HER Fund Annual Report 2019-20

ANNUAL REPORT

2019-2020

Message from HER Fund’s Chairperson and Executive Director The year 2019 - 2020 marks the year presenting us

Looking forward, we will continue our journey of

some of the best opportunities to fulfil HER Fund’s

expanding our presence and global footprints

mission of empowering women to pursue their rights

to advocate for flexible funding and increase in

and fulfil their needs and aspirations.

our commitments. To that effect, we aim to launch a ‘community respond grant’ to rapidly support the

During this 16th anniversary of HER Fund, Hong Kong is

groups in fighting COVID-19. We will increase our

faced with unprecedented challenges. Social unrest

resources into sustaining transformative feminist

followed by COVID-19; the economy has suffered

leadership training, provide our grantee partners the

from reduced opportunity which made marginalized

opportunity to speak at events such as the Beijing +25

women groups even more vulnerable. Constant

and Generation Equality Forums while continuing our

changes and evolving needs have demonstrated the

involvement in Prospera – INWF.

unique advantage of HER Fund in deploying resources at the grassroots level, where flexibility is applied to

COVID-19 will undoubtedly provide continual

ensure the funds go to where they are most needed.

challenges to all and fresh challenges to our

We are proud of HER Fund’s ability to contribute to

vulnerable populations. HER Fund strives to continue

the vulnerable populations at this critical time.

our commitment to support underprivileged women to fulfil their aspirations and pursue their rights under

It has been a busy year; we held

the most difficult

the first fund-raising luncheon, we

circumstances.

funded 15 projects and completed 3 trainings to strengthen women

Thank you for

leaders’ capacity, we expanded

those who walked

our presence and influence over the

the journey with

international network and HER Fund

us; we need every

was one of the organisers for Prospera

one of you in the

Asia-Pacific Regional Convergence

community to

where we brought 7 women leaders

join us to make

of grantee partners to Bangkok to

this commitment

share their work with other women’s

together.

organizations and funders.

Judy Kan

HER Fund Executive Director

1

Athena Lee

HER Fund Chairperson

ABOUT HER FUND Founded in 2004, HER Fund mobilizes resources for women’s empowerment, the promotion of social changes and gender equality.

We support the most vulnerable women and girls in Hong Kong by providing capacitybuilding, leadership training and small grants to grassroots organizations led by and serving the most disadvantaged. We also increase the visibility of marginalized women and girls—and the issues they face.

HER Fund is an active member of Hong Kong’s women’s rights community, Human Rights Funders Network and of Prospera - International Network of Women’s Funds. HER Fund is also a member of HKCSS.

2

Voices from HER community

HER Fund is a special organization because of the people involved in it, I had the pleasure of meeting admirable women through my summer internship at HER Fund. I saw first-hand how important HER Fund’s work is in advancing women’s rights in Hong Kong. I could tell that they are very mindful of their power and how they make sure to put the needs of grantee partners and local women that they are serving as priority. I am grateful for the opportunity and time spent, as well as the work that they do.

Lyris Mui HER Fund Volunteer

Grassroots women’s organizations are at the forefront in the fight to achieve gender equality around the world. These organizations operate in difficult environments and face a number of challenges, including limited funding, and high levels of stress and burnout.

It is essential to invest in the leadership, well-being, and resilience of leaders of these organizations so that they are better able to support the communities they work with. HER Fund has put together an innovative program to support their grantees to improve their leadership skills, enhance their resistance to stress and to create a space for women’s grassroots organizations to grow. We are proud to support this program, which has the potential to inspire many other women’s funds.

Miren Bengoa Executive Director Fondation CHANEL

3

lululemon are committed to creating a truly inclusive, diverse, and equitable world, and supporting women’s empowerment is critical to realizing this vision.

We have loved our collaboration with HER Fund because we have been able to sweat, connect, and grow with courageous women in Hong Kong who have dedicated their lives to create a more equitable world. We know creating a more inclusive and diverse world is a long journey and sustaining the women’s movement is critical.

We share HER Fund’s value on development and wellness.

lululemon Hysan Place Store Team

4

Voices from HER community

Gender justice is not commonly understood in many churches.

We are thankful for having HER Fund to assure the importance of our work to ensure equality is experienced by all. HER Fund funded our drama education and training workshops, advised on our proposals with through a gender perspective and provided us with organizational development learning opportunities, enabling our project to be more comprehensive.

Hiu Tung T SO Assistant Executive Secretary Hong Kong Christian Council HER Fund Grantee Partner

In 2019, I initiated a fundraising concert in collaboration with HER Fund.

10 local women singers and bands showed their talents on stage at the concert, raising over HK$ 80,000 for HER Fund. The collaboration was to provide financial support and empowerment through different activities and trainings. I am to be part of the contribution that benefits many different women in society.

Sabrina Tang HER Fund Individual Donor

5

HER Impact 2019-2020

Funding Women’s Rights

$549,500

HKD

A W A R D E D

15

Grants

12

Organizations

$168,900

HKD

Freedom from violence

$30,900

HKD

Freedom from Poverty

$120,550

HKD

Freedom from discrimination

$230,050 Capacity building

6

HKD

HER Impact 2019-2020

Leading on issues

62%

37%

13%

Freedom from Violence

Freedom from Discrimination

Freedom from Poverty

* P E R C E N TA G E S O F P R O G R A M S I N I M PA C T A R E A S

Supporting Women Leaders

1,110

124

Women directly benefited

Women Leaders received training

37

92

Organizations participated in organizational training

Hours of capacity building workshops

7

856 Volunteer hours

Financial Highlights Total Income HK $2,776,286

Total Expenditure HK $2,123,110 13% Organizational Management and Administration

1% Others

1% Network Building 1% Education and Communication 1% Resources Mobilization

26% Donation by individual and events 52% Funds for Designated Programmes* 22% International Foundations

83% Grant-making and Capacity Building Programmes

*Designated Programmes include projects for HER Hub, project for preventing violence against women and girls, project for building donor and partnership acquisition programme, and fee for conference participation.

BALANCE SHEET at March 31, 2020

LIABILITIES AND ACCUMULATED FUND

HKD

Current liabilities $6,380

Accrued expenses Receipt in advance

$736,812

Total liabilities

$743,192

Accumulated Fund

HKD

General fund

$1,487,699

Total Liabilities and Accumulated Fund

$2,230,891

8

Board of Directors As of March 31, 2020

LEE Chi Yan, Athena Chairperson

Jennifer CHENG Founder & CEO, Glam-it!

Mary Ann KING Pui Wai Cross-Sector Cultural Activist

HOUN Suk Han, Ada Vice-chairperson

CHEUNG Hiu Wah, Mandy Programmme Management in NGO

LAM Ying Hing Organizer, Local Labor Union

FUNG Pui Kee, Brigit Hon. Treasurer MUI Tai Loy, Terry Hon. Secretary BUT Tsz Ting Board Member FONG Man Ying Board Member

CHEW Choo Lin Founder, HER Fund Chairperson, The Institute for Women’s Empowerment CHUNG Yuen Yi Founder, HER Fund Hon. Secretary, Network for Women in Politics

WONG Shui Hung, Linda Board Member

Christine FANG, JP Ex-Chief Executive, The HK Council of Social Service

Advisors

Sophia KAO, SBS, JP Ex-chairperson, Women’s Commission

CHAN Yuen Han, G.B.S., J.P Chairperson, Women’s Commission

Phoebe SO Ex-chairperson, HER Fund Linda TO Founder, HER Fund, Senior Social Worker Ada WONG, JP Supervisor, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity Anna WU, JP Chairperson, Competition Commission Honorary Legal Advisor LAM Tze Yan

Learn more about HER Fund For more information about HER Fund, including detailed information relating to our grantee investments and activities in Fiscal Year 2019, please visit our website at www.herfund.org.hk

9