Transparency & Equity
Women Unite! is exactly what it sounds like: women coming together in strength and solidarity to amplify grassroots organizations and better the world around us.
We are done with status-quo philanthropy that keeps communities cut off from resources and perpetuates the patriarchy. Instead, we’re here to disrupt this rigged system and invest in community-led solutions. And best of all, we put our money where our mouth is.
We’re changing the funding landscape.
Revenues of Black-led organizations are 24% less than white-led organizations and they receive 76% less in unrestricted funding (The Bridgespan Group). We’re working to flip that script by devoting free and sliding-scale consulting services to organizations supporting women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC communities—because we believe in the self-determination and leadership of communities and grassroots organizations.
We put money back into communities.
Only 8–9% of foundation funding makes it to communities of color. WU! donates nearly $50,000 each year to our partners and other nonprofit organizations—choosing collaboration over competition. This heat map visualizes WU!’s past and present partners and clients, showing the communities impacted through our pro-bono services and monetary contributions.
We focus on people, not profit.
Budgets are value statements. WU! is committed to compensating staff and contractors fairly with life-sustaining wages.
In Chicago’s nonprofit sector, the average hourly rate is $21.87/hour. Minimum wage in the city is $16.20/hour. At WU!, our contractors make an average hourly rate of $42.20/hr.
Additionally, MIT’s Livable Wage Calculator states that the livable wage in Cook County for one working adult with 0 children is $24.42 (Livable #1 in chart); for two adults with 0 children, with only one adult working (Livable #2 in chart), the rate is $40.83. We are proud to report that our average hourly rate surpasses both of these metrics.
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• Health insurance, including vision and dental.
• 3% retirement match.
• 6 months of paid parental leave.
• Employees whose healthcare provider does not cover a breast pump are eligible for a $100 reimbursement credit toward a breast pump of their choice.
• $300/month stipend for childcare costs.
• $50/month stipend for internet and cell phone service.
• Freedom to set their own hours as long as they are responsive to clients and maintain project deadlines.
• Annual $200 reimbursement credit for personal or professional development or items related to physical comfort and/or mental health (e.g. gym membership, a class, a mindfulness app, home office items).
• After 6 months of employment, all full-time employees are eligible for one day of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO). VTO is allows for WU! employees to engage with causes and opportunities they care about.
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• All contractors receive 4 hours of PTO for every 40 hours worked (up to 24 total hours of PTO/year).
• All contractors receive up to $25/month for composting services.
•Any contractor who has worked more than 20 hours in a calendar year with WU! is eligible to apply for a WU! hardship grant of $100, $250, or $500, which supports contractors facing unexpected hardships like illness, rent increases, or job loss.
• All contractors who work 60 hours or more per month are eligible for:
—$300/month payment that can be used to cover any costs associated with child care.
—$250/month payment that can be used to cover any health care costs.
• Contractors who work 50 or more hours per month are eligible for a $50/month payment that can be used to cover internet service.
• Contractors who work 60 hours or more per month for at least three months during the calendar year are eligible to receive:
—An annual $200 payment for personal or professional development or items related to physical comfort and/or mental health (e.g. gym membership, a class, a mindfulness app, home office items).
—A $100 payment toward a breast pump of their choice if one is not covered by their health insurance.
We amplify voices.
We prioritize and uplift the voices of those most marginalized in all aspects of our operations. Our talented team harnesses the power of diverse, badass folks to provide high quality services with integrity.
The following results represent responses from 78% of board members, 83% of contractors, and 100% of employees.
We share our progress.
Check out our impact over the years, our love letters to you. You are the ones who make our work possible, and together we are making the world a more just and compassionate place.
Questions? Contact Liz Jansen, Executive Director, at lizj@womenunitechicago.org.