In a year when grassroots communities face mounting attacks and our country tilts toward authoritarianism, what holds us steady are not merely abstract ideals, but the profound connections we sustain, the vibrant communities we build, and our shared conviction that justice and love can guide us forward. This is a time to draw close, to hold each other up, and to share our strength, our dreams, and our vision of a future where we all flourish. Together, we are the antidote to fear, and together, we hold the power to shape our future.
At Women’s Foundation California, our mission has always been to build a feminist future where everyone can flourish in health, safety, and prosperity. We know that change is not determined by one election alone. Our movement is multigenerational and cross-cultural, built by the people who envision systems operating with love and justice, rooted in dignity and liberation for all. We believe that California can lead with radical creativity, where every person has the space to rest, recharge, and experience the joy of our collective power.
This year tested Californians’ resilience. Across Los Angeles, fires threatened and destroyed homes, communities, and the very spaces where people gather. ICE raids and intensified attacks on immigrant communities put families at risk and created fear in neighborhoods that have long been pillars of culture and care. Trans and gender-expansive communities faced renewed assaults on their rights, visibility, and safety. Yet in every moment of attack, we fought back—through rapid-response advocacy, coalition-building, public actions, and protests that demanded accountability and justice.
Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, Women’s Foundation California invested $3.3 million in 77 organizations nationwide, supporting 112 grants across critical issue areas—from gender-based violence, to reproductive justice, economic security, health and healing, and environmental justice. Each grant is more than financial support; it is a lifeline for communities under attack. Every partner we fund is on the front line, organizing, protecting, and creating space for people to thrive.
As we step forward together, let us hold onto our vision of a world where grassroots communities flourish and intersectional justice is abundant. We will continue to work alongside you—our community and co-conspirators—to protect our bodies, our families, and our communities. By passing community-driven policy advocacy, by uplifting women of color and gender-expansive leaders, and by redistributing power and resources, we know we are still creating the future we need and desire.
Our collective power comes from the communities we’ve built and the solidarity we’ve cultivated. Let us check on each other, care for each other, and continue to demand the justice and freedom that we deserve. Irene Kao, Executive Director of Courage California said, “Feminism is the opposite of fascism. And as feminists we have to keep showing up for these fights we are facing now.” In this moment, our joy, our love, our solidarity, our care for ourselves and each other—they are all acts of resistance.
We invite you—our funders, donors, and allies—to stand with us. Together, we can ensure that justice, dignity, and opportunity are not only defended but expanded. Together, we can continue to build the feminist future that California—and the country—desperately needs.