In March 2025, two Channel Foundation grantee partners released a groundbreaking new publication, Activists from Strength: What You Need to Know to Be a Disability and Gender-Inclusive Funder.
Co-produced by Women Enabled International (WEI) and the Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism (UAF-FA), the report is interactive and designed to challenge traditional funding models and amplify the voices of women and gender-diverse people with disabilities. This report was intentionally structured as an interactive tool to encourage readers to engage deeply with the lived experiences of disability rights advocates who contributed to its development. Through reflection exercises, ‘warm-up’ prompts, and ‘food for thought’ sections, Activists from Strength invites funders, policymakers, and activists to critically examine their approaches to supporting disability-inclusive movements.
Key insights from the report highlight the persistent barriers activists face in securing sustainable funding. Among these challenges are the lack of core funding, complex application processes, and grant-making strategies that often fail to align with the priorities of disability-led movements. Additionally, the report underscores the importance of cross-movement collaboration, emphasizing that disability justice must be integrated with broader struggles for gender, racial, and economic justice.
As a research-driven resource, Activists from Strength also provides actionable recommendations for funders. It calls for increased flexibility in grantmaking, improved accessibility in funding processes, and stronger partnerships with disability-led organizations. By centering the leadership of women and gender-diverse people with disabilities, WEI and UAF-FA aim to shift the philanthropic landscape toward a more inclusive and equitable future.
The Channel Foundation is proud to support the vital work of WEI and UAF-FA in advancing disability justice. We encourage our readers to explore the full report and engage with its interactive content.
