The Women’s Catalytic Fund (WCF) is an East Bay-based giving circle with a mission to fund California-based organizations working towards gender equity. The fund prioritizes investing in female-identifying, non-binary, and gender non-conforming leaders in primarily BIPOC communities. One of the main goals of WCF, made up of nine members, is to fund smaller organizations with budgets under a million dollars. They are also interested in catalytic projects that may not have received funding from other foundations.

As a group of women who are passionate about intersectional feminism, WCF aims to provide funding for work happening at the grassroots level. Each biannual grant cycle, they allocate one-time $15,000 grants that can be put to use immediately, enabling innovative, experimental, and transformative work in California. They believe in supporting the many incredible individuals and organizations that are working to improve gender justice in their communities. WCF member Ali Sirkus Brody elaborated: “We try to challenge ourselves to fail more often. We feel like if we’re not making grants that don’t succeed in some way, maybe the organization isn’t able to execute, then we’re not taking risks and we’re not really living into our vision. So, it’s not always about the successes it’s about funding organizations that might otherwise not have access to capital.”  

By being willing to take risks and fund less-established organizations, the Women’s Catalytic Fund demonstrates its commitment to supporting a diverse range of projects and initiatives. 

Learn more about the work of the Women’s Catalytic Fund.

If you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list, please email WCFgrantinformation@gmail.com.