Guest Blog By Arushi Singh
In living rooms, libraries, and encrypted WhatsApp groups, a revolution is unfolding. It doesn’t wait for institutional approval and is not fueled by government mandates or corporate social responsibility budgets. Instead, it thrives on something far more enduring: collective wisdom, shared trust, and the power of the circle.
Across the globe, women are bypassing traditional power structures to solve the world’s most pressing issues. What begins as a simple gathering becomes a sophisticated engine for social change. At the center of this movement is the rise of women-led nonprofit organizations promoting girls’ rights, expanding access to education, and building intergenerational mentorship networks. These circles often begin with a single concept inspired by a discussion and evolve into powerful forces for social change. From a spark, systems are built, programs are launched, and communities are transformed.
This is more than a trend. It is a structural shift in how power is generated, shared, and sustained—and it is rewriting the future in real time.
A woman’s circle is fundamentally different from a business meeting or a casual social gathering. It is built on three pillars: empowerment, vulnerability, and trust. In these spaces, the hierarchy is leveled. A seasoned executive might sit beside a young mother or a college student, creating a unique ecosystem where personal experiences become the data points for community action. Motion increases as time passes, continuing to shape the gatherings into something more deliberate.
The transition from a “circle of friends” to a “force for change” is the heartbeat of this movement. We are seeing a surge in women-led organizations that prioritize the rights and futures of girls through two main avenues:
1. Wraparound Education Initiatives
Organizations like She’s the First and the Malala Fund didn’t start in boardrooms; they started with a conviction that education is the ultimate equalizer. These groups go beyond just “sending a girl to school.” They focus on:
- Comprehensive Support: Providing scholarships, uniforms, and safe transportation.
- Advocacy: Pressing local and national governments to change laws that prevent girls from learning.
- Holistic Growth: Ensuring girls have the health and nutrition resources needed to stay in the classroom.
2. The Power of Role Modeling Through Mentorship
Mentorship is the secret sauce of this revolution. Groups like Girl Up have mastered the art of intergenerational connection. By linking young girls with female entrepreneurs, scientists, and educators, they provide more than just advice; they provide a blueprint. Mentors help girls navigate the pressures of adolescence by drawing on challenges they have faced themselves, lending credibility, trust, and guidance at a critical stage of life. In this way, mentorship becomes a leadership pipeline, preparing girls to enter the workforce not as applicants, but as leaders in the making.
Women-led groups and nonprofits like Girl Up and She’s the First are bridging the ambition gap and creating advocacy networks. They are connecting girls with mentors to ensure they see leadership as a reachable goal, moving from “support groups” to “strategy hubs” that push for structural changes in education and safety. They are also an intergenerational wealth of knowledge, where they leverage the experience of seasoned leaders to protect the futures of the next generation.
The Power of Two Percent: A Milestone in Giving
For years, funding for women and girls has stagnated at a staggeringly low level. However, the 2025 Women & Girls Index reveals a breakthrough: for the first time in history, charitable giving to womens’ and girls’ organizations in the U.S. surpassed the 2% mark, reaching a peak of $11 billion annually. Despite reaching the 2% milestone, women-focused nonprofits represent only 3.3% of all charitable organizations, highlighting a persistent funding gap.
Data from McKinsey & Company shows that companies and organizations with gender-diverse leadership are 9% more likely to outperform their peers. When we fund women, we aren’t just giving; we are investing in a more effective, stable, and profitable future. Women-led organizations don’t just write checks; they build bridges. The 2025 Women in the Workplace report suggests that while women are highly ambitious, they often face a “broken rung” at the very first step of management.
We are currently at a crossroads where the momentum of the last two years could either plateau or propel us into a new era of equality. The data is clear: when women lead, communities thrive. But the “Next Revolution” will only prevail if we continue to fuel it. The 2% milestone is just the beginning. Imagine what the world looks like when 10%, 20%, or 50% of our collective resources are directed by the women who are already doing the work on the ground.
Trailblazers in Women’s Funding
Women like Melinda French and Mackenzie Scott are doing powerful work redefining how giving works by putting personal investments and resources into women and minorities, and spotlighting the expertise of the organizations they support. Rather than controlling outcomes or dictating priorities, they practice a model rooted in trust-based philanthropy, centering the knowledge of nonprofits and grassroots organizations already embedded in their communities.
MacKenzie Scott has given over $26 billion since 2019, largely in unrestricted funding with minimal reporting requirements. This approach allows organizations to invest in staff, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability rather than constantly chasing project-based grants. Research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy shows that recipients of Scott’s funding experienced improved financial stability, stronger leadership capacity, and expanded impact. This challenges the long-held assumption that strict donor control leads to better outcomes.
Similarly, Melinda French Gates has committed $1 billion toward advancing women’s power and equity, intentionally directing resources to women- and minority-led organizations through flexible and collaborative funding models (Associated Press). This matters in a philanthropic landscape where less than 2% of global funding goes to women and girls, despite overwhelming evidence that investments in women generate broader social and economic returns. Melinda French Gates said in 2019, “I want to see more women in positions to make decisions, control resources, and shape policies and perspectives. I believe that women’s potential is worth investing in—and the people and organizations working to improve women’s lives are, too” (Time, 2019).
Together, their work signals a broader shift: philanthropy does not have to reinforce power imbalances. When resources are paired with trust, flexibility, and respect for lived experience, giving becomes a tool for equity.
Giving Circle Spotlight
Two additional organizations of note are Philanos and the Ninety-Nine Girlfriends, who share a vision of creating inclusive communities for collaborating, inspiring, and supporting innovative, inclusive, and meaningful partnerships with local nonprofits to create a more equitable future for all.
Philanos is a leading global giving network, with a mission to empower and advance women’s collective giving to strengthen communities. Philanos has given over $253 million to local communities and has over 105 affiliated giving circles in 30 states, the District of Columbia, England, and Australia. Philanos offers six to seven interactive, educational webinars modeling peer-to-peer learning on topics that are relevant and inspirational to their affiliates and members.
The Ninety-nine Girlfriends are rewriting inflexible, outdated grantmaking processes—that frequently disregard new or smaller nonprofits—to ensure resources go where they are needed most through funding that emphasizes flexibility, responsiveness, and equity. They put a high priority on learning about local challenges and needs, combining philanthropic education for members with direct funding for community-based programing in Portland, Oregon. The collective recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary, engaging more than 1,000 women to mobilize $3.6 million through 96 grants awarded to 70 local nonprofits. Read more about their impact here.
Get Involved: Join The Movement!
Here is how you can support existing efforts in the fight against global gender inequality:
- Donate. Fund smaller, women-led initiatives (such as WECO) dedicated to advancing women’s rights in local communities.
- Invest with a Gender Lens. Audit your annual giving. Does a portion of your budget specifically support women-led nonprofits? Even small, recurring donations provide the “oxygen” these grassroots groups need to survive.
- Find Your Circle. Join or start a local giving circle. Collaborative giving models allow individuals to pool their resources for a much larger community impact.
- Mentor a Future Leader. Your time is as valuable as your capital. Sign up for a mentorship program that supports girls in underserved communities.
About the Author
Arushi Singh’s dedication to public health was sparked by her early volunteer work at a women’s shelter and longstanding involvement with nonprofit organizations. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Rutgers University in 2022, where a course on women’s health first exposed her to the global crisis of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Continuing her interest in research and desire to create a social impact in women’s health, she has also earned a Master of Public Health at Imperial College London, graduating in 2023 with a concentration in global health and infectious diseases. As part of her studies, she wrote and research a paper examining the prevalence and impact of FGM in Sub-Saharan Africa. In recognition of her sustained commitment to community service and advocacy, Arushi was awarded the 2025 Congressional Gold Medal. She currently works as a Program Coordinator at a nonprofit organization, where she supports community health centers across New York State through training, technical assistance, and health data reporting to improve care for underserved populations.
Resources
- Women’s Philanthropy Trends in 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9rDjDor2Ys&start=0
- Women in the Workplace Ft. McKinsey 2025: https://www.womeninchemicals.com/content-library/1q24-women-in-the-workplace-ft-mckinsey-2025
- New Research Shows Multi-Billion Dollar Growth in Collective Giving: https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/new-research-shows-multi-billion-dollar-growth-in-collective-giving/
- Equitable Giving Lab (WGI Database): https://wgi.communityplatform.us/
- Philanthropy Together (Giving Circles): https://philanthropytogether.org/
- She’s the First: https://shesthefirst.org/
- Girl Up: https://community.girlup.org/
- Malala Fund: https://malala.org/
- Women’s Funding Network: https://www.womensfundingnetwork.org /
- Pivotal Ventures: https://pivotalventures.org/
- Philanos: https://philanos.org/
- Ninety-nine Girlfriends: https://ninetyninegirlfriends.com/what-we-do
