We Are in Unprecedented Times
June 6 marked the application deadline for Together Women Rise’s 2026 Featured Grants — and the response was truly historic. We received more than 600 applications, a dramatic increase from our typical 100 to 200 applications per grant cycle. These featured grants provide critical funding to organizations that empower and support women and girls in low-income communities across the Global South.
This surge in applications, while record-breaking, was not entirely unexpected. Even before the grant cycle opened, one organization told me they had to lay off half their staff and overhaul their programs just to stay afloat. They remain deeply committed to their mission, but without new funding sources, their ability to continue is at risk. We saw the urgency reflected in the growing number of inquiries and the strong attendance at our information sessions for prospective grantees. In response, we intentionally broadened our outreach to ensure that organizations working with women and girls throughout the Global South were aware of our funding opportunities.
Clearly, we are living through an extraordinary moment of global need for women and girls.
A UN Women survey conducted in March 2025, involving 411 women-led organizations across 44 countries, revealed that 90% are experiencing financial strain as a result of reductions in foreign aid. These organizations provide life-saving services — and many are now under threat.
This means that already vulnerable populations of women and girls face even greater risks: child marriage, teen pregnancy, gender-based violence, maternal and newborn mortality, infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, and more.
Now more than ever, our Together Women Rise community is being called to respond.
- Current, past, and prospective grantees are on the frontlines, being asked to do more with fewer resources.
- In the coming months, our volunteer Grants & Partnerships Committee will take on the enormous task of reviewing and vetting this record number of applications — making this our most competitive grant cycle to date. The hard truth is that not all deserving organizations will receive funding.
- Our Advocacy Group, in partnership with RESULTS, continues to urge elected officials to protect and prioritize key foreign assistance programs.
Help us raise awareness and funds to support women and girls globally. Please consider increasing your current gifts or making a donation if you are not currently supporting Rise.
Together, we can rise to meet this moment.
Warmly,
Beverley Francis-Gibson
CEO, Together Women Rise
