Posted on November 12th, 2025 

Irene Webb recently attended Rising Up in New Mexico, a powerful gathering focused on gender justice and collective leadership. The event brought together community leaders and advocates committed to advancing opportunities for women and girls across the state.

A highlight of the evening was a conversation between Chris Grumm, co-author of the book The Uprising of Women in Philanthropy and former President and CEO of the Women’s Funding Network, and Sarah Ghiorse, President and CEO of NewMexicoWomen.Org. Their discussion celebrated the history and impact of the Global Women’s Funding Movement — a global network of women funders who recognized in the 1970s that women must lead the movement to direct capital for gender justice themselves.

Since its beginnings, this movement has grown into a powerful force for change, demonstrating what the authors describe as the “Women Effect”: stronger democracies, healthier communities, and more resilient economies when women lead and resources are shared equitably.

For Irene, the evening was both inspiring and affirming. Surrounded by influential New Mexico women, she experienced firsthand how philanthropy grounded in feminist principles can shift power and drive meaningful, systemic change.

The Uprising of Women in Philanthropy is more than a book — it is a call to action for collective leadership and lasting gender justice.