Originally published on alliancemagazine.org, this article by Jane Kabubo-Mariara, Executive Director, Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), highlights how bold, grassroots-driven women philanthropists are reshaping philanthropy with impact, integrity, and inclusivity.
On March 14, 2025, I had the privilege of attending a panel discussion session, which was part of the 2025 Global Philanthropy Leaders’ Summit. Among the several thought-provoking sessions and activities, one of the most inspiring was ‘Paving the future of philanthropy with bold women at the helm: Leveraging our greatest assets for greatest impact’. This dynamic session explored how women are shaping the future of philanthropy by leveraging financial and human capital for meaningful social change. The panel featured powerful women philanthropists who shared insights on how community, family, wealth, knowledge, and financial vehicles play a vital role in philanthropy. The conversation emphasised how women are redefining philanthropy by prioritising impact, integrity, and inclusivity.
A key theme that emerged during this discussion was the role of women at all economic levels—including those who are undocumented, Indigenous, and marginalised—in driving social change. Ruby Khan, Strategy Lead at a private family office, highlighted how grassroots financial models such as Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) empower women by providing essential financial resources. She noted that in Kenya alone, ROSCAs facilitate the movement of over $3 million in capital, supporting education, healthcare, and small businesses. This grassroots model offers critical lessons for institutional funders on how to engage with and support locally driven financial solutions.
Other women leader panelists for the session included Stacey Boyd, Founder and CEO of Olivela, Amy Marks Dornbusch, Founder of Atlas Daughters and Director, Marks Family Foundation, and Yvonne Moore, Managing Director of Moore Philanthropy & President, Moore Impact. Moderated by Kristin Hayden Founder and President of Vision Powered Ventures, the conversation was a testament to the bold, transformative leadership that women bring to philanthropy.
Some of the key lessons that I took away primarily from Ruby Khan, included:
- Philanthropy must be informed by lived experiences: Women must lead with their values, leveraging both capital and community insights to drive meaningful impact.
- Impact and integrity must guide philanthropic efforts: Philanthropy should be measured by the tangible changes it creates for women and communities.
- Resilience and persistence are key: Women philanthropists must remain bold, tenacious, and unwavering in their commitment to social transformation.
- Humble beginnings must not deter progress and growth: Women philanthropists must, in particular, support women from humble backgrounds so that these women find the strength to remain focused during challenges and achieve their goals.
- Learning from peers: The session brought together dynamic women philanthropists and was a great opportunity to learn from peers and from the unique insights of each of them.
These highlights resonated with me personally given my own humble beginnings and the need to work extra hard throughout my career, with very rewarding results – from a very humble peasant background to rise through the ranks of the University of Nairobi to become the first woman director (School of Economics) and the first woman professor of Economics in Kenya.
Since I transitioned to the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) almost 9 years ago as the Executive Director, I have not only strengthened and diversified PEP’s engagement with funders and partners worldwide, but also ensured that the research we support and the policy interventions that result from it are led by local researchers in line with PEP’s mission. Locally led research reflects the realities of women at the bottom of the pyramid and the policy solutions recommended are effective in impacting their lives positively. This approach also aligns with the discussion at the Global Philanthropy Forum on supporting women at the grassroots and learning from locally led models.
At PEP, we see firsthand how research and policy interventions can bridge gaps in enabling economic empowerment for women. We support research, with more than 50% of it led by women researchers, leveraging their contextual understanding and deep local networks to inform policy solutions effectively.
For instance, our research on women’s labor market participation in six Southern countries highlighted the structural barriers—such as unpaid care work and the lack of childcare services—that limit women’s access to stable employment. Similarly, other PEP initiatives, including the Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW) – Kenya program have contributed to policy solutions that promote gender equality in economic systems through soft skills training. Research on other gender related topics by PEP focuses on Climate Change and its Impact on Women and on Strengthening Women’s Economic Empowerment through Macroeconomic Policies to support gender-inclusive growth.
I will carry the insightful learnings from the highly engaging session with me and aim to further strengthen PEP’s commitment to empowering women at the grassroots through locally led research and policy solutions.`
Jane Mariara is the Executive Director at PEP (Partnership for Economic Policy).
