Women's Foundation of Minnesota

Research, Education, and Public PolicyStatus of Women and Girls in MinnesotaIn 2009, the Foundation launched the Status of Women & Girls in Minnesota (Status) research project in partnership with the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School's Center on Gender, Women, and Public Policy. Data specific to Minnesota women and girls has been gathered, analyzed, and published in economics, safety, health, and leadership. The Status research and community input expands the available data on women and girls, provides ongoing trend analysis, informs the Foundation's annual grantmaking and policy agenda, identifies new areas where research is needed, and raises public awareness about the needs of women and girls in Minnesota. Every two years, the Foundation releases the most comprehensive data in the state on women, girls, and gender-expansive people as well as recommendations for policy solutions that could advance systemic change. The 2024 Status of Women and Girls+ in Minnesota was released in March FY24 in a public presentation with Dr. Christina Ewig, lead researcher and director of the Center on Women, Gender and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs; WFM President & CEO Gloria Perez; and Ruth Richardson, CEO, Planned Parenthood North Central States. Economics data from the report was shared with House and Senate jobs committees, and key data from the report was shared business, public services, and communities statewide, including the women's affinity group at US Bank, RSP, Women in Public Administration, Society for Women in Educational Leadership, the Federation of Women's Clubs of Minnesota, in media on MPR, and more.WFM leverages listening, research, and convening to inform the field, cross-sector engagement, policy advocacy, and investments. In addition to producing research reports, we invest in listening to grantee-partners, advocates, and community leaders to better understand how disparities and solutions are experienced in distinct communities around the state, and to inform our investments in policy, future research, and philanthropy. WFM engages biannual Community Connect events with grantee-partners to network, share WFM research and updates, and connect partners across issue areas and geography. In FY25, WFM hosted an in-person Community Connect in Rochester to create lasting connections by hearing about local issues and networking with an emphasis on our intersecting and varied identities. The event was hosted by the Rochester Area Foundation and sponsored by the Mayo Clinic. On the way to Rochester, we visited two community partners in safety to learn more about local needs in an increasingly diverse community.Public PolicyAs a systems-change statewide community foundation, WFM invests in advocacy as a key lever to transform conditions in Minnesota so all people can thrive. Policies on our legislative agenda are grounded in data from our Status of Women & Girls in Minnesota research report and from listening to community partners. WFM is committed to policies that remove barriers and increase access for women, girls, and gender-expansive people across Minnesota in health, economics, and safety, by addressing racism, gender-based violence, and gaps in leadership and representation. WFM's legislative agenda advances public policy in partnership with young women, gender-expansive people, and grantee-partner organizations. Since 2016, the Governor-appointed Young Women's Cabinet has developed a legislative agenda, testified at the Capitol, and directed more than $3 million in grants to our state's communities. The Young Women's Cabinet created a comprehensive policy agenda to advance bills affecting their lives. To prepare for their advocacy, young women received rigorous policy training using a curriculum that centers people of color to engage in policy for systems change. Cabinet members were active in testifying, writing letters of support, and increasing awareness of their policy agenda issues.Research in our Status of Women & Girls+ in Minnesota was in the spotlight through session, including as fuel for new legislation requiring salary transparency as a tool to advance pay equity. In FY25, WFM advanced a policy agenda at the Capitol, working with a hired lobbyist to carry a legislative agenda, mobilize the public, and increase the visibility and priorities of women, girls, gender-expansive people. WFM leaders, Dr. Reatha Clark King Fellow, and Young Women's Cabinet members testified and submitted letters on behalf of the WFM policy agenda for issues central to economic justice, safety, and reproductive justice, including creating a statewide health education standard; support for crime victims' services; an inclusive ERA for Minnesota; a task force on preventing violence against Latinas; expanding coverage for abortions, pre- and post-natal healthcare; coverage for gender-affirming care; and supporting better outcomes for Black and Native births and pregnancies. In 2024, the beginning of FY25, we made progress on key legislation and allocations for policies on our agenda, in partnership with coalitions that include grantee-partners and longtime leaders in this work. These policies and more support a culture of collective care, led by our state's communities and advocates working on the frontlines for change. ]In late FY25, the focus of the legislative session was deciding the state budget. Our policy agenda prioritized the health and well-being of women, families, and all Minnesotans. Cabinet members submitted letter on behalf of their agenda, including on funding to support crime victims' services and ERA MN. This session, our victories were as much in showing up for policies and partners that benefit women and families as they are for defending against the rollback of policies like Paid Family Leave, comprehensive health education for students, state funding for fake clinics, and insurance coverage for undocumented Minnesotans. We will continue to advocate for funding and policies that support women, girls, and gender-expansive people.State & National PartnershipsWFM engages in collaborative partnerships within Minnesota and the national foundation community. To continue making an impact in social change grantmaking in Minnesota and in the national and global women's funding movement, we participate as a member in collaboratives including the National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women's Initiatives, Women's Funding Network, Minnesota Council of Foundations, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Mission Investors Exchange and Confluence Philanthropy.