Established in 1969, Women First International Fund (Women First) is a U.S.-based non-profit committed to advancing gender justice and economic equality globally. We ensure underfunded, emerging grassroots groups have the resources and decision-making power necessary to create real change. Our support goes beyond funding, fostering collaboration, and equipping small organizations with big visions to implement community-led solutions for lasting change. Through long-term grants, tailored capacity-building support, peer learning initiatives, and cross-regional convenings, we support grassroots organizations led by women and trans people in the Global South who know their communities’ needs. In 2019, we adopted our current grantmaking model, which provides six years of funding and capacity-strengthening support to our grantee partners. Since then, we have invested over $4 million in grassroots groups led by women and trans people globally.
Climate/Environmental Justice, Ecosystems
Economic Justice, including economic security, livelihood issues and labor
Gender Justice
LGBTQIA+
Technology
Womens Rights
Our capacity-building initiatives, convenings and peer learning exchanges are designed to ensure grassroots groups can strengthen their organizational resilience by engaging in strategic planning processes, investing in their narrative power, and resource mobilization opportunities. Women First’s long-term, multi-year funding cycle provides us with the opportunity to form meaningful and authentic relationships with our grantee partners, equipping us to understand their unique challenges and support them with context-responsive solutions that contribute to their organization’s long-term sustainability and impact.