Gender Justice Fund
Gender Justice Fund is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It supports community-led efforts to end gender-based oppression through trust-based philanthropy, with grantmaking programs focused on systems change, culture change, trans resilience, and discretionary projects.
Gender Justice Fund at a glance
In short: Gender Justice Fund gave $597K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $597,000
- +53.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- +12.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,583
- +36.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $11,000
- Total assets
- $7,121,366
- +7.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (9 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gender Justice Fund
- How to Apply
-
Gender Justice Fund does not accept unsolicited requests for programs other than the Trans Resilience Fund; it accepts unsolicited proposals for that fund through its annual application process. Organizations interested in other programs may discuss their eligibility with the fund, which recommends reviewing program guidelines and existing grantees first.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 Trans Resilience Fund application deadline is April 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
- Deadline
- The 2026 Trans Resilience Fund application deadline is April 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (267) 519-5360
Website: https://genderjusticephilly.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gender Justice Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ardella's House ($50K). Together the top 10 received $297K.
Grant Size Distribution
157 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 154 grants of 157 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Gender Justice Fund says it funds organizations with ties to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. The Trans Resilience Fund’s stated service area is Philadelphia and Chester, Bucks, Montgomery, or Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania. In 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 9% to New Jersey; the remaining reported shares were PW (3%), Vermont (2%), and New York (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gender Justice Fund open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 36 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 275% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $250K (2020) to $597K (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $597K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ardella's House Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Funds | $50,000 |
| I'm FREE Cherry Hill, NJ | General Operating Funds | $50,000 |
| Sankofa Healing Studio Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support | $22,000 |
| UCC at Temple University Philadelphia, PA | Consent-Based Sex Education | $22,000 |
| Yes Philadelphia, PA | Consent-Based Sex Education | $22,000 |
| Eastern PA Trans Equity Project Oreland, PA | Trans Resilience Fund & General Operating Support | $21,000 |
| Abolitionist Law Center Pittsburgh, PW | Still We Rise Freedom Coalition | $20,000 |
| AIDS Law Project Philadelphia, PA | For Hearts on a Wire | $20,000 |
| Phila Justice Project for Women & Girls Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gender Justice Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,121,366 | $490,275 | $1,280,907 | $597,000 | 36 | $924,254 | $159,917 | $335,583 |
| 2023 | $6,637,116 | $522,049 | $675,821 | $389,305 | 32 | $642,383 | $316,977 | $259,568 |
| 2022 | $6,358,465 | $772,879 | $729,303 | $460,500 | 32 | $680,031 | $478,239 | $274,469 |
| 2021 | $7,893,819 | $2,015,500 | $629,220 | $420,500 | 33 | $568,454 | $656,135 | $301,763 |
| 2020 | $6,188,732 | $257,503 | $435,418 | $249,502 | 24 | — | $178,277 | $266,637 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gender Justice Fund reported a distributable amount of $336K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Gender Justice Fund’s stated mission is to fight all forms of gender-based oppression through trust-based philanthropy and by amplifying community-led systems change.
Its Systems Change program supports Philadelphia-area organizations working on gender justice through advocacy, policy, or community organizing. Its Culture Change program addresses misogyny, sexism, and patriarchy; its current focus is consent-based, inclusive sex education for Philadelphia youth. The Trans Resilience Fund supports regional trans communities through participatory grantmaking, with trans and non-binary community members setting guidelines and making funding decisions. Discretionary grants support specific projects outside the other programs that fit the organization’s mission.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work. Ardella’s House describes its mission as helping women with criminal justice histories realize new possibilities for themselves and their families. Eastern PA Trans Equity Project says it empowers transgender people through supportive and educational services in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Women’s Law Project describes its work as advancing the rights and status of all women through litigation, advocacy, and education. The Abortion Liberation Fund of PA says it works to protect and expand abortion access.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Gender Justice Fund made 36 grants totaling $597,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $11,000. Its largest listed awards included $50,000 each to Ardella’s House, I’m FREE, and Sankofa Healing Studio, primarily for general operating support; $22,000 each to Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates for general operating support, UCC at Temple University for consent-based sex education, and Yes for consent-based sex education; and $21,000 to Eastern PA Trans Equity Project for its Trans Resilience Fund and general operating support.
The Systems Change program makes two-year general operating grants, typically $11,000 per year, once annually in the fall. The Culture Change program provides three-year grants, but is not currently accepting new grantees. Discretionary grants are for one year. The Trans Resilience Fund uses an annual application process; its published 2026 timeline lists an application deadline of April 24, 2026. The fund’s grantmaking guidance says it does not fund arts and media projects, and event sponsorship funds are limited to organizations with which it already has relationships. Except for the Trans Resilience Fund, grantees must have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor. The Trans Resilience Fund accepts groups that meet its stated eligibility requirements, including qualifying unincorporated associations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sherella Williams as Board Chair, Vashti Bledsoe as Vice Chair, Jess Pastore as Secretary, and Sylvia Rose White as Treasurer as of July 1, 2024. Elizabeth Diffley is also listed as Treasurer. Board members listed are Brennan Tomasetti, Jane Napoli, Kendra Hypolite, Shawn Towey, and Jocelyn Arnold.
Gender Justice Fund is led by Farrah Parkes, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Farrah Parkes
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$83K (2020) → $137K (2024)
Sherella Williams
Board Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brennan Tomasetti
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Napoli
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jess Pastore
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kendra Hypolite
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Towey
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vashti Bledsoe
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Diffley
Treasurer
Treasurer → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jocelyn Arnold
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kris Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
anne mcguirk-molina
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
janis stacy
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
lubna mian
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
naiymah sanchez
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
stephanie keene roberts
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sylvia Rose White
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Erica Seaborne (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Sayeeda Rashid (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Aileene Halligan Cantiello (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Laurie Zierer (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Julie Lenard (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Beth Diffley (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Julie Lenard Palmer (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $137K, to Farrah Parkes (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Gender Justice Fund
How much does Gender Justice Fund give each year?
Gender Justice Fund gave $597K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $389K across 32 grants.
What is Gender Justice Fund's typical grant size?
Gender Justice Fund's median grant in 2024 was $11,000, and its average grant was $16,583, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gender Justice Fund that year got $20K on average.
Where does Gender Justice Fund give grants?
Gender Justice Fund gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (26 grants).
Does Gender Justice Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of Gender Justice Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Trans Resilience Fund" (6 grants) and "Consent-Based Sex Education" (5 grants).
Who are Gender Justice Fund's largest grantees?
Gender Justice Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Ardella's House ($50,000), I'm FREE ($50,000) and Sankofa Healing Studio ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gender Justice Fund?
Gender Justice Fund reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $924K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $336K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gender Justice Fund fund?
Gender Justice Fund’s stated mission is to fight all forms of gender-based oppression through trust-based philanthropy and by amplifying community-led systems change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gender Justice Fund?
Gender Justice Fund does not accept unsolicited requests for programs other than the Trans Resilience Fund; it accepts unsolicited proposals for that fund through its annual application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gender Justice Fund's EIN?
Gender Justice Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6259058. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Gender Justice Fund funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gender Justice Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gender Justice Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gender-justice-fund-morg_ac38436a3f89420eb0a3349489620c38
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236259058_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gender Justice Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gender-justice-fund-morg_ac38436a3f89420eb0a3349489620c38},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gender Justice Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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