When we began this year, we set out to deepen our reach, strengthen our partnerships, and amplify the voices of women most often unheard. Today, I'm proud to share what we accomplished - together.
This year, the Global Women's Foundation reached 28,000 women through our exhibitions, fellowships, and education programs across 12 new regions. We launched three new country chapters, supported 48 fellows in their creative and professional journeys, and brought women's stories to digital audiences in 75 countries.
But numbers alone don't capture what happened this year. Behind each statistic is a story - of a textile artist in Senegal who exhibited her work for the first time, of a technologist in Bangalore who built an inclusive AI tool, of an organizer in Lima who led a community land defense that protected 2,000 acres.
By the Numbers
Our 2026 impact, at a glance:
- 28,000+ women directly reached through programs
- 38 countries with active GWF presence
- 240+ global partners collaborating on shared missions
- $8.4M deployed to field programs and fellowships
- 75 countries reached through digital exhibitions
- 2.4M people engaged through digital content
- 89% of fellows reported increased confidence and capacity
- 47% increase in economic mobility among long-term participants
Highlights from the Year
New Country Chapters
This year we launched chapters in three new countries: Colombia, Vietnam, and Senegal. Each chapter is led by local women leaders and tailored to the specific needs and opportunities of their communities.
This chapter is more than an office - it's a promise to the women of Senegal that their stories will travel. - Awa Diop, Senegal Chapter Director
Threads of Her: A Global Success
Our flagship exhibition Threads of Her opened in New York in May and has been visited by over 35,000 people. The exhibition travels to London in October and Geneva in early 2027.
Code and Care Fellowship Expansion
Our technology ethics program grew to 80 fellows this year - 60% women of color from the Global South. Together they built 14 open-source tools serving communities in 12 countries.
What We Learned
This year taught us that the most powerful change happens when we work alongside women, not for them. Our top-performing programs were all co-designed with local communities. Our deepest impact came from long-term partnerships, not one-off interventions.
It also reminded us that the work is far from over. While we celebrate this year's reach, we know that millions of women worldwide still lack access to the resources, recognition, and reach they deserve. We remain committed.
Looking Forward to 2027
Next year, we plan to:
- Launch chapters in 4 additional countries (with focus on conflict-affected regions)
- Expand the Threads of Her exhibition to 8 cities globally
- Grow the Code and Care fellowship to 150 fellows
- Launch a new Climate-Care initiative supporting women in climate adaptation
- Publish a digital archive of 100 oral histories from women across our network
None of this would be possible without our community - our fellows, partners, donors, volunteers, and the women whose stories we are honored to help share. Thank you for standing with us.
With deep gratitude,
Dr. Amara Mensah
Executive Director