Giving Women

Film screening - NAWI (award winner)
2026-03-21 10:30 - 12:30 (Europe/Zurich) | Cine 17, Rue de la Corraterie 17, Genève, 1204, Switzerland
Join us for a powerful morning screening of Nawi, followed by a discussion with the screenwriter, Milcah Cherotich.
This event supports FOTIS students in nine countries to access secondary education, as well as Loropio Girls High School in Turkana, Kenya, a current Giving Women Project Circle.
About the film
Nawi tells the story of a 13-year-old girl forced into marriage with a much older man in exchange for a herd of goats. Inspired by true events, it is a story of courage and what it costs when a girl refuses the path chosen for her and fights for her education.
Written by Milcah Cherotich after winning a nationwide writing competition in Kenya, Nawi has received major recognition, including an Africa Academy Award, and awards at international festivals such as Raindance (London)and the Pan African Film Festival (Los Angeles). It was also selected as Kenya’s Oscar entry (2025). This screening is an avant-première in Geneva and Switzerland, ahead of its international release in 2026.
Language: Original version (VO) with English subtitles
We look forward to welcoming you for a meaningful film and conversation.
Cannot attend?
You can still support girls’ education by making a donation to FOTIS.
Donate here: https://fotis.ch/donate/

Giving Women Informal Apero – Geneva
2026-03-23 18:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Moscow) | Giving Women Office, Rue du Mont-Blanc 4, Geneva, 1201, Switzerland
Join us at the Giving Women offices for an informal apero to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you can be part of a community of action philanthropists.
Giving Women is a community of informed women philanthropists committed to improving the lives of girls and women in underserved communities around the world. Our vision is simple yet powerful: a world where every woman and every girl has access, choices, and agency.
Whether you are curious about becoming a member, interested in volunteering your expertise, or simply want to better understand our work, this evening offers an opportunity to connect, ask questions, and meet members of the Giving Women community.
We look forward to welcoming you at our offices on 23 March.

Giving Women Informal Apero – Zurich
2026-03-25 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/Moscow) | Simply Soup, Hallwylstrasse 24, Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Join us for a relaxed and inspiring evening with the Giving Women Zurich community. Giving Women is a community of informed women philanthropists committed to improving the lives of girls and women in underserved communities around the world. Our vision is simple yet powerful: a world where every woman and every girl has access, choices, and agency.
Whether you are curious about becoming a member, interested in volunteering your expertise, or simply want to better understand our work, this evening offers an opportunity to connect, ask questions, and meet members of the Giving Women community.
In addition, on this special evening, we will meet two inspiring women and learn about their work on women and girls, while enjoying delicious soup and a tasting of Brazilian–Swiss chocolate.
Meet Assem Klammsteiner – Action for Women – Supporting Refugee Women
Assem represents Action for Women, an organisation supporting refugee women in Athens through education, skills training, and community programmes. Their work creates opportunities for women to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. Assem is also the owner of Simply Soup.
Meet Juliana Veiga – Billy & Bugga – Swiss Chocolate Magic & Women’s Empowerment
Juliana Veiga, founder of Billy & Bugga, combines Brazilian creativity with Swiss chocolate artistry. A powerful voice for women’s empowerment, Juliana has mentored women entrepreneurs since 2017, including social impact workshops for refugees.

Membership kick-off
2026-03-27 13:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Zurich) | Zoom
Our membership kick-off meeting is designed to help you confidently begin your journey within our community of informed women philanthropists.
In this informal one-hour session, you will discover how Giving Women works and how our model of Action Philanthropy translates intention into meaningful, lasting impact for girls and women in underserved communities around the world.
You will gain insight into our three pillars:

Project Circles – where small groups of members accompany grassroots organisations over 18-24 months, working on real strategic challenges to strengthen their long-term sustainability.

Learning & Workshops – equipping members and partners with the knowledge and tools to act thoughtfully and effectively.

Panels & Conversations – creating space to explore complex issues and amplify the voices of women who are too often unheard.

The session will also walk you through the different ways you can engage — whether by joining a Project Circle, contributing your professional expertise, becoming an Ambassador, or supporting one of our committees.
No preparation is required, simply bring your curiosity and enthusiasm.
We look forward to welcoming you and supporting you as you begin your Giving Women journey.
Not yet a member?
If you are not yet a member but would like to attend to learn more about Giving Women, please email us.

2026 Project Discovery Evening - members only
2026-04-20 18:00 - 21:00 (Europe/Zurich) | Atalanti Moquette’s Residence, Chemin de Grange-Canal 34, Chene-Bougeries, Geneva, 1224, Switzerland
Join us for our annual Project Discovery Evening, one of the most meaningful moments in the Giving Women calendar. Discover the grassroots projects selected for 2026 and sign up for the Project Circle that resonates most with you.
We warmly encourage you to join us in person at Atalanti’s home. You can also join via Zoom – details will be shared upon registration.
What to expect

Presentations from our newly selected projects

A clear understanding of their work and the support they need

The opportunity to choose the project(s) to which project you would like to contribute your time, skills, and expertise.

A light dinner will be served after the meeting.
Why it Matters
Project Circles are at the heart of what we do. This evening is your moment to listen to inspiring Project owners, understand their vision and challenges, and step into the role of an Action Philanthropist as a Project Circle member.
Members, please login to the Members Area to get the option to register for the event.
If you have any issue registering, please send Kathleen an email.
Not yet a member?
If you are not a Giving Women member and wish to attend, please contact us.

Why coalitions and collaborations are so important today?
2026-04-23 12:15 - 13:30 (Europe/Zurich) | Zoom
In a world that is increasingly uncertain, unpredictable, and disrupted, business as usual is no longer effective. Progress requires a different approach—one grounded in partnership.
Many are looking for alternative ways to achieve positive change in a resources constrained context. How do we ensure that money and decisions are being directed to the most relevant and pressing needs?
Our speakers will share the benefits, challenges, risks and opportunities of collaborative and pooled funding and support mechanisms.

Join us on 23 April online at 12:15 CET for what promises to be a vibrant discussion with:

Medina Haeri, Co- Founder & Executive Director, Helia Collaborative
Eliane Matti-Proenca, Head of Partnerships, Global Partnerships for Education
Gloriah Soma, Founder & Executive Director, Titi Foundation, South Sudan
Jennifer Wu, Co-founder, Unity4Impact

Moderator: Elianna Sabbag Moquette, Director, If! Foundation

From growing pains to growing gains - Part 4 - Financial planning and control
2026-04-28 18:30 - 20:00 (Europe/Moscow) | Zoom
Workshop 4: Financial planning and control – don’t fear the numbers
Workshop postponed from 31 March to 28 April
As organisations grow and adapt to an increasingly uncertain funding landscape, strong financial planning and controls are essential to ensure your mission translates into sustainable impact. Program budgeting, budget to actual reporting, understanding cost structures and cashflow forecasts help ensure that you are well informed, resources are aligned with your mission, which enable organisations to survive and thrive, becoming resilient to changing circumstances.
Building on the reflections from the previous Workshops in the series, in this workshop, we will demonstrate how financial planning can serve you better as a management and reporting tool rather than simply an administrative exercise. Participants will learn how to develop simple but effective financial tools that support growth, monitor financial performance throughout the year, and use financial insights to inform decision-making.
We will discuss how effective financial management can strengthen coordination between programme and finance teams, helping organisations identify issues early — such as overspending or misalignment between plans and resources, and reinforce the confidence of donors and stakeholders in your management by demonstrating a sound understanding of the numbers underlying your organisation.
About our facilitators
Joanna Boyd – Finance & NGO Professional
Joanna is committed to driving positive change by improving the lives of women in developing countries while promoting environmental sustainability. With over 12 years of experience supporting women’s empowerment, education and maternal health initiatives in Ethiopia, she focuses on designing sustainable, systemic solutions. She has also contributed as a consultant on a strategic review for a major fistula charity and served for more than three years on the board of a Swiss foundation. Alongside this work, Joanna brings over 25 years of professional experience in audit, financial management and reporting across multiple sectors, including expertise in charity accounting. A Chartered Accountant (ACA, ex-PwC) and qualified teacher (PGCE), she has chaired the Switzerland branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) for over eight years, supporting a network of more than 600 members.
Hellen Hipsagh – Financial Management Professional
Hellen is a certified accountant with over 20 years of experience across a range of industries, including the nonprofit sector. She holds master’s degrees in Financial Accounting and NGO Management from Bayes Business School. Hellen focuses on strengthening financial reporting systems to support transparency and reinforce donor confidence. Having lived and worked in the diaspora for many years, she is particularly interested in helping bridge the cultural and practical gaps in financial reporting and management between grassroots NGOs and their international donors.
About the workshop series
Navigating growth and transitions so your organisation can thrive through change – In this time of great upheaval and uncertainty in the development and humanitarian sectors, we are all reflecting on the changes needed within our organisations to meet these challenges. Giving Women invites you to a five-part workshop series designed to help organisations navigate growth and transition, enabling them to thrive amidst change and theses challenging times.

Ticket options & details
Members: Free
Not yet a member? You can purchase tickets for this workshop
Individual session ticket: You will receive the recording and supporting materials for that session.

Women Driving Climate Action (Zurich Climate Week)
2026-05-07 18:00 - 21:30 (Europe/Zurich)
Giving Women is leading a panel conversation at Zurich Climate Week.
Learn more and register on the official Zurich Climate Week site here
Climate change is not gender-neutral. Women are disproportionately affected by its impacts — yet they are also among the most powerful drivers of climate solutions.
Across sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, and biodiversity, women are already building resilience, leading innovation, and shaping sustainable systems. However, their role remains under-recognised and underfunded.
This event by Giving Women brings together key actors across philanthropy, finance, and practice to explore how we can better connect capital with impactful, women-led climate solutions — and accelerate meaningful change.
Why it matters
Despite their central role, only a small fraction of climate finance reaches women-led initiatives.
Unlocking the full potential of women in climate action is not only a matter of equity — it is essential for building scalable, effective, and sustainable solutions.
By shifting the narrative from women as beneficiaries to women as leaders and solution drivers, we can strengthen climate resilience, advance biodiversity, and contribute to more inclusive economic systems.
The panel
The event will feature a dynamic panel discussion bringing together organisations working at the intersection of climate, gender, finance and system change, including Medair, Unearthodox, and ShEquity.
The conversation will explore:

How climate change impacts women on the ground
How women are already driving nature-society or socio-environmental solutions across key sectors
How can we collectively help level the playing field for systemic transformation
What is needed to scale these solutions through innovative financing approaches

The panel will connect real-world insights with strategic perspectives, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for systemic change.
Learn more and register on the official Zurich Climate Week site here

Giving Women Annual General Assembly - Members only
2026-06-04 18:00 - 21:30 (Europe/Zurich) | Atalanti Moquette’s Residence, Chemin de Grange-Canal 34, Chene-Bougeries, Geneva, 1224, Switzerland
The Giving Women General Assembly is a special moment for all members to come together, hear updates on our work, and share your input as we shape our plans for 2026–2027.
We warmly hope you can join us in person at Atalanti’s home.
For those unable to attend on-site, the administrative portion of the Assembly will also be accessible via Zoom from 18:00.
After the formal session, we will continue the evening with a buffet dinner, and additional details for the social part of the evening will follow. Partners are welcome to join from 19:30.
