First-Ever Feminist Giving Day Led by Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, GiveMN, and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM) and GiveMN are proud to host the first-ever Feminist Giving Day on Thursday, May 9. Feminist Giving Day will be a dedicated opportunity for people to support WFM’s work researching, advocating, convening, and investing in women, girls, and gender-expansive people across the state.

WFM and GiveMN decided to create Feminist Giving Day because they were troubled that only 1.8 percent of charitable giving in the U.S. goes toward organizations that center women and girls, according to Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Campaign organizers seek to change that statistic, starting this spring with a 24-hour celebration of giving to women and girls, just in time for Mother’s Day so that people can make a gift in honor of their mother or a mother-like figure in their lives.

“Studies show that investing in women, girls, and gender-expansive people helps everyone in the community,” said WFM President & CEO, Gloria Perez, “In fact, according to the United Nations, closing gender gaps could boost GDP per capita by 20 percent.”

In advance of Feminist Giving Day, WFM and GiveMN will be hosting a virtual panel discussion on April 24 from noon – 1 p.m. so that people can hear firsthand from community leaders about how their donations will be used to advance gender equity.

“GiveMN believes in growing giving to build more equitable communities,” said Jake Blumberg, executive director of GiveMN, “We share the Women’s Foundation’s commitment to generosity, courage, inclusion, and equity and we’re proud to be launching a new Minnesota giving movement together.”

To jumpstart the donations, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation has generously agreed to match dollar for dollar the first $30,000 in contributions to Feminist Giving Day.

“For the past 40 years, the Women’s Foundation has done great work supporting women, girls, and gender-expansive to lead safe, healthy, and prosperous lives,” said Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation President & CEO, Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D., “We’re excited to be a part of the first ever Feminist Giving Day and hope that our contribution will inspire others to give generously so that WFM can continue its work advancing equity for all in the next 40 years and beyond.”

To learn more about Feminist Giving Day and register for the April 24 virtual panel discussion, visit wfmn.org/feminist-giving-day. Feminist Giving Day donations can be made between April 24 – May 9 at givemn.org/event/Feministgivingday.