Introduction

That philanthropic organizations recognize women’s issues as a specific “category” of funding is not new. As early as 1972, the Ms. Foundation for Women, which presented itself as being out of the mainstream, became one of the first funders to support domestic violence issues. Subsequently, this organization supported initiatives for women’s economic empowerment, reproductive rights and the eradication of workplace discrimination. Over the years, smaller women’s foundations grew across the country and many of the programs that Ms. pioneered are now, in the foundation’s own words, “replicated by mainstream funders” (www.ms.foundation.org). In addition, a number of umbrella organizations such as Women and Philanthropy have been founded and developed to publicize and coordinate these activities.