Salon #12 - May 8, 2021

Pilwha Chang and Tracy Gary

Pilwha Chang

Presentation title: How to do Gift economy in fundraising?

Within a half century, South Korea has changed from one of the poorest countries to a large trading country ranking 10th to 12th in the world.

This rapid change, along with competitive market forces and technological innovations, has created deepened gaps in class, gender, generation, worldviews, lifestyles, etc. The extent to which people feel the pressure and stress to survive in the increasingly dehumanizing environment is shown in the dramatic demographic change and best shown in its world lowest birth rate. The one-member household takes up 30% of total households and more than half of young generation think it is ok not to have children.

Introducing 'maternal thinking', 'motherer' to younger generation is definitely a challenging task. Increasing unemployment rates, and the growing gap between haves and have nots make women and men in their 20s and 30s insecure and despondent. Rampant misogyny and antifeminist attacks in real and cyber spaces affect women of all ages. Against this backdrop, I will discuss the opportunities and challenges of Korea Foundation for Women. As the environment changed greatly in the last two decades of the KFW’s existence, it is important to raise questions of how to introduce the ideas and practice of the gift economy in fund raising activities.

Pilwha Chang - Born in 1951 in the middle of Korean war. The meaning of her given name, pilwha, can be translated as ‘Peace Necessary’ reflecting the spirit of the era. She is an academic activist, teacher, and adviser to policy makers. As the first professor in Women’s Studies at Ewha Womans University, she has been searching to find new paths in inter-transdisciplinary research and training. As a feminist she tried to lead everyday life experimenting feminist ways of building communities and relationships. As an Asian, she spearheaded global empowerment programmes for young feminist activists in the same university. As a newcomer in fundraising field, she joined the Korean Foundation for Women as Chair of board.


Tracy Gary

Presentation title: Inspiring Feminist Philanthropy: how women & girls world-wide are leveraging gifts and resourcefulness

What is the women funding movement, when did it start and why? What has it accomplished so far? What is it’s impact on gender and racial justice and consciousness for all genders and communities? Is it part of the gift economy and how? What have been its challenges and limitations? Where has it failed by matriarchal standards? What have been its breakthroughs?

Tracy Gary is a catalyst for generosity, economic, racial and gender justice, and a global citizen seeking caring partners for a better world. She is a non profit entrepreneur who with others sparked the women’s funding movement, now over 190 Womens funds world-wide and with a social justice framework in many others. She has started 24 non profits including her latest, Earth Legacy Alliance, always with a team. She lives outside San Francisco and specializes in growing and supporting women donor leadership. She’s the author of “Inspired Philanthropy: Creating A Giving Plan & Leaving a Legacy” (Jossey Bass, 2008, 3rd edition)



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