Despite women’s growing influence in philanthropy, only 1.8% of charitable giving in the U.S. supports organizations focused on women and girls. In contrast, France has embedded gender equality into its public policy, diplomacy, and philanthropy. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) takes a feminist approach to development, supporting reproductive rights, combating gender-based violence, and funding women’s leadership. Meanwhile, the Observatory of Philanthropy at Fondation de France has highlighted growing gender parity in nonprofit governance, a key factor in strengthening funding for women-led initiatives.
By examining different philanthropic landscapes, we see how strategies can complement and inform one another. France’s approach to integrating gender equality into public and philanthropic policy offers lessons in structural change, while the U.S. demonstrates the growing power of individual and institutional giving. Philanthropy thrives on collaboration and knowledge-sharing—by learning from each other’s successes and challenges, we can drive more effective, scalable solutions that accelerate progress worldwide.
At Friends of Fondation de France, we connect U.S. donors with transformative French and European organizations advancing gender equality. Whether it’s funding gender-responsive economic development in West Africa, survivor-centered programs in Europe, or women’s leadership in the arts, our partners are reshaping the future. These locally rooted initiatives provide expertise, insight, and scalable solutions that cross-border philanthropy can elevate to new heights. Philanthropy for women and girls cannot be constrained by borders—the challenges are worldwide, and so are the solutions. By investing in women worldwide, donors can accelerate progress toward a more just, inclusive, and thriving world for all.
Women’s Philanthropy: Why French-American Investing in Women Matters
Philanthropy has long been a catalyst for progress, and women are leading the charge. Research from the Lily Family School of Philanthropy shows that women are more likely to give, give more, and spread their giving across more organizations than men. In the U.S., single women donate a larger percentage of their income to charity than their male counterparts. And yet, only 1.8% of charitable giving in the U.S. goes toward organizations focused on women and girls.
Women philanthropists are also reshaping the way giving works. Leaders like Melinda French Gates are championing trust-based philanthropy, investing in grassroots initiatives, and removing bureaucratic barriers that often hinder funding for women’s organizations. With a recent $1 billion commitment to advancing women’s power and influence, Gates is demonstrating the impact of bold, strategic investments in gender equality.
By investing in French and European programs, donors help create economic and social ripple effects. Studies show that when women gain financial independence, they reinvest in their families and communities, driving economic growth and improving health and education outcomes for future generations. Gender equality is not just a moral imperative—it’s an economic one.
While local initiatives are essential, investing in women and girls at a wider scale can yield even greater impact. Across the world, the challenges women face—economic exclusion, gender-based violence, lack of access to education—are interconnected. Different regions require different approaches, shaped by local expertise. Cross-border philanthropy allows funders to target systemic issues at their root and support proven, community-led solutions that are adaptable and scalable.
French and European Initiatives Accelerating Action for Women
Friends of Fondation de France supports transformative initiatives that empower women and girls worldwide. These organizations are advancing gender equality, fighting gender-based violence, and ensuring economic and educational opportunities for women:
“If we have the ability to help others, even in small ways, why wouldn’t we? And if that alone isn’t enough motivation, we should remember the power of even the smallest dose of optimism offered to someone in need.” – Ellen Gruber, founder of Solidaime.
Fondation Solidaime fosters long-term economic and social autonomy in developing countries by placing women at the center of change. From training women entrepreneurs in the Ivory Coast to funding education for girls in Afghanistan, Solidaime empowers local leaders to drive sustainable progress.
Fondation pour une Maternité Sans Risque
For too many women in Sub-Saharan Africa, pregnancy and childbirth remain life-threatening. Fondation pour une Maternité Sans Risque is working to change that by reducing maternal mortality in rural Senegal. Through mobile medical units, midwife training, and health education, the foundation ensures that even women in the most remote villages have access to safe maternity care. With U.S. donor support, it is expanding mobile teams and building maternity wards that save lives.
Fondation Lumière
Medical innovation is key to improving women’s health, and Fondation Lumière is at the forefront of advancing prenatal care. By developing cutting-edge imaging techniques, the foundation enhances early diagnosis and treatment of prenatal pathologies, helping protect the health of both mothers and their future children. U.S. donors have already contributed to an integrated care and research platform at Hôpital Necker – Enfants Malades in Paris, with a second partner unit now established in Marseille.
LOBA
LOBA uses art and dance therapy to help women reclaim control over their bodies after experiencing sexual violence. Their RECREATION THERAPY method, developed in France, is being expanded internationally to support survivors and challenge societal norms that perpetuate gender-based violence.
In Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Madagascar, Passerelles Numériques is transforming lives through education in the digital sector. Committed to gender parity, the organization ensures that at least half of its students are young women, giving them the skills needed to break the cycle of poverty and build careers in tech.
In West Africa, women are the backbone of agroecological farming, yet their knowledge and leadership in sustainable agriculture are often undervalued and underfunded. By fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer, supporting female-led cooperatives, and advocating for sustainable farming practices, JAFOWA (Joint Agricultural Food Systems for West Africa) is creating long-term solutions for rural communities.
“You cannot work in farmer seed production and hide the contribution of women in the safeguarding of this seed.” – Alihou Ndiaye, Coordinator of the Senegalese Association of Farmer Seed Producers.
With U.S. donor support, the initiative continues to expand training programs and build networks that amplify the impact of women in agriculture. Learn more: JAFOWA on YouTube.
Centre Audiovisuel Simone de Beauvoir
Feminist movements have long relied on the power of storytelling to drive change. The Centre Audiovisuel Simone de Beauvoir ensures that these stories are preserved and made accessible to new generations. Founded in 1982, the center houses one of the largest feminist audiovisual archives in France, documenting key moments in the fight for gender rights from the 1960s onward. Through film restoration, public screenings, and educational outreach, it safeguards the voices of past activists while inspiring new ones.
Join the Movement
At Friends of Fondation de France, we are committed to advancing gender equality by supporting impactful initiatives worldwide. Through French-American philanthropy, we connect U.S. donors to organizations creating lasting change in women’s rights, economic empowerment, and education.
On International Women’s Day 2025, let’s step forward in solidarity. Let’s Accelerate Action by investing in the organizations and individuals driving real progress. Make a tax-deductible donation today to support women and girls around the world.
