The idea for The Rita Fund grew out of the report “Where is the Money for Women’s Rights” by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID). The report analyzes the funding landscape and the challenges facing women’s rights organizations.

The Rita Fund strives to respond to the “funding gap” detailed in AWID’s report, by creating a reliable, non-restrictive funding source for women’s funds operating worldwide.

The Challenge

• Out of every foundation dollar, only 7 cents goes towards women and girls.¹
• Beyond the challenge of attracting money from larger foundations and governments, women’s funds are attempting to create an entirely new culture of giving within their regions.
• Organizations rarely receive multi-year funding that they can rely on from year-to-year, making long-term planning an ongoing challenge.
• Traditional funders often do not fund infrastructure, salaries, and day-to-day operational needs; opting for program related grants instead.

The Movement

From the first women’s fund, Mama Cash, founded in Amsterdam in 1985, to the 30 and growing funds across the globe today, women funds serve as a financial arm and a bridge for grassroots women’s organizations working to, among other things:

• Challenge Racial Injustice
• Create Economic Opportunities
• Combat Violence
• End Human Trafficking
• Insure Educational Opportunities
• Improve Health Disparities
• Secure Reproductive Rights
• Demand Equal Participation in Governance