivors of sexual violence has happened in our communities for years, but too many people and organizations struggle to move the needle because they simply don’t have the resources,” said Ms. Burke. “It’s our goal that The Fund will make that reality less of a norm because we know real change happens when we support and empower organizers and organizations at the grassroots.”
The Fund’s first awards, announced October 2018, were given to eight organizations that give voice to women, immigrants, and LGBTQ people of color.
The New York Women’s Foundation was one of two foundations to receive a grant from CBS. A total of $20 million was distributed to 18 organizations.