Our grantmaking and learning processes include a range of accessibility justice components to support the full and free participation of applicants and grantee partners. Shifting power in philanthropy requires a deep commitment to making participation and engagement possible for grassroots organization. For the Fund, this starts with language justice and ensuring that women-led organizations have access to technology and other support.
The Fund ’s accessibility justice starts with providing all organizations applying for grants with support to get their proposals translated for free, receive guidance and information – materials, hotlines, FAQs etc. – in their own language. This includes support to transcribe and upload applications to the Fund portal. We partner with local women-led organizations to provide these services.
PHOTO: In-Factory Training by Development Society
Though the primary operating language is English, the Fund makes language justice part of all activities. The virtual Learning Hub meetings feature simultaneous translation. And we are expanding support for internet access for smaller organizations that lack sufficient resources. So far, the Fund has language support in over 12 languages.
The Fund acknowledges that our Accessibility Justice activities are a work in progress - we are constantly learning how to operationalize power sharing and language/digital justice in all our operational and programmatic activities.