GUIDING PRINCIPLES

In addition to our eligibility criteria, we apply the following principles and trust-based philanthropy to guide decision-making on grant applications.

1. Equity  Grantmaking must be grounded in equity.

2. Trust  We believe the organizations that apply for our grants are the experts in their field. We will lead with trust, respect, humility, and curiosity.

3. Learning  At our heart, we are a learning organization. We value new approaches as much as experience, we recognize our missteps as learning opportunities, and we learn best together. 

4. Responsiveness and Transformative Impact  We fund organizations that respond to a critical need and/or are working to address the root causes of systemic issues.

5. Initiative and risk-taking  We believe that taking risks and exploring new ideas can lead to innovative solutions to complex societal problems.  

We engage women in a collaborative learning environment of inclusiveness and mutual respect, incorporating our collective voices, perspectives, talents, and skills. We are embedding racial equity in our work. Each year is a new year of grantmaking at ninety-nine girlfriends. Community context changes, as do our members, and our review teams. In the end, what the votes of our members determine we fund.