MISSION AND HISTORY
When we center frontline feminists, activists, and movements across global philanthropic and advocacy spaces, especially those most marginalized by oppressive systems and structures, we can shift greater power, resources and protection toward frontline feminist movements to realize and sustain their vision for a just and equitable world.
MISSION AND VALUES
MISSION AND VALUES
Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism partners with frontline feminist movements to support women, trans and non-binary activists striving to create a more just and equitable world.
Justice
We work towards a world in which all human rights, including women’s, trans and non-binary people’s rights, are upheld and regarded as equal. We are committed to removing systemic barriers that frontline feminist activists face in their fight for justice. We apply a feminist, human rights and social justice lens to all aspects of our work by focusing on structurally marginalized groups and critically analyzing unequal power structures and how they operate.
Feminisms
We recognize and respect a multiplicity of feminist traditions, and affirm diverse approaches to achieving equality for all genders. We honor local wisdom and self-led activism. We commit to addressing challenges faced by feminist movements and frontline feminist activists, while holding space for authentic discussions that build our collective learning.
Courage
We proudly support frontline feminist activists who raise critical issues and work on dismantling patriarchal, racist, capitalist, and other oppressive agendas. We stand with activists and join our voices to theirs in philanthropic and advocacy spaces. We respond immediately to the pressing needs of activists and movements and bring feminist perspectives to all platforms.
Integrity
We value integrity, which includes the practices of transparency, honesty, reliability, and accountability—especially in challenging moments. We think critically and actively listen to grantees, donors, advisors, partners, and movement allies with whom we build relationships based on mutual respect and trust. We learn and grow from their constructive feedback.
Mindful engagement
Conscious of the exploitative history and present reality of resource accumulation, we fund frontline feminist activists and connect them with resources in ways that upend, rather than reinforce, traditional power dynamics and shift power towards marginalized voices. We trust the leadership of local activists and their lived experience.
Wellbeing
We promote holistic care within our institution and in activist spaces. We understand that self-care is an important political tool in our ability to fight for justice. For us, the practice of wellbeing, both individually and collectively, is a central tenet to sustaining feminist movements.
An activist fund is one that speaks truth to power, and is able to prioritize and represent trends and colors from women who are often excluded from being heard because of language/culture/class/ethnic differences.
Rachel Wareham, Former Board Member
Photo Credit: Shvets Production
Our History
Our History
Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism (known previously as Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights) was founded in 1997 to deliver funds quickly to frontline feminists and their movements in moments of urgent crisis and unexpected opportunity. This model would come to be known as rapid response.
Activists across the globe reached out to Urgent Action Fund as their movement realities required greater responsiveness and flexibility, something that could not be met by more traditional funders.
Today, there are four independent Urgent Action Sister Funds funding feminist activists across the globe:
- UAF-Africa
- UAF-Latin America & the Caribbean
- UAF-Asia & Pacific
- Our organization, Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism, which focuses on Canada, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the United States.
Together, we support feminist activism in more than 160 countries and have provided tens of millions of dollars in rapid-response funding to thousands of women, trans and non-binary frontline activists worldwide.
