The Iowa Women's Foundation Joins the Partnership to Demonstrate the Collective Power of Women's Foundations in Effective Grantmaking
Coralville, IA- Today the Iowa Women's Foundation (IWF), a member of Prosperity Together, a nonpartisan partnership of public U.S. women's foundations, announced a collective five-year, $100 million funding commitment by women's foundations to create pathways to economic security for low-income women and their families in America. All Prosperity Together members belong to the Women's Funding Network.
Prosperity Together made the announcement at The White House at its Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color Summit, which highlighted the barriers and solutions to economic security, an issue confronting millions of low-income women living in America.
While women account for 57% of the workforce, the wage gap persists - women in Iowa earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns - and too often occupy minimum wage or part-time jobs, with little to no employer-sponsored benefits, and limited opportunity for growth and advancement. Additionally, women in Iowa struggle to reach independent prosperity, with 70% of Iowa's female heads of household struggling for economic security; 40% in poverty and 30% earning less than basic living expenses. These barriers to economic prosperity are even greater for low-income women and women of color.
According to IWF Executive Director, Dawn Oliver Wiand, "these statistics are unacceptable and that is why IWF does the work that it does. We know that an investment in women and girls reduces poverty, increases productivity, and accelerates economic growth. Investing in women and girls means an investment in our economy. Iowa's 1.5 million plus women and girls deserve nothing less."
The Iowa Women's Foundation has worked to improve the lives of local low-income women in Iowa for 21 years, supporting programs that focus on financial literacy, career development, job training, business development, entrepreneurship, healthy life style choice and political parity for Iowa's women.
Prosperity Together will harness the collective power, leadership and proven effectiveness of women's foundations working together to ensure women's economic security in America. The partnership will also issue a call to policymakers, business leaders, the philanthropic community and the public to understand that economic prosperity for all is an absolute necessity. Partners will use their respective experience and knowledge to continue funding programs that are proven effective in their communities and states. The types of programs that will be funded include :
1. Job Training: Fund job training programs customized to address the cultural and educational needs of low-income women to secure stable, higher-wage jobs.
2. Child Care: Fund programs that enable access for low-income women to affordable, high-quality childcare, so they can be successful in the workplace and their children have a strong academic start in life.
3. Research: Fund state and national research to inform best practices and policies that increase economic security for low-income women, particularly women of color.
The Iowa Women's Foundation, with the help of Prosperity Together, will continue to fund its progressive programs. Listed below are just a few of the many.
- Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN): Women Caring for the Land
- Child Care Provider Business Development Program
- Young Women's Resource Center: Life Skills for Young Moms
- Housing Stability and Financial Empowerment Program
- ACCESS: Women's Job Readiness Program
Click here for more information on Prosperity Together, a list of all participating public U.S. women's foundations and the five-year funding commitment.
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The Iowa Women's Foundation is a 501(c)3 non profit organization, committed to improving the lives of Iowa's women and girls through a diversified mix of funding and action: research, grantmaking, advocacy, education and collaboration. To achieve its goals and make the most significant impact, IWF brings together and invests in organizations across Iowa that make women and girls more successful. IWF is the only statewide organization working to enhance and improve women's economic self-sufficiency. http://www.
Prosperity Together is a nonpartisan partnership of public U.S. women's foundations dedicated to improving the economic security of low-income women and their families in America. On November 13 at The White House, Prosperity Together announced a five-year, $100 million funding commitment to invest in programs and strategies that will create pathways to economic security for low-income women in America. Prosperity Together demonstrates the critical role and power of women's foundations to drive this work in communities, state by state, across the country. http://www.
