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Being the Change We Want to See
In 2020, U.S. nonprofits working to advance women’s and girls’ causes received just 1.81 percent of total charitable giving. Of that 1.81 percent, only 3 percent went toward gender equality causes.¹ The Skirt Foundation aims to be the change we want to see. Our funding criteria focuses on economic empowerment of organizations and initiatives that establish, promote and perpetuate equitable employment practices and equal treatment of women at all levels of engagement.
We ask for your support in this cause. No donation amount is too big or too small. We are grateful for your tax-deductible contribution.
Please read the brief descriptions below to see how your contribution will be applied.
501(c)(3) status
The Skirt Foundation Fund
Your donation to The Skirt Foundation will go toward our mission of the advancement of South Florida LGBTQ and allied women in women-focused health and wellness initiatives, entrepreneurial and charitable pursuits, and the visual and performing arts. Unless otherwise indicated, we will apply donations as needed to fulfill our mission. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Thank you for your generous contribution!
Women in the Arts
The arts industry, both visual and performing, remains a male-dominated field, marked by significant disparities in representation, compensation, and opportunities. Women artists, especially women of color, are severely underrepresented in major museum collections. This underrepresentation extends to exhibitions, where male artists are far more likely to be showcased in prominent galleries and museums. Consequently, women artists on average earn 70-80 cents for every dollar earned by men. In the highest echelons of the art market, where 41 percent of the profit is, there are virtually no women, with 96 percent of the artworks sold at auction belonging to men.² In the performing arts, women face similar challenges. Across the fields of dance, opera, and theater, men outnumber women in all creative roles with an average of 70-80 percent of these roles filled by men.³
To address these persistent inequalities, it is imperative to promote gender equity in the arts. This includes increasing the representation of women artists in exhibitions and collections, implementing equitable pay and promotion practices, providing mentorship and leadership opportunities for women, and challenging gender stereotypes and biases within the industry.
Your donation to Women in the Arts will go toward funding for woman-led and woman-centered nonprofit arts organizations in the development of creative projects in the visual or performing arts, and educational and cultural programs designed to empower women to prosper and establish independence in their chosen field. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Women's Economic Advancement
Over the last twenty years, the gender gap in pay has remained relatively stable in the United States, with women earning 83 cents for every dollar earned by a man in 2022, compared to 80 cents in 2002.⁵ Black women earn even less, coming in at 64 cents for every dollar earned by a man. These statistics also holds true in the nonprofit sector, with women on average earning 24.8 percent less than male counterparts. Further, despite women accounting for 75 percent of the nonprofit labor force, only 42 percent of nonprofit boards are led by women and only 22 percent of nonprofits are run by a woman Executive Director/CEO.⁶
In 2020, U.S. nonprofits working to advance women’s and girls’ causes received just 1.81 percent of total charitable giving.¹ In the for profit sector, woman-owned businesses earn an average of 34 percent less revenue than men-owned businesses, impacting their ability to hire employees, invest in technology, and compete effectively. And despite a higher acceptance rate for funding, women-owned businesses typically receive smaller average funding amounts.⁴
Your donation to Women's Economic Advancement will go toward the funding of woman-led organizations at various stages of the entity life cycle. WEAF funds will also go toward mentorship programs and educational opportunities for women to hone a variety of skill sets to support ownership and leadership opportunities, and advancement in their fields. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Women's Health Initiatives
There is a significant disparity in funding between men's and women's health initiatives. A 2019 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed that diseases primarily affecting women often receive less funding than those affecting men, even when the burden of disease is greater for women. This disparity is particularly evident in areas such as reproductive health, autoimmune diseases, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.⁷ The gender gap in women's health intersects with broader societal issues. Our health is the cornerstone of our lives. Access to health-related resources leads to improvements in women's health and quality of life, resulting in greater social and economic mobility.
Your donation to Women's Health Initiatives will go toward programs that specifically address the health and wellness needs of women. Areas that the WHIF aims to address include but are not limited to breast cancer, diets and lifestyle, mental health, health concerns at various stages in women's lives, and HIV. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
¹Candid. (2023, Oct. 13). Women's and girls' causes received $8.8 billion in 2020, study finds. Candid. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/women-s-and-girls-causes-received-8.8-billion-in-2020-study-finds
²Hostetler/Wrigley Foundation (2022). Where are the Women? Hostetler/Wrigley Foundation. https://www.hwfoundation.org/p/where-are-the-women?filter=insights
³Bergauer, Aubrey. (2024, March 14). Gender-based Discrimination in the Arts Exists, And Here’s the Research Behind It. Medium. https://medium.com/womenintechnology/gender-based-discrimination-in-the-arts-exists-and-heres-the-research-behind-it-df5ba9c319f5
⁴Biz2Credit (2024, March 6). Annual Women-Owned Business Study 2024. Biz2Credit.com. https://www.biz2credit.com/research-reports/annual-women-owned-business-study-2024
⁵Aragao, Carolina (2023, March 1). Gender pay gap hasn't changed much in two decades. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/01/gender-pay-gap-facts/
⁶Rustick, Holly (2022, August 16). The great restructure: Gender inequity culture in the nonprofit sector. Candid. https://blog.candid.org/post/the-great-restructure-gender-inequity-culture-in-the-nonprofit-sector/
⁷White, Jamie (2022, May 13). The gender health innovation gap: A perspective from the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health. Med. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666634022001763