The Global Fund for Women (GFW - based in Palo Alto, California) was founded in 1987 as a charity to raise funds for women’s human rights organizations worldwide, including those that work to gain freedom from poverty, violence and discrimination.

Since 1987, GFW has awarded over $58-million to over 3,450 organizations in 166 countries in Africa, South and Central America, Asia, Europe, and around the world.

Some of the international groups receiving grants work on issues such as:

• Gender-based violence
• Economic justice
• Advancing health and reproductive rights
• Expanding civic and political participation
• Increasing access to education

A few of the grant recipients include:

Azerbaijan - Women Initiative Group - helping displaced women survive the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Zimbabwe - Girl-Child Network Trust - promotes education, health care and support in a membership of 20,000 girls.

Bolivia- Coordinating Committee of Peasant Women of the Tropics of Cochabamba - supports the empowerment and political participation of women.

Indonesia- Kalyanamitra Foundation - supports women survivors of state and domestic violence.

Bahrain - Bahrain Women Society - promotes political and human rights issues for women.