Our Governance Model
PHOTO: BSR
The Fund is advancing innovations in philanthropy through its governance structure and learning model.
The Advisory Board, Learning Hub, and Investors Group are three critical elements informed by the insights, experiences, and expertise of those who live and work in target communities.
Through these mechanisms, corporate investors are working shoulder-to-shoulder with feminist leaders, local women-led organizations, and women’s funds in decision-making, learning, and strategy.
Advisory Board
The Fund’s Advisory Board is an active, hands-on body that features a balanced representation of investors and civil society/women's fund leaders. The board guides the Fund through decisions about grants, expansion to new regions, governance processes, board membership and terms, and other strategic oversight. Members are subject matter experts, representatives of an organization, or representatives of a community.
Comprising between seven and 11 members, the board will ensure that the number of voting members representing women’s funds and other community-based organizations that are the intended beneficiaries of investments equals or exceeds the number of voting members representing investors. Decision-making will be democratic, with no individual member or group holding more authority than any other.
As the Fund expands to new regions, the Advisory Board membership will evolve to maintain geographical representation and diversity. While the Fund will build on emerging practices, the governance and operation of the Fund will be an iterative process subject to assessment and adjustment based on learnings and experience.
Investors Group
The Investors Group is a vehicle for corporate, foundation, and other investors to meet regularly to discuss Fund issues, provide strategic input, and understand the implications of learnings for procurement and supply chain systems through discussions with the corporate members of the advisory board. This group supports the representative, participatory model of the Fund’s governance structure, ensuring all investors’ interests are represented and heard.