Equality Can't Wait

Overview

<p>The Challenge Seeks Creative Initiatives to Expand Women’s Influence in the U.S. with support from Pivotal Ventures, Melinda Gates’ investment and incubation company, and MacKenzie Bezos. The Equality Can’t Wait Challenge, in partnership with Lever for Change, aims to award $30 million to help expand women's power and influence in the United States by 2030. The Challenge is calling on nonprofit organizations to submit creative solutions to expand power and influence for women of all backgrounds, especially women of color, so they can be in positions to make decisions, control resources, and shape policies and perspectives. </p> <p><strong>What problem are we trying to solve?</strong><br>We have seen a groundswell of energy and activism to accelerate progress toward gender equality in the U.S., but the pace of change has not moved fast enough. Women are still vastly underrepresented in the places where agendas are set and decisions are made. Additionally, women of color, women living in poverty, and LGBTQ women face additional barriers to equality, both at home and at work. We are looking for creative solutions to accelerate progress for women of all backgrounds in the United States by expanding their power and influence. This means we want more women, especially women of color, in positions to make decisions, control resources, and shape policies and perspectives in their homes, workplaces, and communities.</p> <p><strong>What types of submissions are you looking for?</strong><br>The focus is on innovative ideas that will bring additional capital and energy into one or more of the following key areas:</p> <ul> <li>dismantling the barriers that hold women back in their careers and at home,</li> <li>fast tracking women in critical sectors by creating entry points and advancement opportunities, and</li> <li>calling society to action on gender equality.</li> </ul> <p>Recent events have highlighted the urgent need for equality in America, and we have to stay committed to advancing systemic change for women of all backgrounds. Accelerating progress toward gender equality will require many things, especially strategic capital and stakeholder collaboration.</p> <p>Through this competition, we are looking for innovative ideas that will bring additional capital and energy into one or more key areas that can expand women’s power and influence:</p> <ul> <li>Dismantling the barriers that hold women back. We need to remove the barriers that affect women most, by challenging biased narratives, addressing racial inequity, ending sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, and helping women balance their career, home, and families.</li> <li>Fast tracking women in critical sectors. Our research shows that there are essential sectors that have an outsized impact on society. By creating entry points and consistent support for women to advance within industries such as 1) public office, 2) tech, 3) academia, 4) media and entertainment, 5) finance, and 6) entrepreneurship, we can take important steps to expand women’s power and influence.</li> <li>Calling society to action. We must change outdated systems, institutions, and beliefs by enlisting society to take action. By arming key stakeholders – including CEOs, community leaders, consumers, and employees – with resources and data around the issues, we can influence and exert greater pressure from every angle.</li> </ul> <p>Registration is required to submit a full application. The registration deadline is <strong>September 1, 2020</strong>; applications must be submitted by <strong>September 22, 2020</strong>.</p> <p>Please note: We welcome ideas on other strategic approaches as they relate to the goal of expanding women’s power and influence. To be successful, the ideas must demonstrate that they can have equitable, measurable and rapid improvement over one or more of the metrics listed – wages and wealth gap, unpaid care, leadership roles held by women, content created by women, or public perceptions of women’s power and influence.</p>