Open Society Foundations Commit $100 Million to Support Feminist Political Mobilization and Leadership

The Open Society Foundations will invest more than $100 million over the next five years in strengthening a range of feminist-led movements and increasing their leadership across a broad range of sectors, from politics and the private sector to civil society and government.

The majority of the funding will help strengthen feminist organizations and funds around the world. Open Society is focused on growing transformative feminist political leadership through explicit investments in initiatives that support more women, transgender, and gender non-conforming people in positions of leadership in politics and governance. This includes support for expanding progressive multilateralism and feminist leadership in peace and security.

The investments will also boost efforts to ensure that women, girls, transgender, and gender non-conforming communities can make their own decisions about issues affecting their bodies and reproductive health care.

Open Society will invest across several gender justice initiatives, including:

• Developing and sustaining transformative feminist leaders in politics and governance, with a focus on leaders of minority identities
• Strengthening feminist movements globally, particularly to combat rising authoritarianism
• Strengthening feminist leadership in peace and security, with a priority on women under threat of political conflict, such as in Afghanistan, etc.

Open Society announced the funding at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris. The forum is a global gathering for gender equality convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France, in partnership with youth and civil society.

Open Society serves as the lead philanthropic actor of the Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership, which aims to strengthen women’s rights, voice, and agency across the globe. 

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