Published on Jun 9, 2009
The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice announced today that it has raised 4 million dollars as part of an historic global fundraising campaign to raise the bar on giving to women and girls by high-net-worth women. The money raised is part of a total of $176 million raised in the U.S. and around the world by the Women Moving Millions campaign, far surpassing the campaign goal of $150 million.
Over a three-year period more than 90 women have each committed $1 million or more to one or more of the 145 members of the Womens Funding Network, of which Astraea is a co-founder. These gifts will support women-led solutions to issues from poverty and human security to advancing access to health care and education. Together, the gifts of these committed donor-activists to Astraea amplify each other, ensuring that human rights, dignity and freedom are secured for LGBTI people globally.
We are delighted, but not surprised, by the fact that–against the bleak backdrop of the global recession–women have stepped forward to raise the bar on giving to women and girls. They recognize that giving more, not less, is what is needed when we are in the midst of economic crisis, said Helen LaKelly Hunt, co-founder of the Women Moving Millions campaign. Never before have women of wealth written large checks to fund womens causes. This is an historic moment in the world of womens philanthropy.
Now more than ever, at this time of crisis, investing in LGBTI-led work is critical, said Katherine Acey, Executive Director of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, Lesbian and gay couples and their families in the U.S. are much more likely to be poor than heterosexual couples due to discrimination against women and LGBTI people. Our grantee partners tackle these issues and generate creative solutions for economic justice. The results we’ve seen suggest that LGBTI-led solutions are the savviest way for donors to propel lasting community and social change.
The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice is the only foundation in the world solely dedicated to funding LGBTI issues in the U.S. and internationally. Our grantmaking and philanthropic advocacy programs help lesbians and allied communities claim their human rights.
The Womens Funding Network is a global network of 145 women’s foundations that raise money and make grants to create lasting social change through the advancement and leadership of women and girls.
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Media Contact: Melissa Hoskins, Communications Associate
Phone: 212.529.8021 x26 Email: communications@astraeafoundation.org
