WDN Action

As the c4 sister organization to the Women Donors Network, WDN Action brings a unique gender justice lens to political giving and advocacy. We invest in both state-based and national groups that are building political power, expanding the base, fighting voter suppression, and fueling inspiring wins.

We understand the political reality of the moment we are in. We have razor-thin majorities in Congress, and we can’t risk losing Democratic control in the midterm elections. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and that’s why we are standing steadfast in our commitment to building political power to fuel the progressive wins of our time.

In 2021, we moved $7.66 million in c4 funding via WDN Action, even more than in 2020, because there are no off-years in political organizing. We invested in organizational capacity, innovative cultural and narrative strategies, and the year-round organizing that it takes to engage and activate communities in the political process.

Flexing Our Political Power

Funding the Movements Central to Our Future

These 70 organizations are leading campaigns on core progressive priorities like reproductive justice, climate change, criminal justice, and voting rights. As they organize around key issues, they are activating voters around the changes that will make a tangible difference in their lives.

We invest in both present needs and the future vision of a multiracial democracy that works for all. Over 70% of our funding went to renewal grants, resourcing organizations to build and scale their work. And 20% of our grantees were new or emerging c4 organizations, less than two years old.

In 2021, we emphasized funding infrastructure in states that will be critical to 2022 and 2024 elections, as well as opportunities to invest in the leadership development and capacity building of our grantees.

WDN Action and WDN Funded 19 Organizations Together

We invested in several partners that are also grantees of our WDN initiatives. With this funding, we are able to amplify the power of our c3 initiatives with WDN Action’s c4 grants. Together, both organizations broaden our network’s potential to help achieve the policy and cultural changes we need.

See our full list of 2021 grantees here.

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHTS

Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA)

In 2020, LUCHA helped turn Arizona blue, a victory that was a decade in the making through deep organizing, expanding their base, and mobilizing new voters. In 2021, they continued to engage voters and build upon their years of democracy strengthening work. They fought for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants, a COVID-19 stimulus package, paid family medical leave, childcare, and a $15 minimum wage for tipped workers. In 2022, they plan to sustain and expand the power they’ve built as we head into the next election cycle, with Arizona a critical state to holding the Democrats’ narrow margin in the Senate.

Independent Strategic Research Collaborative (ISRC)

ISRC conducted surveys and focus groups to build an overarching narrative for democracy and align research and messaging efforts across the pro-democracy movement. Acting as a narrative hub, they coordinated 20 movement-wide briefings with 6,000 participants from 2,000 different organizations who came together to share information, research-backed messaging guidance, and calls to collective action. They push for bold pro-democracy policies that center race in order to inspire action and engage an activist base in long-term structural change.

Care in Action

Care in Action is building a movement to fight for—and win—policies that will make a lasting difference in the lives of domestic workers. In just five years, Care in Action has grown into the largest women-of-color-led political organization in the U.S., backed by tens of thousands of care workers. In 2022, they are reaching undervalued Black and Brown voters in eight key states as part of a strategy to win state-wide races and build lasting political power for women of color, care workers, and immigrants.