Global Fund for Widows Inc

aka Global Fund for Widows   |   New York, NY   |  www.globalfundforwidows.org

Mission

The Global Fund for Widows is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering widows and female heads of households to overcome poverty through skills-based training, job creation, and micro-finance. Ultimately, our goal is to help widows achieve financial stability, self-sufficiency, accountability, and importantly, become a role model to her own children and to others. The Global Fund for Widows applies its programs throughout the developing world by forming strategic partnerships with local NGOs, which are dedicated to the empowerment of widows. These local NGOs work in close collaboration with the Global Fund for Widows to develop unique solutions for empowering widows that are culturally and socially appropriate, as most importantly – Sustainable.

Ruling year info

2009

President / Founder

9175996106 Heather Ibrahim-Leathers

Main address

245 W 99th Street, Apt 17A

New York, NY 10025 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

30-0506927

NTEE code info

Philanthropy / Charity / Voluntarism Promotion (General) (T50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Register now

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

In the developing world, research estimates show there are 285 million widows, which we at GFW suspect lack adequate protections, opportunity, and attainment of rights. Our work has shown that widows are at risk of having their inheritance unjustly taken by family members and are often subjected to harmful and violent traditional practices including forced sex. Our reports of Egyptian widows show that the majority of them feel their needs are null and void without the endorsement of a husband and many of them have not left their homes in over a year. These facts are alarming, but this is only the beginning of the issue. Children of widowed households often suffer as a result, as well, with girls at times being sold into human trafficking or finding "safety" in child marriage, and sons falling into indoctrination, especially in African countries. Through all of this, widows are subjected to economic violence as they lack opportunities to earn a sufficient income to support their family.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Economic Empowerment Programs

Global Fund for Widows offers funding to support economic empowerment programming in Egypt, India, Nigeria, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic. Funding is used to provide skills-based training, micro finance and micro social capital to widows to allow them to become financially independent.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Women and girls

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Percentage of participants who feel their community members appreciate their work

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Women and girls

Related Program

Economic Empowerment Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Results measured among our participants of Amal Project in Egypt

Percentage of participants who report feeling financially stable

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Economic Empowerment Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Results measured among our participants of Amal Project in Egypt

Percentage of participants who report being happy to participate in the project

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Economic Empowerment Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Results measured among our participants of Amal Project in Egypt

Percentage of participants wanting to expand or enlarge their projects

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Economic Empowerment Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Results measured among our participants of Amal Project in Egypt

Percentage of participants reporting family members appreciate their business ventures

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Economic Empowerment Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Results measured among our participants of Amal Project in Egypt

Percentage of participants reporting an increase in income correlates with reducing violence

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Economic Empowerment Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Results measured among our participants of Amal Project in Egypt

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

We at GFW aim to provide economic opportunities to those widows who are suffering. In communities all over the globe, we provide capital and training in a chosen skill, financial literacy, and social, entitlement and rights awareness to widows, along with ongoing assistance and evaluation of economic ventures. This serves to provide not only an opportunity for adequate household income, but for the widows to achieve economic empowerment through access to previously mentioned training. Widows we have worked with have been able to send their children back to school, renovate their homes, and reclaim their lives. Not only have we change the lives of the widows we are working with directly, but we also work to change the social norms in their communities. Where widows were once marginalized and pushed out of the social sector, they are now integrated into their communities' economies. The empowerment of these women and their families is not only serving to protect their human rights, but is also assisting the United Nations in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Through economic opportunity, widows are able to achieve empowerment. Widows are trained in a skill which they can capitalize on, granting them a household income that was previously unachievable. With this income, widows then learn to manage their money after providing basic needs. The widows we work with are able to also learn financial skills including responsible repayment of loans and savings. Most notably, widows are able to send their children back to school, enabling the family unit to escape the cycle of poverty that typically ensues after the event of widowhood. By holding the widows responsible for a realistic-for-them repayment scheme of loans, we at Global Fund for Widows put their financial training to use, and when the women succeed in the repayment of their loans, successful management of their money, and overall financial independence, they are empowered to continue on with their lives leaving that time of despair and rejection behind them.

Our organization's head is Heather Ibrahim-Leathers, a well educated and exceedingly competent powerhouse. With her ingenuity and compassionate leadership, we are able to find creative yet effective strategies for answering the needs of each individual community, taking into account cultural factors as well as the needs of the women. By tying the widows' work with inelastic markets, we enable women to create business ventures that can be a reliable source of income for years to come. In the last ten years, we have started and maintained partnerships with Egypt, India, Nigeria, Kenya, and more reaching and impacting over 10,000 widows - and our work is nowhere near done yet.

Thus far, we have worked empowered 20,000 widows in eight countries. Over the past 13 years, we have lobbied for greater protections for widows at the United Nations and have given a voice to those who were previously silenced. Our polling in Egypt has indicated that over 90% of widows reported feeling financially independent and confident to claim their legal rights. Over 75% of widows in Egypt also reported an increase in household income and the establishment of savings. And outside of the economic sector, we found that as the widow's income increased, her exposure to domestic violence decreased. These achievements have helped in the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10. Our success thus far only motivates us to continue pushing until the issue of widowhood is recognized and addressed globally.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Financials

Global Fund for Widows Inc
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more about GuideStar Pro.

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Global Fund for Widows Inc

Board of directors
as of 07/09/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

9175996106 Heather Ibrahim-Leathers

Global Fund for Widows

Term: 2009 - 2025

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 7/9/2021

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Multi-Racial/Multi-Ethnic (2+ races/ethnicities)
Gender identity
Female

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 07/09/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.