Women’s rights are human rights. Unfortunately the conditions and situations affecting women are such that a significant proportion of women are still unable to enjoy gender equality. Barriers still exist. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report of 2022, it will take 132 years for women to achieve global gender parity in general.

Zonta International is looking for Endowment partners and donors who will help support its endeavor of continuing Zonta’s mission of building a better world not only for today’s generation but for future generations of women and girls. A financial endowment is a contribution of money or property that provides a long-term source of income for the Foundation. In an Endowment, the principal is kept intact in an investment account while the investment income is available for use.

Endowments then bring great benefits because endowment funds provide:

• Autonomy - independence from funding trends outside our control
• Empowerment – as a substantial and tangible financial asset from which additional resources can be generated
• Financial stability – better financial planning provides continuing stream of funding for a specific purpose.

A healthy endowment will therefore allow us to:

• Provide the highest quality programs that will fulfill Zonta’s mission.
• Support the continued advancement toward the empowerment of women and girls worldwide to be able to build a better world for them.
• Assure that the critically needed resources to protect and promote women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality will be available to meet future needs.

There are many ways of donating to the Endowment fund. They include:

• direct donations through the Zonta website or contribution care of your club or district treasurer.
• donations on celebratory events in lieu of traditional gifts given to celebrator.
• donations as a Thank You gift to a speaker or a memorial gift to someone who has passed away.
• giving gifts of stock or making Zonta a beneficiary of your life insurance or estate and becoming a member of the Mary E. Jenkins Society.
• holding a concert with famous performers, conducting an auction or vintage sale, throwing a special dinner, and the like
• approaching corporations or business enterprises to get bigger donations; and through
• mutually agreed-upon sharing arrangement of raised funds among the different funds of Zonta.

During the 22nd District 17 Conference this September, a fundraising campaign will be held to generate financial donations for Zonta’s General Endowment Fund through an art exhibit aptly called: Her Story in Color: Celebrating the Diversity and Creativity of Women. Our target is Php1,000,000.00 or $17,500.00.

This campaign counts on our members’ commitment and support and their recognition of the awesome responsibility of every individual to help disadvantaged women and girls and to share where it counts the most for the next generation.

We are counting on everyone’s support to visit the exhibit and bring home a work of art. In addition, 30% of undesignated donations raised during the A Bridgerton Affair and received at the ZFW Booth will be allotted to the Endowment Fund. Help us build a robust Endowment Fund to support Zonta’s work for the future and help close the gap of gender parity.

To fulfill our goal we need the work of a dedicated team and the support of Endowment partners and donors who believe in the importance of building a better world for women and girls, not only for today but for the future.