First Quarter C4 Funding: $5.3 Million to the Field

2024 presents a unique confluence: catastrophic global events, nation-shaking elections, and simmering historic injustice overlap. While the current political climate presents significant challenges, this is also a moment where WDN Action can serve as a guide toward actionable hope, moving resources in ways that not only protect democracy against threats of authoritarianism but also build toward progressive governing power. 

As a network of feminist donors and activists, how are we rising to this moment? 

Our funding strategy remains rooted in gender and racial justice, combining investments in long-term movement infrastructure with responsive funding. In 2024, we are deepening our investments in critical battleground states, moving resources to drive gender justice wins, and supporting emerging c4 infrastructure and capacity to build toward progressive governing power. 

Grounded in our strategy, we are prioritizing early resources to the field while staying attuned to the evolving political landscape. In our first round of grantmaking in 2024, we mobilized more than $5.3 million, with three priority areas of investment:

Deepening Investments in Battleground States

We moved early grants to Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, key presidential and Senate battlegrounds for 2024 with layered down-ballot opportunities. Continued ecosystem-wide investment in these states will help boost infrastructure and support communities in their work leading up to November.

LIT Action Fund in Wisconsin

North Carolina is a major presidential and gubernatorial battleground in 2024, and Republicans currently hold a supermajority by only one seat in the state’s general assembly. Our grantees in Georgia are gearing up for defensive fights in the state legislature to prevent further anti-voter and anti-democratic policies. Wisconsin is also a major battleground for the Senate and presidential races, and organizers there are working to build their base of working-class, BIPOC voters. And in Arizona, the state legislature is inching closer to Democratic control with only one seat needed in each chamber to flip the legislature and hold a trifecta in the state.

Driving Gender & Racial Justice Wins

From abortion access, to climate justice, to the defense of trans rights, WDN Action’s strategy is rooted in gender and racial justice. Our first cycle of grants includes investments in state and national movement organizations that are leading advocacy efforts and expanding capacity and infrastructure across the map.

Equality Federation

• Abortion is on the ballot this year, with several crucial abortion ballot initiatives on the map. We’re investing in the ballot initiative landscape by funding the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), as well as state-based organizing around these initiatives.

• The care agenda is proving to be a winning messaging strategy in electoral races across the country. Care in Action will continue their legislative advocacy to increase paid leave policies and raise care worker wages.

• With unprecedented numbers of anti-trans bills nationwide, Equality Federation is tracking legislation and partnering with statewide coalitions like Hate Won’t Win in Michigan, which unites organizations to protect trans rights.

Strengthening the C4 Landscape

A key aspect of our strategy is investing in emerging c4 infrastructure and capacity. This round of grantmaking includes funding to support Arab and Muslim community organizing, which continues to play a critical role in holding the Biden administration accountable for its role in Israel’s war on Gaza. Early funding will help organizations conduct movement accountability work with the Biden administration and activate core parts of the base ahead of November.

We’re also funding youth organizing infrastructure with investments in groups like Alliance for Youth Action and NextGen America that are activating this critical voting bloc. National organizations like Advance Native Political Leadership and the Asian American Power Network are building political power with their communities and filling a gap in the c4 ecosystem.

Since WDN Action’s founding in 2017, we have moved over $30 million in c4 dollars to more than 120 organizations. We are working in deep collaboration with frontline leaders, our peer networks, aligned funders, and all of you to collectively resource the organizing that will help lead towards victory in November. Together, we are channeling collective power and resources in solidarity with movements to transform policies, political infrastructure, and political possibilities.

Join us with a contribution today! Early resources are critical to the work ahead.