NCRP Honors the Women Donors Network with Its
“Mover and Shaker” Impact Award for Bold Peer Organizing
WASHINGTON, DC – As a network of more than 250 individual donor activists who harness their collective power for justice, Women Donors Network (WDN) and its c4 sibling organization WDN Action have mobilized over $140 million to the field – $100 million of which in the past five years alone. But in 2024, as attacks on civil rights and progressive philanthropy escalated, WDN didn’t just fund the fight—they helped lead it. At the urgent call of grassroots leaders, WDN joined forces with Solidaire Network to spearhead the creation of the Block and Build Funder Coalition —galvanizing funders across the country to stand up for free speech, the right to protest, and the movements that power democracy.
At a time where funding political engagement and social justice work has become villainized, WDN is meeting the moment with bold donor advocacy and principled action. WDN has worked tirelessly to educate and mobilize its members, while also expanding its reach to influence a broader network of funders. Their collective vision of radical giving invites other donors into a practice of transforming their own relationship to power and wealth.
That is why the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) is honoring the group with its “Mover and Shaker” Impact Award for Bold Peer Organizing.
“Our Selection Committee chose Women Donors Network for their extraordinary work remaining steadfast in advancing justice, equity and systemic change through values-driven action,” said NCRP President and CEO Aaron Dorfman. At a time of heightened scrutiny and political pressure, WDN’s unwavering courage is a model for progressive donor organizers.”
WDN is one of five honorees that will be honored on October 29 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the 2025 IMPACT Awards. Past winners of NCRP’s “Mover and Shaker” Award include the Solidaire Network, Four Freedoms Fund, Unbound Philanthropy, and the Foundation for Louisiana.
NCRP’s “Mover and Shaker” Award for Bold Peer Organizing is given to an organization that centers their work on the needs of excluded and impacted communities, leveraging their expertise and convening power to move additional resources to support advocacy, organizing and democracy.
“There’s organizing, and then there’s organizing. Women Donors Network speaks truth to power, galvanizes their philanthropic peers to action, and mobilizes their own members to act in solidarity, not fear. This is what leadership looks like. We’re proud to honor them with the “Mover and Shaker” Award,” said NCRP Field Director Ben Barge.
Click here to read more about WDN’s work and why they were chosen to be NCRP’s 2025 “Mover and Shaker” Impact Award winner for Bold Peer Organizing.
ABOUT THE 2025 IMPACT AWARDS
Since 2013, NCRP has awarded 34 IMPACT Awards to extraordinary grantmakers in recognition of support, leadership and partnership with grassroots organizations and community leaders around critical issues. In 2023, we added a fifth, the Pablo Eisenberg Memorial Prize for Philanthropy Criticism, in honor of NCRP’s founding board chair.
The IMPACT Awards ceremony takes place at the CHANGE Unity Summit. Click here for more information on the 2025 Unity Summit.
ABOUT NCRP
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) has served as philanthropy’s critical friend and independent watchdog since 1976. We partner with foundations, nonprofits and social movements to ensure that the philanthropic sector is accountable to communities with the least wealth, opportunity and power.
For nearly 50 years, NCRP’s storytelling, advocacy and research efforts have fostered transparency and accountability within the sector, and helped funders fulfill their moral and practical duty to build, share and wield power to serve the public.
