Mama Cash supports and strengthens organisations run by women, girls and trans people and intersex people with adequate and appropriate (financial) resources. In this way, these organisations are given more influence, effectiveness and opportunities to realise their vision and encourage others to join them. Women’s funds are ideally suited to support organisations standing up for women’s rights. Here is why:
- Women’s funds are experts on and have understanding of the needs of women, girls, trans people and intersex people who fight for their human rights. They are accountable to the social movements from which they usually arise.
- In many cases, women’s funds are the first, most important or sole funders of initiatives conceived of and led by women, girls and trans people and intersex people. Emerging and non-mainstream groups, including groups that are not registered due to practical and political reasons, are also supported by women’s funds.
- Social change is a lengthy process and often takes place in a context of discrimination, political repression and conflict. That is why women’s funds give priority to flexible and general grants.
- Financial resources alone are not enough. That is why women’s funds also support working on organisational qualities, fundraising and financial management, entering into alliances and the development of evaluation tools in order to learn and make adjustments.
- Women’s’ funds are important experts and advocates of more resources that contribute to the strengthening of the rights of women, girls, trans people and intersex people. Development of a strong, global ecosystem of women’s funds is an effective strategy to build powerful and sustainable women’s rights movements in all corners of the world.