Proven Practices in Gender Mainstreaming: Foundations in Conversation

Overview

Philanthropy has many options when it comes to mainstreaming gender in its operations, programmes, funding and overall strategy. Doing so, regardless of the path taken, can have a real impact on outcomes, not only in the area of gender but also when it comes to the many other challenges philanthropy seeks to address.

This publication explores why gender matters in philanthropy and what it takes to mainstream gender across operations, programmes, funding and overall strategy. Bringing together reflective pieces, practical guidance and real-world examples, it shows how foundations can turn gender commitments into practice and strengthen their impact across the wider challenges they seek to address.

The publication looks at gender equality in connection with wider questions of power, fairness and systemic inequality. It examines the current context, including the rise of anti-gender movements, and highlights why strategic, collaborative and transformative approaches are needed.

Alongside this analysis, the publication shares lessons from foundations already working on gender mainstreaming and sets out principles and practical steps to help others move forward. The result is a practical resource for funders looking to build internal capacity, reflect on their approach and make progress on gender equality in 2026 and beyond.

Cross-cutting principles for successful gender integration

• Start with honest assessments and invest in structured learning journeys for staff.
• Treat gender analysis as an adaptive process rather than a fixed framework, utilising gender-disaggregated data.
• Connect gender equality to broader goals like climate justice and social justice.
• Practical Steps: The report recommends four initial steps: developing a business case, finding a champion, starting small and iterating, and growing the base of advocates within the organisation.

Key takeaways

• Applying a gender lens allows funders to understand how gender intersects with other factors like ability, migration status, and social marginalisation, which is necessary for creating equitable societies.
• Systemic gender oppression has a staggering economic cost, estimated at $12 trillion in lost global GDP.
• Mainstreaming gender improves outcomes not just in gender-specific areas, but across diverse challenges such as climate change, democracy, and health.
• There is a global resurgence of well-funded anti-rights and anti-gender movements that aim to roll back progress in reproductive health, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and gender education.
• Funders have a unique opportunity to counter these regressive narratives by adopting transformative, collaborative approaches and supporting grassroots movements.
• Pooled and Collaborative Funds allow donors to aggregate resources, share risks, and engage in bolder, more innovative grantmaking and collective advocacy.
• Currently, only 0.42% of foundation grants reach women’s rights organisations, and 1% of development aid reaches feminist organisations led by marginalised groups.
• Philanthropy infrastructure organisations (PIOs) act as bridges, translating shared concerns into shared practices across the sector through learning spaces and advocacy.