Programs

  • Gender Wealth Institute Programs

    PUBLIC EDUCATION GENDER WEALTH INSTITUTE In September 2021, WOMEN'S WAY launched the Gender Wealth Institute (GWI) whose mission is to close the gender wealth gap in the Greater Philadelphia region by advancing research and practical solutions that build wealth for women who are economically insecure. GWI priority areas of intervention are: . Strengthen the financial health of women and girls through Financial Coaching .Change mental models through changing narratives through our Narrative Change Fellowship Program .Educate stakeholders on the drivers of the gender wealth gap through our Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Virtual Education Series .Pioneer policy solutions to address gender wealth inequity through our Gender Wealth Index research project FINANCIAL COACHING In 2021, we launched the Financial Coach Training Program (FCTP). Since its launch, 37 organizations have engaged in the FCTP, and 64 service providers and 37 supervisors have been trained. Collectively they provided financial coaching to more than 3000 individuals our region. 84% of individuals who received coaching experienced an improvement in their financial capacity. In 2024, we transitioned the FCTP to the Financial Wellness Program (FWP) whose purpose is the financial health of employees of nonprofits and members of grassroots organizations as measured via a wellness survey. FWP conducted two cohorts with a total of 47 participants from 15 organizations. In Cohort One, 95% of participants reported increased awareness of their financial habits and 94.8% felt better prepared to pursue their financial goals. Final metrics from Cohort One showed a decrease in stress and an improvement in financial capability. In November 2024, FWP also hosted a one-day training with 86 staff members from the Federation Early Learning Services (FELS), with 90.1% of attendees feeling motivated to set and take on financial goals as a result of the workshop. NARRATIVE CHANGE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Since its launch in 2021, 34 individuals successfully completed the Fellowship Program resulting in 27 videos of their stories and a 7-series podcast of the carceral system and its impact on the gender wealth gap. In addition, 100% of the fellows improved their confidence and skills in using their stories to affect change in their communities. CLOSING THE GENDER WEALTH GAP EDUCATION SERIES In 2024, we hosted six virtual forums exploring the steps needed to build a more inclusive economy and the alternative models and initiatives that can serve as its foundation. Topics included guaranteed income, building worker power, and featured guest speaker Marjorie Kelly, author of Wealth Supremacy. A total of 695 individuals attended and/or viewed the recordings of the sessions and several hundred individuals were mobilized to act in pursuit of advancing gender and racial equity. Of those who completed the post-session survey, 87% of respondents rated each session "very good or better." YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE (YWI) Now in its 27th year the WOMEN'S WAY Young Women's Initiative (YWI) is a dynamic group of people between the ages of 21 and 45 who identify as women or gender expansive/gender non-conforming/non-binary. This volunteer led young friends' group is open to individuals who are focused on social justice. YWI works to develop its members as community and business leaders, advocates for social change, and civically engaged philanthropists raising critical funds for WOMEN'S WAY. It also serves as a way to connect with progressive peers and make a difference in the community.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $713.7K

  • Grantmaking Programs

    GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS IMMEDIATE RESPONSE ACTION FUND (IRAF) IRAF addresses urgent and unanticipated needs of organizations or programs that primarily serve women, girls, and the gender expansive community. From receiving a completed application to communicating a decision-the IRAF grant review process is completed in 10 business days. In FY 24, 6 grants totaling over $57,000 were given out, impacting over 72,000 individuals. GENERAL OPERATING FUND We completed the second round of funding for our 2023 General Operating Fund grantees--all of which are organizations with budgets under $500,000, with 11 having budgets under $200,000. We disbursed 12 grants totaling $120,000, impacting 59,000 individuals.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $249.4K

  • Gender Wealth Research Initiatives

    RESEARCH During fiscal year 2024, WOMEN'S WAY reviewed additional research and worked with our community stakeholders to further refine success metrics related to the five dimensions of the Gender Wealth Framework: Health and Healing, Stability and Opportunity; Freedome, Joy and Belonging; Family and Community Care; Resources and Community Support. These metrics serve as guideposts to give practioners and funders qualitative reference when evaluating whether gender economic equity has been achieved in a particular dimension. Summaries and findings from the work are found in our 2024 Gender Wealth Framework report. With respect to grantmaking, we evaluate the final reports of the IRAF grantees to determine breadth and depth of impact. We also continually conduct prospective donor research to expand our list of individual, corporate and foundation funders. Our research efforts resulted in expanding our donor list by 30%.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $94.3K