Women illustration./ PHOTO ; Pexel
A coalition of feminist funding networks has unveiled Accelerate Together, a global philanthropy initiative aiming to mobilise $600 million USD annually for grassroots women‑led movements worldwide.
The campaign, launched on 27 January 2026, brings together the Alliance for Feminist Movements, Gender Funders CoLab, Mama Cash, and Prospera – International Network of Women’s and Feminist Funds.
The initiative is philanthropic in nature: it does not implement projects directly on the ground, but instead seeks to mobilise, coordinate, and channel funding from foundations, donors, and philanthropic institutions to grassroots women-led organisations across the globe.
Its goal is to ensure that resources reach groups tackling urgent social issues from climate action to democracy, human rights, economic justice, bodily autonomy, and community safety.
“At a moment of converging global crises from humanitarian disasters to rising authoritarianism, it’s clear that women’s movements are already at the forefront of solutions,” said Rachel Jacobson, co‑director of the Alliance for Feminist Movements.
“Accelerate Together is about meeting this moment in history with the scale and seriousness it demands.”
Grassroots women’s movements have repeatedly demonstrated their capacity to drive social transformation.
Yet, research shows that their under-resourcing limits the speed and scale at which they can respond to pressing challenges, from climate instability to economic inequality.
Accelerate Together aims to close this gap by connecting donors with organisations already embedded in the communities they serve.
“With over four decades of experience resourcing feminist movements globally, Mama Cash has seen firsthand that grassroots feminist organizations are creating transformative and lasting change,” said Happy Mwende Kinyili, co-executive director of Mama Cash.
“These organizations are critical in advancing a more just and equitable world, and Accelerate Together will resource them to do their best work.”
The initiative is structured to channel funding through multiple pathways.
These include women’s and feminist funds, direct grants to grassroots organisations, and collaborative funding mechanisms designed to reach local communities efficiently.
Resources are intended for organisations led by the communities they serve, and that prioritise the human rights of women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people.
For African civil society, Accelerate Together presents an opportunity to strengthen and expand the work of local feminist movements.
From groups tackling gender-based violence to organisations advancing economic empowerment, access to predictable, sustained funding could enable these movements to scale their impact and operate with greater autonomy.
Annie Hillar, executive director of Gender Funders CoLab, added:
“For funders committed to lasting change, the message is simple: Investing in gender justice movements is the most effective strategy we have. Accelerate Together offers a way to move beyond fragmented funding toward coordinated support for the landscape of organizations driving progress across climate, democracy, economic justice, and human rights.”
By consolidating support through a coalition of experienced philanthropic networks, the campaign also seeks to shift the global funding landscape.
Historically, giving for gender justice has been fragmented, with many organisations competing for short-term, project-based grants.
Accelerate Together aims to change this dynamic, creating more strategic, long-term investment models that prioritise the leadership and agency of women’s movements.
Laila Alodaat, executive director of Prospera, framed the campaign in the context of building a global feminist funding ecosystem:
“Around the world, Women’s and Feminist Funds are building the infrastructure that feminist movements need to achieve and sustain lasting social change with agency. Accelerate Together is about scaling this feminist funding ecosystem, making visible what is already working, and moving resources to the right hands at the scale this moment demands.”
The campaign comes at a critical moment.
Climate instability, democratic backsliding, conflict, and widening inequality are intensifying worldwide, and grassroots women’s movements are often the first to respond.
By channeling philanthropic resources at scale, Accelerate Together positions these organisations as central actors in driving equitable, sustainable change.
If successful, the initiative could represent a turning point in feminist philanthropy, not only increasing the volume of resources available to women-led organisations but also reshaping how those resources are allocated, ensuring that funding aligns with local priorities and amplifies the leadership of communities at the forefront of social change.
