Giving Compass' Take:

• This Philanthropy Women's post discusses a recent report from The New York Women’s Foundation (NYWF) that emphasizes the need for more affordable housing and childcare opportunities in order to advance gender equality.

• What can nonprofits and funders do to address the gaps the report shows, especially among women of color? Collaborative action is one element that NYWF highlights.

• For more on these issues, check out highlights from the 2018 Collective Giving conference in Philadelphia.

The New York Women’s Foundation distributed a record $8 million in 2017 for undertakings in line with its mission to create “an equitable and just future for women and families.” A vital part of this 31-year-old foundation’s work is drawing on local expertise to create and disseminate research on the needs and circumstances of women, girls, LGBTQI, and gender-nonconforming people.

In the fall of 2018, the foundation released part of a series called, Voices from the Field, which explores challenges and support strategies for low-income women in NYC during four major developmental periods: ages 0-8, 9-24, 25-59, and 60 and up. The newly released “Blueprint for Investing in Women Age 25 – 59” draws on data and expert interviews across academic, policy, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors to identify systemic barriers and potential solutions for these populations.

New York City is home to a diverse group of 2,250,000 female-identifying people. Striking stats from the NYWF research include that in the state of New York, the rate of workforce participation for women with children under six is 81 percent for Black women, 64 percent for Latina women, and 50 percent for White women. A total of 56 percent of Latina household incomes cannot cover basic living costs, along with 47 percent of Black households, 44 percent of Asian households, and 24 percent of White households.

Read the full article about the urgency of addressing child care and affordable housing by Julia Travers at Philanthropy Women.