Exactly a year ago, millions of women across the country created the Resistance. We have marched and protested, shared our outrage using hashtags such as #metoo, #yessallwomen #nastywomen and called (and called and called) Congress. Now it’s time to shift from powering the Resistance to creating the Renaissance. However, there is one huge barrier, the “final frontier” as philanthropist Ruth Ann Harnisch calls it: our discomfort with money and power.

According to one study, more women are giving to more causes than ever before. However, the amount of money women are giving hasn’t gone up correspondingly.

Even though many women are wealthier than ever, we have yet to connect the dots between money, influence and power:

  • First, we have to put our name on things. Frankly, no one really needs to have their name on a building; however, we do need to put our names on important issues and causes and campaigns.
  • The second thing we need to do is to get comfortable asking for money. Even if you can’t write a big check, it is likely that there are people in your social networks who can.
  • Finally, we need more women to contribute to these funds or pool their money as parts of giving circles in order to magnify the impact of their giving.

The revitalization of our country will be led this time by founding mothers, but only when we embrace our own power and leverage our wealth and connections to create a more equitable society.

Read the full article by Allison Fine about women funding social change from Philanthropy Women