News from WDN

For Immediate Release Media Contact:

18 September 2006 Rachel Rivera 650-833-6750

WOMEN DONORS NETWORK AWARDS MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT TO PROMOTE

WOMEN IN THE MEDIA

Menlo Park, CA, Sept. 18, 2006 The Women Donors Network, a national network of
progressive women philanthropists, today announced a $1,000,000 grant to American
Forum, a Washington, DC-based organization, to raise womens visibility in the media.

The WDN Action Fund Transforming Media grant is the second in WDNs Action Fund
cycle and will be paid out in four yearly $250,000 installments.

WDN, now in its fourth year as an independent nonprofit seeking a more cohesive
progressive movement, launched its Action Fund Grant process last year as a
collaborative way to capitalize on its 145 members activism and financial clout.

The Action Fund initiative lets us as progressive women funders pool our resources and
have a much bigger and longer-term impact than if we were funding individually, said
member Mary Willis. Media reform is absolutely critical to the preservation of our
democracy, and I believe our grant to American Forum will go a long way toward
making that happen.

WDN Executive Director Donna Hall said WDN initiated this years Transforming
Media grant out of a concern that mainstream media offer Americans overly limited
viewpoints. WDN sought an organization or coalition involved in expanding progressive
media, democratizing media policies and influencing mainstream media, with special
emphasis on expanding womens leadership in that work. A commitment to gender
equity, diversity in leadership and capacity for collaboration across the progressive
movement were among the criteria for selection.

American Forum, in its commitment to informed citizen debate on current issues, now
provides research and commentary authored by local experts to print, broadcast and new-
media outlets. WDNs grant will allow American Forum to develop its National Womens
Editorial Forum, which will support projects including development of a womens op-ed
and news service, a media boot camp to train 100-200 women leaders, and fellowship
programs for women from journalism schools nationwide.

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Tel 650 833-6750 info@womendonors.org
Fax 650 3252313 www.womendonors.org
 News from WDN
The American Forum is inspired by WDN's leadership and honored to be this year's
recipient of the WDN Action Fund award. said American Forum Executive Director
Denice Zeck. We are thrilled to be launching a national effort to empower women to
engage in and transform the media. Whether it's print, radio, television or blogs, women
must be a central part of the commentary continuum. Together with WDN we will work
to ensure that women's voices are heard and their perspectives are fully represented.

The first Action Fund grant supports think tank capacities of a seasoned community
organizing institution, the Center for Community Change, also based in Washington, DC.

Please check our Web site for a list of all Action Fund 2 applicants, as well as brief
summaries of the proposals from our semi-finalists.

http://www.womendonors.org/what_action_tmaf.php

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Pg 1 of 2 1170 Hamilton Court Menlo Park, CA 94025

Tel 650 833-6750 info@womendonors.org
Fax 650 3252313 www.womendonors.org