Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration

Feminism, Foundations, and Social Change: Understanding Women’s Philanthropic Nonprofits

Elizabeth Gillespie

The University of Memphis

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6896-4821

BJ Fletcher

Cleveland State University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v2i2.5459

Keywords: Feminism, Feminist Organizations, Women's Philanthropy, Social Change, Social Equity

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Abstract

It is crucial to understand the role of feminism in addressing social issues, particularly with the prevalence of feminist causes today. This necessitates examining feminist organizations within public administration that strive toward equity, and gender and social equality. It is also crucial to understand those institutions that have influence and resources to invest in social change. The intersection of these topics is found in women’s grantmaking foundations and funds (WFFs). This research explores how these organizations are 21st-century feminist organizations, the type of feminism they embody, and their role in—and contribution to—social change. Feminist organizations aim to advance gender, social equality, and equity despite being overlooked in public administration, philanthropy, and nonprofit literature. This research utilizes an exploratory and descriptive design to shed light on the current state of feminist organizations and foundations in public administration, filling critical knowledge gaps.

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Author Biographies

Elizabeth Gillespie, The University of Memphis

Elizabeth M. Gillespie, PhD (she/her/hers) (mgllspe3@memphis.edu) is Assistant Professor, Department of Public and Nonprofit Administration in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and affiliate faculty in the Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Memphis. Her research interests include philanthropy, nonprofits, and social change, including their interconnected relationship.

BJ Fletcher, Cleveland State University

B.J. Fletcher, PhD (he/him/his) (b.j.fletcher@csuohio.edu) is Visiting Assistant Professor, Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH. His research interests include public policy, food policy, comparative policy, urban policy, sustainability, science and technology policy, public administration ethics, social equity, social construction of identity, phenomenology, nonprofit organizations, and social change. 

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