Which Women's Rights Organizations Should You Donate To?

Since January 2025, one million women and girls have been without crucial support. Aid was cut to women's groups in 52 countries facing crisis and war. You can't fix this alone, but where you give matters.

You've decided to give to women's rights. Now what? Many groups exist. How do you tell the best organizations to donate to for women's rights? What's a fund that gives money to other groups? What's a group that actually runs its own work? How do you know if a group is well-run or well-marketed?

This guide compares 12 charities to donate to for women's rights. It shows what each does with your money. It lets you run a four-question test on any group.

TL;DR:

In 2023, feminist and women's rights organizations worldwide ran on a median annual budget of USD 22,000 across 1,174 organizations surveyed in 128 countries. Since January 2025, at least one million women and girls have lost access to services as aid was cut. This guide compares 12 vetted women's rights organizations. It explains how to check each and shows where a small women's rights donation goes furthest.

Best Organizations to Donate to For Women's Rights

These 12 groups work in three ways: funds that give money to local groups, groups that run their own work, and groups that change laws. The list covers the whole world, Europe, and abortion rights because donors come from across Europe and give to different causes.

What Should You Check Before You Donate to Women's Rights Charities?

Before you commit to any organization, run this four-question test. Use it whether the organization is on this list or not. The answers tell you if it's among the best places to donate for women's rights, and if it's transparent about how it operates.

• Is it a grantmaker or a direct-service provider? – This determines how fast your money moves and who controls how it's spent.
• Where is it registered, and can you see its accounts? – Published annual reports and accounts are the clearest sign of organizational health and honesty.
• Does it fund groups led by the women it serves? – Organizations that regrant to groups led by the community they work with create bigger change.
• Is your women's rights donation restricted or unrestricted, and does the organization say which it needs? – Restricted gifts fund specific projects. Unrestricted gifts fund operations: salaries, rent, and admin. Unrestricted giving is worth more to small organizations, but most donors restrict it accidentally.

Here's what these models look like in practice:

Where Can You Donate To Women's Reproductive Rights?

Reproductive rights organizations split into two geographic models: US-focused abortion funds and European-focused access organizations. Your women's rights donation will work differently depending on which model and region you choose.

Which Women's Rights Organizations Work in Europe?

If you live in Europe, you probably want to know: are there organizations doing women's rights work close to home? Yes, and most global lists miss them.

Mama Cash

Mama Cash (Amsterdam, founded 1983) is the oldest international women's fund and the most directly accessible for European donors. The organization works in more than 60 countries; office staff are based in Amsterdam and speak English and Dutch. Mama Cash publishes annual reports and impact pages in both languages.

IPPF European Network

IPPF European Network operates across Europe as a federation of member organizations. It provides sexual and reproductive health services in clinics and centers, trains healthcare providers, and runs advocacy campaigns. Member organizations exist in most European countries; the IPPF European Network coordinates policy work across the continent.

Abortion Without Borders

Abortion Without Borders is a network primarily supporting access across European borders. Organizations within the network operate in multiple countries, including Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and beyond.

Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism

Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism operates through four autonomous regional funds. The Europe, Central Asia, and North America fund (covering the Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Southwest Asia, the UK, wider Europe, the US, and Canada) awards rapid-response grants to feminist activists across the continent. 

Many activists and organizations in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, and across the Balkans and Caucasus have received UAF grants, though this fact rarely appears in donor guides.

On tax deductibility: If you live in Europe and want to give to an organization registered outside your country, the tax situation depends on where both you and the organization are registered. A US 501(c)(3) organization typically gives an EU donor no tax relief unless you live in a country with a specific tax treaty. Each organization publishes guidance on tax deductibility by country on its website. We can't offer tax advice, but their guidance is reliable; read it before you commit.

One-Off Donation, Monthly Giving, or Your Fundraiser?

For organizations with $22,000 annual budgets, monthly giving is more valuable than one-time donations. Predictable income changes what an organization can plan for.

A $25 monthly gift is $300 a year. That covers a grant from the Urgent Action Fund, one month of rent for a small office, or one staff member's salary for a week. Recurring gifts let organizations build savings and hire people, knowing the money will continue. For a $22,000-budget organization, one monthly donor matters as much as ten one-time $25 gifts.

One-off women's rights charity donations are quick and simple. Use them if you're giving a larger amount, supporting an emergency appeal, or testing an organization first.

Monthly giving is set up through an organization's website. Look for “Become a monthly supporter” or “Set up a recurring gift.” Give between $5 and $100 monthly, or more. Most organizations send updates so you can see where your gift funds go.

Fundraisers ask others to donate in your name, like a birthday fundraiser. This spreads impact and engages your community. You can run a human rights fundraiser on WhyDonate for any organisation registered on the platform. Start one for free, invite supporters, and 100% of donations reach the charity. WhyDonate charges 0% platform fees; payment processor fees apply. Fundraisers work well for organizations you care about.

Ready to start your fundraiser? Set up a fundraiser for any women's rights organization. Or find your organization directly and give a one-off or monthly donation through their website.

The Bottom Line

The funding gap for women's rights is structural. It reflects how philanthropy has been shaped – towards some causes over others, towards rich-country organizations over those in the Global South, and towards big groups over grassroots ones.

You can't close that gap alone, but you can help. Run the four checks – choose the best organizations to donate to for women's rights you trust, and give monthly if you can. At this scale, monthly donors matter more than big one-time gifts. If you fundraise with friends, you spread impact further.

Pick an organization from this list. Use the four-question test to check the one you've found. Start small. Predictable funding changes what's possible. Even $10 a month matters.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What percentage of my donation reaches programmes?

This varies by organization. A regrantor like Mama Cash keeps 20-30% for staff, checking grants, and advocacy. A service provider like Women for Women keeps 30-40% for field staff and safety. Read each organization's annual report to see the split. Platforms such as WhyDonate ensure that 100% of your donation goes directly to the cause.

2. What if I only have $10?

All organizations accept small gifts. At $10, you join thousands of small donors. That matters. Small donors fund most women's rights work. Pick an organization you trust and give what you can.

3. Is the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights the same as the Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism?

Yes. The organization rebranded to Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism in 2023. The new name reflects its broader mandate beyond women's human rights to feminist activism more broadly. It still accepts donations and operates in the same way. When searching for it, use the new name.

4. Are donations to women's rights charities tax-deductible in Europe?

This depends on your country and the organization's registration. Most organizations on this list are registered as NGOs or nonprofits in their home country but not in every country where donors live. A US 501(c)(3) registration does not automatically give a European donor a tax deduction. Each organization publishes guidance on tax deductibility by country on its website; check there before you donate to women's rights. 

5. Why is funding so low for women's rights?

It's structural, not temporary. Donors don't always know how to fund women's rights work or where to start. In the US and Europe, donors have historically focused on education, health, and poverty instead of rights-based work. 

6. Can I fundraise for a women's rights organization instead of donating?

Yes. Fundraisers – especially birthday fundraisers or workplace giving – are an effective way to donate. Start a fundraiser on WhyDonate for any organization, and invite your friends and colleagues.