Gender-based violence and inequality persist as daunting obstacles in our society today. According to UN Women, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. In addition, discriminatory practices hinder women’s access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and decision-making power. Recognizing the urgency of addressing such pervasive issues, an increasing number of charities have emerged to advocate for change and support vulnerable women. From advocating for gender equality to supporting survivors of violence, they have emerged as beacons of hope for marginalized women worldwide. These charities go beyond addressing symptoms; they tackle the root causes of inequality head-on and instigate sustainable solutions. Here are 15 of them:
#1. Global Fund for Women
Global Fund for Women is one of the world’s leading foundations for gender equality. They are activists for the rights of women and girls, supporting movements that bring justice to both. They work closely with other women’s funds—national and regional organizations also making local grants to women’s rights groups.
Over their more than 30-year history, Global Fund for Women has provided critical seeding and strengthening grants totaling $8.3 million to 35 women’s funds in 27 countries—in some cases providing the first grants to now thriving regional women’s funds such as Semillas in Mexico and TEWA in Nepal.
If you want to contribute towards empowering women through Global Fund for Women, you can donate directly through a website via a bank account, card, or PayPal. Other ways to get involved include supporting gender justice movements or signing up for their newsletters.
#2. Women for Women International
Women for Women International is an organization that helps marginalized women in countries affected by war and conflict. They have helped more than 550,000 women in 14 countries since 1993 by offering support, tools, and access to life-changing skills that move from crisis and poverty to stability and economic self-sufficiency.
For example, at the Women’s Opportunity Center of Rwanda, survivors of war learn how to make things themselves – bracelets and totes bags–with which they can help them gain income and become autonomous people.
To donate or get involved with Women for Women International, you can send one-time or monthly payments through the website via credit card or PayPal or donate cryptocurrency. Alternatively, you can volunteer, donor-advised fund, start a fundraiser, attend their events, send a message of hope, or spread awareness on social media.
#3. Girls Not Brides
Girls Not Brides is a global partnership that ends child marriage and empowers young women everywhere. Founded in 2011, this organization represents over 1,500 civil society organizations from over 100 countries united with a shared purpose aimed at helping craft a brighter tomorrow for young ladies.
An example of the change Girls Not Brides has brought about can be observed through their advocacy works in Malawi. In collaboration with local organizations, they successfully lobbied for the passing of a law that increased the legal marriage age from 15 to 18 years.
To support Girls Not Brides’ cause or get involved in their efforts to end child marriage globally, you can consider donating for different projects. They accept both one-time contributions and monthly pledges that go towards supporting their various programs on the ground. Additionally, you can support their campaigns or join their partnerships.
#4. Women’s World Banking
Women’s World Banking is a non-profit global organization that aims to empower women through financial inclusion. They are dedicated to ensuring the future of the economically empowered woman by giving them access to financial and technological tools in their own name and making them comfortable using.
Through their programs thus far, they have reached 20 million women in emerging markets already, helping to change not only their lives but also those of their households and communities and the businesses they work for.
If you’re interested in supporting Women’s World Banking or getting involved in their efforts, you can donate directly through the website (one-time or recurring payments) via credit card, bank account, or Apple Pay. Alternative ways include giving by phone or mail, making a gift, a stock donation, or creating donor-advised funds (DAFs).
#5. Malala Fund
The Malala Fund is an international non-profit organization that advocates for young women’s education. It was co-founded by Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for female education and youngest Nobel Prize laureate, and her father, Ziauddin.
The organization is working for a world where every girl can learn and lead. For instance, when the government of Sierra Leone closed schools due to the Ebola epidemic in 2015, Malala Fund bought radios and created classrooms for 1,200 marginalized girls to continue their Education.
To support Malala Fund’s important work, you can make one-time or monthly donations, send crypto, give by stock or by cheque, or even donate in another currency. Alternative ways include corporate or planned giving.
#6. Women’s Refugee Commission
The Women’s Refugee Commission is a non-profit organization that protects the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. They research their needs, identify solutions, and advocate for programs and policies to strengthen their resilience and drive change in humanitarian practice.
One example of their impact is the work to advocate for the full integration of traditionally marginalized groups, such as refugee women, people with disabilities, the LGBTQI community, and adolescent girls, in identifying solutions and designing programs that meet their unique needs and building upon their capacities.
If you want to contribute to their efforts, you can donate directly through their website via credit card or wallet, or bank account.
#7. Dress for Success
Dress for Success is a non-profit global organization that helps empower women to overcome poverty by giving them network support, professional attire, and development tools so they can live and thrive in work. Through their work, Dress for Success ascribes to helping women gain confidence, get employment, change lives lastingly positively, and rise up out of poverty.
Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to 143 cities in 23 countries and has helped more than 1.3 million women work towards self-sufficiency.
For those interested in lending support to this incredible cause, there are several ways: you can donate money directly through the website, donate gift cards or store credits, volunteer, or attend their events.
#8. Step Up Women’s Network
Step Up Women’s Network is an unwaveringly remarkable charity organization committed to helping women and girls overcome hurdles and achieve their full potential. This non-profit organization sets out to create positive change through mentorship, empowerment programs as well as community support.
Step Up understands that many women face challenges in various aspects of life – education, career, personal development, healthcare, etc. They relentlessly offer resources and support systems empowering these women to succeed.
If you want to donate or get involved with Step Up Women’s Network’s commendable work, you can make one-time or recurring payments via card, bank account, or Apple Pay directly through the website. Another way to give includes downloading RoundUp App from Apple Store or Android Market. While shopping, you can collect “RoundUps” from your purchases that can further be donated to Step Up.
#9. Fistula Foundation
The Fistula Foundation addresses obstetric fistulas, a devastating childbirth injury affecting marginalized women in developing countries. Obstetric fistulas occur when prolonged labor without timely medical intervention causes a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum.
This can lead to constant leakage of urine or feces, causing significant physical pain and emotional distress. The organization funds surgical repairs for women suffering from obstetric fistulas and provides comprehensive support to offer post-op care.
If you’re inspired by Fistula Foundation’s mission and want to make a difference, you can donate directly through the website, fund one woman’s surgery, or sponsor a project. Other ways to give include stock gifts, international gifts, donor-advised funds, or cryptocurrency donations.
#10. Global Women’s Leadership Network
Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) is one of the original diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives established back in 2009 by the World Council of Credit Unions.
They aim to facilitate women in making a tangible difference in the lives of each other, in the lives of credit union memberships, and in their communities. Through providing mentorship opportunities and developing members’ professional advancement skills necessary for leadership, GWLN is driving the global credit union industry.
To support Global Women’s Leadership Network’s powerful work, you can donate directly through the website, make weird transfers, or pay by check.
#11. Women’s Earth Alliance
Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA) is a global non-profit that equips women leaders with the skills and tools they need to protect our environment and strengthen their communities from the inside out. They empower women leaders through leadership, strategy, and technical training on climate and environmental initiatives that connect them to a global alliance of peers, mentors, and funders.
One case in point is the impact on women like Lia, a local from East Jawa, Indonesia, who has been protecting native mangroves and forest areas since 2005. She strengthened her project design and technical skills by participating in WEA’s Indonesia Accelerator.
Now Lia is involving 5,000 members of local women’s groups in forest conservation, restoring and protecting 131 hectares of coastal and interior forest, educating the local children in their environmental school, and training over 100 locals in ecotourism.
Those interested in lending support to this charity can donate directly via the website. Other ways to give include joining the giving circle with multi-year gifts, donating by check, PayPal, donor-advised fund, or a foundation, donating stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, hosting a Facebook fundraiser, or even becoming a business partner.
#12. National Women’s Law Center
The National Women’s Law Center is a non-profit organization that works for gender justice in the court, public policy, and society. They work on issues central to the life of women and girls, pushing change, especially affecting low-income women and families as well as LGBTQ people.
Through their work, they tackle issues like equal pay, workplace fairness concerns, reproductive healthcare access, Title IX enforcement in schools, and affordable childcare options – all these are considered critical in affecting female life forms.
To support NWLC’s mission and contribute to their efforts in empowering women and girls nationwide, you can donate directly through the website, join their champions circle, give in honor or memory, donate to one of their special funds, send a check by mail, or contribute stock, through a donor advised fund, or workplace campaigns.
#13. Women Deliver
Women Deliver is a global advocacy champion for gender equality and the health and rights of girls and women. Their advocacy drives investment — political and financial — in the lives of girls and women worldwide. They are lauded for impactful advocacy strategies, access to world influencers, participation in key coalitions and initiatives, as well as building the capacity of young people and civil society.
One great example of their contribution is the Women Deliver conferences worldwide. The events attract more than 8,000 delegates, including activists, policymakers, development leaders, and celebrities. They conduct crucial discussions regarding maternal health, reproductive rights, gender equality, violence against women, and economic empowerment of women, among other critical topics.
If you want to support Women Deliver’s efforts or get involved in their initiatives, you can donate directly through the website or pay by mail. Apart from donating, you can give by stock, through donor-advised funds, corporate sponsorships, or legacy giving.
#14. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, more popularly known as WILPF, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization determined to bring together women from different political views and philosophically and religiously determined to study and make known the causes of war and work toward a sense of permanent peace.
Founded in 1915, WILPF has been instrumental both politically and academically in advocating for gender equality, disarmament as well as social justice. They attempt to undermine unity amongst women who oppose oppression and exploitation.
An outstanding example of WILPF’s impact relates to the Convention on CEDAW (elimination of all forms of discrimination against women).
To contribute to WILPF’s vital work, you can donate directly through their website or contribute through various fundraising campaigns or events organized by local chapters. Additionally, you can subscribe to WILPF newsletters or join the movements.
#15. MADRE
MADRE is a worldwide women’s organization partnering with community-based women’s groups facing war and disaster. For over 35 years, they tirelessly work towards promoting and protecting women’s rights and social justice, apart from sustainable development in conflict zones.
MADRE works in partnership with local women’s organizations and community leaders, addressing critical issues like violence against women, economic inequality, health disparities, and environmental injustice.
Since 1983, the organization has given $52 million in grants to women’s rights, of which $48 million have been spent on projects meant for helping women survivors of conflict compounds worldwide: Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Guatemala.
If you’re interested in supporting MADRE’s incredible work, you can donate directly through their website via card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay – make one-time or monthly payments. MADRE also offers opportunities for individuals to get involved by volunteering or becoming an advocate for women’s rights through various campaigns they run.