
Beyond the Money: Helping Grantees Navigate the Challenges of Operating Grassroots Organizations
The nature of their size and scope makes Mary’s Pence grantees unique. They are often formed organically by a group of people who, bearing witness to injustice, decide to organize themselves and their community to make lasting social change. But like most women-led, grassroots organizations, Mary’s Pence grantees are generally understaffed and underfunded. While grantees […]

Empowering Bronx Youth Through the Arts
"The WomanHOOD Summer Camp created an all-female environment, and I got to be around other girls in my age group. Sometimes it was awkward because some of the girls were...
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From Growing Chickens to Having Her Own Food Business
Life in rural El Salvador is filled with challenges, but also with women ready to take action and work hard for their families and their communities. That’s the case of...
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Fighting For Social Justice And Healing At The Same Time
While teaching radical political theory at the University of Berkeley, Cecilia, one of the co-founders of Creating Freedom Movements, realized that her class should reach more people, not only those...
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Supporting Mamas, Empowering Communities
Pregnancy and giving birth are very emotional and intimate experiences. It can be scary without the right support. It is especially important to have support from people that look like...
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Sharing the Journey: 70 ESPERA Women Gather
We began gathering over 2 days - 70 women from 6 countries - for an ESPERA Encuentro / Gathering / Encounter in La Palma, El Salvador. First the women from...
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Growth in ESPERA
One woman wanted to invest in a crochet business – shawls, hats, scarfs, table runners – she had a contact in Italy that would help sell them there. Another wanted...
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Reaching Untapped Potential In Government and Politics
Ready to Launch is a California based organization working to grow and diversify the staff pipeline in politics and public service by helping more self-identifying women learn, grow, and launch...
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Food Sovereignty – Leading to Full Bellies, Better Health, and Extra Income
The Mary's Pence ESPERA team members regularly meet with our partners to understand the needs and priorities of the local women’s organizations. Conversations in these meetings uncovered food insecurity issues...
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The Unseen Work of Capacity Building
One of the toughest things for a small nonprofit to find funding for is the very essential work of planning, staff development, essentials like computers, and self care. In fact...
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