Ruth Ray Hunt Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy Project

In 2004, the WFCO obtained funding to investigate the complements and conflicts between faith-based and non faith-based organizations working with women and girls and economic self-sufficiency.

Ruth Ray Hunt was a woman of faith who believed that women see the world through a lens of compassion that compels them to accompany women and children who are on the margins of society. These roots of faith-based philanthropy, and their equally strong commitment to the empowerment of women, led two of Ruth's daughters, Helen and Swanee, to be among the earliest supporters of the women's funding movement.

The early achievements of women's philanthropy in the United States - and the women's movement generally - grew out of three institutional streams: the religious and spiritual beliefs of the early suffragettes; historic women's colleges; and faith-based institutions. In the last 25 years, the women's funding movement has joined these earlier efforts to improve the lives of women and girls.

Many believe that all philanthropy is "faith-based" and that all that separates one effort from another is the extent to which the underlying motive of faith is expressed. However, it is an important characteristic of the women's funding movement that it has tied women's philanthropy to issue of social change, gender justice and pluralism. While many faith-based efforts have also championed social change and equality, the dialogue between communities of faith and the women's funding movement has been limited.

There is little research or evidence that empirically substantiates the success of faith-based, community-based or publicly funded programs one over the other interests of measurable outcomes and impact. Thus this project is not an attempt to merely shift dollars from one kind of program to another. What faith-based institutions do is of vital concern to women's philanthropy because they provide many if the critical social services directed at women. The women's funding movement brings additional resources to the causes of women, and also provides women of faith additional opportunities to exercise their expressions of faith outside their own religious upbringing and institutions.

Despite seemingly common goals, there appears to be a disjunction between these two groups that, if remedied, could crossbreed and inspire very effective responses to the needs of women, their families and their communities. The underlying and long-term goals of this project are to contribute to the empowerment of women at all levels of society and to continue improving the use of capital and human resources to address the needs of women. However, before the women's funding movement and faith-based women's efforts can be melded to common purpose, dialogues must be initiated in welcoming environments that give a "green light" to expanded collaborations and to making such partnerships plausible and possible.

The Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy Project (FFP Project) is funded by The Women's Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) in Honor of Mrs. H.L. (Ruth Ray) Hunt through a grant from The Ruth Ray Hunt Memorial III Fund and The Ruth Ray Hunt Memorial IV Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas, and the Dallas Women's Foundation.

In 2004, the Women's Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) obtained funding from the Ruth Ray Hunt Memorial Fund and the Dallas Women's Foundation. The funding objective was to explore the complements and conflicts between faith-based and non faith-based organizations working toward the wellbeing and self-sufficiency of women and girls.

The Women's Foundation of Colorado designed its Ruth Ray Hunt Faith, Feminism, and Philanthropy Project to have several, mutually reinforcing components: a granting program to faith-based or historically faith-based organizations; two giving circles, one comprised of alumnae and residents of a community for low-income single parents and a second circle comprised of faith-based and secular women; a panel speakers series, in conjunction with the Women's Alliance of the Iliff School of Theology; and three concurrent Dialogues.

Please see below for details on each component of this project work:

The Ruth Ray Hunt Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy Field Of Interest Fund:

$350,000 was invested in a FOI fund whereby roughly $17,000 was used (annually) for investments in lecture series and dialogues that explored faith, feminism and philanthropy throughout the State. The following are materials in support of this Field of Interest Fund:

1. Iliff School of Theology Women's Alliance Speakers Panel 2005-2006. Download the lecture series overview.
2. Wellspring Mountain Spiritual Retreats in Durango, CO: A monthly dialogue circle project that explored concepts of Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy. Download the project overview.
3. Regis University / Institute for Common Good in Denver, CO: In 1998, the University founded the Institute on the Common Good, which seeks to promote the common good through the use of dialogue, communal discernment, and democratic deliberation. Download the project overview.

The Ruth Ray Hunt Faith Feminism and Philanthropy Giving Circle Projects

The Women's Foundation of Colorado brought many women of diverse faiths and backgrounds together to raise funds (together) for women and girls throughout Colorado. The following are materials in support of the two giving circle projects:

1. Warren Village Giving Circle Program. Download the report.
2. The Denver Giving Circle Program. Download the report.

The Ruth Ray Hunt Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy Direct Service Grantmaking

In 2006 and 2007, The Women's Foundation of Colorado funded faith-based or historically faith-based organizations. The Foundation provided grants (up to $10,000) to support nonprofit organizations in many facets of self-sufficiency for women and girls, with special emphasis on: Education and Training, Job Opportunity and Financial Literacy.

• 2006 Grantee Partners
• 2007 Grantee Partners

The Ruth Ray Hunt, Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy Denver Dialogue Group

The Denver Dialogue was composed of women who are leaders in their professions, faiths and communities. The purpose of the Denver Dialogue was to create an environment where faith and non-faith community leaders can discuss challenges and opportunities to overcoming disjunction between the two groups. The overarching goal was to identify common values, increase mutual understanding and create strategies so that women of faith and secular women can work together to elevate the status, health and well being of women and girls in Colorado. This group summary serves as a 'collective biography' of the Dialogue members and captures some attitudes about and experience of the linkages between women of faith and secular women.

• Download the final report overview.
• Download the summary of the dialogue.

Five States Participate in the Ruth Ray Hunt Faith Feminism and Philanthropy Project

In July of 2004, Communities Foundation of Texas awarded $4.8 million grant to Dallas Women's Foundation as the coordinator of the Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy Initiative.

The Dallas Women's Foundation participated in the project and received a large grant to carry out this work and manage the work of other women's foundations. From these funds, the Dallas Women's Foundation awarded grants from $450,000 to $600,000 to each four other participating women's foundations which are Atlanta, New York, Colorado and Western Massachusetts.

Download the combined final report from all five Foundations working on this project.