Research Approach
As a research-driven grant-maker, the Eleanor Foundation invests our resources in studies that inform our investments, as well as in others' efforts to advance working women and their families.
Federal Reserve Policy Forum - April 2007
The Competitive Advantage of Investing in Working Women
May 1, 2007
Chicago has 420,000 female-headed households. 131,000 of these women work, but earn no more than $30,000. This fast-growing population comprises the vast majority of the "working poor" in Chicago and in cities across America. At the same time, these women are the anchor and strength of many communities that are the target of the most intensive community redevelopment efforts. These women also anchor many workplaces.
On April 5 of this year, 200 people gathered at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for a forum sponsored by the Eleanor Foundation, "The Competitive Advantage of Investing in Working Women." Our program, designed to heighten awareness of the economic challenges to and opportunities for lower-income working women, also served as the stage for announcing the Foundation's first grants under the Self-Sufficiency Initiative and the launch of our next round of grants.
Our program included introductory remarks by Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank and a keynote address by Julia M. Stasch of the MacArthur Foundation. Stasch's presentation highlighted the importance of investing in women as an essential element of successful community revitalization work.
The event continued with a panel discussion featuring leaders of organizations with innovative strategies aimed at helping working women. Our panelists included Joseph A. Antolin, Executive Director of Heartland Human Care Services; Joy Aruguete, Executive Director of Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation; Heather A. Steans, Board Member of the Steans Family Foundation; and Eric Weinheimer, President of the Cara Program. The morning concluded with a videotape about the successes of some of the women who had been helped by Eleanor Foundation grants.
Attendees at the event represented a broad array of financial institutions, policy makers, service organizations, other foundations and business groups representing employers of large numbers of women. We received written feedback from nearly 50% of those who attended, and response was uniformly positive. Clearly, our event whet the attendees' appetite for engagement in a number of ways. Many expressed the desire for more information on ways to help. Representatives from businesses wanted to learn more about employer-based initiatives; other grant-makers and service providers sought details on the innovative programs launched with Foundation grants. Many wanted information on our current and planned future research.
We're very pleased with the response to our event and are following up on all of these expressions of interest.
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