[EDEQUITY Dialogue]Closing Statement -Janalee Jordan-Meldrum

From: Jordan-Meldrum, Janalee (MELDRUMJ@aauw.org)
Date: Wed Nov 01 2000 - 09:57:33 EST


List Participants,

First, let me say that I have really enjoyed participating in this
conversation. I have learned a great deal about various funder's
guidelines
and priorities. Thank you also for sharing your ideas about funding
priorities we may be overlooking. I know that the AAUW Educational
Foundation will consider your suggestions carefully, as we look for ways to
broaden and deepen our support.

I did see two suggestions/requests today (one for media projects designed
to
change the image of women working in high technology fields, and the other
for youth-driven projects) that might be eligible for support through our
Community Action Grants program... though our support is limited to
relatively small (especially in NSF dollars!) grants, $2,000 - $7,000. For
example, we received an application written by high school girls a couple
of
years ago. Though the project was not funded, I met with the girls
afterward to discuss what they might do differently. We also talked about
alternative sources of funding, such as the Ms. Foundation's Girls, Young
Women, and Leadership Program. Those of you who are doing work in this
area, might want to look at their Web site to check on current funding
opportunities for girl-initiated projects
http://www.ms.foundation.org/programs-girls.html.

Finally, Susan raises the question, "what will it take for foundations to
significantly increase the amount of money they give to women and girls'
programs?" I largely concur with Ruta on this issue--pro-active lobbying,
solicitation and well-formed requests. Part of the issue is about raising
awareness... and that has become an increasingly difficult job in an era
when many believe that gender equity has been achieved. For those who are
really interested in working on this issue, I would suggest reading the
series of reports written by Mary Capek to which I referred in my opening
statement (see http://www.wfnet.org/pdfs/Capek_2.pdf). She offers a number
of reasons why funders may not be supporting women and girls' programs, and
thus, places to start in terms of changing funding patterns. Public
interest groups and others must work on multiple fronts. Many women around
the country have initiated women's foundations/funds in their local
communities (such as the Washington Area Women's Foundation which was
started just a couple of years ago) to carve out a niche for women and
girls' funding... but this is only one strategy. There are many others.

Again, it has been a pleasure to participate in this conversation. Best of
luck with your work! And, though this discussion is ending, I hope we will
continue this conversation in various ways...

Best, Janalee

Janalee Jordan-Meldrum
Senior Program Officer, K-12 and Community Programs
AAUW Educational Foundation
1111 Sixteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
meldrumj@aauw.org



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