Butler Family Foundation Invests $100K in First-Ever Feminist Giving Day Led by Women’s Foundation of Minnesota & GiveMN

The Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation invested a $100,000 grant in the first-ever Feminist Giving Day led by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM) and GiveMN. Feminist Giving Day is a dedicated opportunity for people to support WFM’s work researching, advocating, convening, and investing in women, girls, and gender-expansive people across the state.

WFM and GiveMN decided to create Feminist Giving Day because they were troubled that less than 2 percent of charitable giving in the U.S. goes to organizations that center women and girls, according to Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. This is despite the fact that United Nations studies show that investing in women and girls helps everyone in the community.

“We know that significant change in our communities requires significant investment. That’s why we’re so grateful that the Butler Family Foundation has stepped up to offer such a major gift of support,” said WFM President, Gloria Perez, “The Butler family has a history of helping WFM from its very beginning, with Sandy Butler joining Mary Lee Dayton and our other founding mothers to start the Women’s Foundation about 40 years ago.”

As part of Feminist Giving Day, Terri Thao (Program Director, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies) moderated a virtual panel discussion hosted by WFM and GiveMN about growing beyond the 2 percent of giving that goes to women-centered organizations. The discussion featured panelists and community leaders Chanda Smith Baker (Host, Conversations with Chanda), Henry Jiménez (President, Propel Nonprofits), Nicole Matthews (Executive Director, Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition), and J’Mag Karbeah (Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health).

“The Butler Family Foundation is pleased to be supporting this inaugural Feminist Giving Day and helping to grow beyond that 2 percent,” said JoAnne Peters, Co-Director of the Butler Family Foundation, “The Women’s Foundation has been doing impactful work fostering safety, opportunity, and growth for individuals and their families over the past 40 years. We hope this funding will help them continue this long-term, systemic work in the next 40 years and beyond.”

To learn more about Feminist Giving Day, visit wfmn.org/feminist-giving-day. Feminist Giving Day donations can be made until May 9 at givemn.org/event/Feministgivingday.