Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors: “Dismantling the Gender Gap”

April 9, 2024 — Leaders at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors explain that on a Tuesday morning in March during Women’s History Month, Ariela Blätter had some bad news. “No country in the world affords women the same opportunities as men,” Blätter, president and CEO of Women in International Security, said, quoting from The World Bank’s March 2024 Women, Business, and the Law report.  

The report went on to say, in fact, women enjoy fewer than two-thirds the rights of men when taking into account childcare and safety issues. “Violence physically prevents women from going into work, and childcare makes it cost-prohibitive,” Blätter said.  

These were not the pronouncements one would hope for during a month celebrating women, but to improve the lives of women across the globe, philanthropy must confront these truths head-on. Along with Anne Coolen, global vice president of programs at Vision Spring, and Moutushi Sengupta, chief of capital mobilization at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, Blätter spoke on a webinar panel hosted by the International Grantmakers Network and Philanthropy New York on gender equity with a focus on grantmaking with a gender lens.  

According to Charities Aid Foundation, the rise of female philanthropists has increased the sums of money directed toward underfunded and marginalized causes. For example, issues such as reproductive health or gender equity in the workplace, are becoming increasingly popular funding areas. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) has long understood the importance of accelerating philanthropy in support of gender equity. As a champion of the rights of women, RPA has a deep and meaningful track record of enabling this funding area. Read more about recent examples of RPA supporting increased rights for women at rockpa.org.