WOMENS FUND OF RHODE ISLAND
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island is to invest in women and girls through research, advocacy, grant-making and strategic partnerships designed to achieve gender equity through systemic change. As a leader of social change, we are committed to advocating for and convening voices to advance gender equity and influence.
About This Cause
Economic insecurity is at the root of many of the problems women and girls face in Rhode Island. 12.4% of R.I.'s working-age women live below the poverty line; RI ranked 20 out of 50 states for women in poverty. Among developed countries, the U.S. ranks low on most measures of women's economic security, health, and well-being. Being unable to access health care or affordable, quality child care, buy nutritious food, or obtain adequate housing can place women and their children in serious jeopardy. Increased investment in women is proven to improve family outcomes, which in turn reduces poverty significantly, helps strengthen community, and promotes economic growth. Issues like pay equity, workplace pregnancy protection and gender discrimination are directly impacted by work by leaders at the local and state level. We know that when there is a higher percentage of women in leadership positions in government and business, support for women’s issues moves in the right direction. Women’s Fund of Rhode Island trains women and girls to lead through civic engagement. Our Women’s Policy Institute (WPI) is focused on cultivating women’s skills to shape policy-making, increasing the number of women leaders in RI who can influence legislation to positively impact women and families. In addition, our policy and advocacy committee is made up of volunteers who actively advocate for our priority issues. We also provide workshops and forums on topics such as salary negotiation skills, gender equity in the workplace and running for office. Each year, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island (WFRI) uses original research on the status of women and girls to inform our activities. Topics have included the status of working women, women of color, how the state budget impacts women and families and gender equity in the workplace. All of our research can be accessed at www.wfri.org/research. Using this information, WFRI educates women and the community at large about the following issues: • Economic self-sufficiency, including access to good-paying jobs, child care, pay equity, paid sick time & paid caregiver leave • Reproductive rights • Health and well-being • Educational attainment • Political representation WFRI advocates for policies that impact women and families. We helped to pass the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, Temporary Caregiver Insurance Act, the Earned Sick & Safe Time Act, Reproductive Privacy Act, Fair Pay Act, Feminine Hygiene Product Donation Act, pregnancy protections in the workplace and repeal of the gender-based Tampon Tax. Lastly, WFRI provides grants to other organizations that are working to create a more gender-equitable Rhode Island.