Global Fund for Widows Inc
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
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
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.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
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
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
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.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
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.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
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.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
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
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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 directorsas of 07/09/2021
9175996106 Heather Ibrahim-Leathers
Global Fund for Widows
Term: 2009 - 2025
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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
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
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/09/2021GuideStar 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
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.