|
A Tradition of Women Helping Women
In the early part of this century, women benefactors such
as Anne Morgan, the niece of J.P. Morgan, played an important
role during strikes by the International Ladies Garment
Workers Union and other women's labor groups. Many women
of means sold off family property to provide bail money
for arrested strikers.
Suffragists were supported by the commitment of such philanthropists
as Alva Belmont, who purchased the Sewall-Belmont house
in Washington, DC to provide a permanent headquarters for
the National Women's Party. Similarly, Frank Leslie, the
wealthy woman publisher of Leslie's Weekly, left two million
dollars in 1914 to the National Women's Suffrage Association
'for the furtherance of women's suffrage." Her bequest is
believed to be the single largest gift to the feminist movement
up to that time.
Other women provided the financial support for the rallies
and parades that gave the suffragist movement important
visibility. It was the gifts of wealthy women supporters
that helped put the suffrage movement over the top.
Throughout the Twentieth century, women benefactors continued
to advance women's causes. It was a woman - Katherine Dexter
McCormick - who gave the 2 million dollars necessary for
oral contraceptive research when no one else had the courage
or vision to do so. Her anonymous gift was key for the development
of the birth control pill.
Women's Funds Are Growing
Frustration with the gender bias of traditional charities
has given rise to a variety of feminist-based women's foundations.
Among the first women's charities was the American Association
of University Women's Educational Fund, founded in 1888
by the Associate of Collegiate Alumnae, a predecessor of
the AAUW.
According to the National Network of Women's Funds, there
are now more than 60 feminist funds that have programs up
and running or are in the process of developing programs
designed particularly for women and girls. These funds support
direct care for survivors of rape, incest and domestic violence,
family planning, and child care. They have also funded opportunities
for women and girls in leadership, education, and economic
betterment and serve as advocates in the areas of discrimination
and reproductive rights.
One of the most distinguishing characteristics of these
organizations is that they tend to be more inclusive in
terms of race, ethnic origin, sexual preference, physical
and mental ability, age and socioeconomic background than
philanthropies that are more "broad-based" and mainstream."
Locally based, most are focused on the specific needs
of the constituencies they serve. Many develop new approaches
to problems facing women and girls that can be applied nationwide.
|
