Many funders and donors are concerned about the impacts of pollution and toxic chemicals on health issues of concern to women, from breast cancer to infertility to learning and developmental disabilities.  Some grantmakers also bring a gender lens to their grantmaking, supporting women's voices and women's leadership on environmental health and environmental justice issues.  

Funders sharing these interests connect and collaborate through HEFN's Women’s Environmental Health Work Group.

Common reasons for investing in women's environmental health work:

• A women’s body is the first environment for everyone. Each woman is exposed to numerous pollutants and toxic chemicals over an entire lifetime that accumulate in her body.
  
• Environmental exposures have been linked to numerous diseases and conditions affecting the health of women and of their families. 
  
• Women's exposures to hazards also may impact her children's health, including in-utero and in breast milk.
• As family caretakers and health decision makers, women make nearly two-thirds of all health care decisions for their family and 83 percent have shared or sole responsibility for financial decisions regarding their family’s health.
• Polling research regularly finds that women voters, across all parties, are much more concerned about the environment and health than men.
• Women and women-led organizations are playing critical roles in moving public opinion, policies, and markets towards safer chemicals and cleaner environments.
  

Resources