Why Women?
There is clear and compelling need to focus on meeting the economic self-sufficiency and security needs of women in San Diego, with particular attention to low income women, women of color and elderly women. Gender disparities persist and the current economic situation exacerbates problems that many women face in securing living wage employment and building assets. The current economic climate combined with pre-existing gender inequalities has also created an almost “perfect storm” of need: low incomes, limited employment prospects, and exhausted or diminished assets. These needs urge investment in outcomes such as reduced poverty for women, reduced wage gap between men and women, increased access to training and education that supports women’s engagement in non-traditional and higher paying occupations.
There is ample reason and room in San Diego’s philanthropic arena for a funding entity that is (1) focused on improving the lives of women throughout San Diego County and is (2) lead by women. There are numerous organizations within San Diego who work with women and who are currently struggling to sustain existing services as well as meet new and pressing needs. Based upon the survey Women Give sponsored on the Economic Self Sufficiency and Security of Women in San Diego County, strategies that a women-focused fund or giving circle could explore and support are:
I. Support policy and system change that improves women’s financial success and stability
II. Equip women for self-employment and entrepreneurship
III. Prepare women to work in higher paying fields
IV. Support family economic self-sufficiency and asset building among women
Economic growth for women has an important "multiplier effect.” Women are more likely to share their economic gains with their families and communities at large - thus potentially making investment in women and girls a leveraged granting opportunity, no matter what your specific giving area focus
