Q1. What is HER Fund?
HER Fund is a registered charitable organization in Hong Kong founded in 2004. We strive to promote women's human rights and gender equality. Our main tasks include raise fund and make grants to local women's organizations which share the same vision of HER Fund. We have supported more than 50 projects run by different non-government organizations in Hong Kong since our establishment.
Q2. Where does HER Fund get its funding from?
We raise fund by various fundraising events, including "88 Days Campaign" every year in March. We also depend on our monthly donors' support.
Other than raising fund in Hong Kong, we also receive funding from international women's funds. At present our core overseas funders are Mama Cash and Global Fund for Women
You can download our annual report for detailed financial report.
However, solely rely on funding from overseas is not sustainable. We need local individuals, corporations and organizations' participation in order to develop a caring and continuous local support for promoting women's rights and gender equality in Hong Kong.
Click here to know more different ways to support us!
Q3. What is the difference between HER Fund and the others funding bodies, like Chest …etc?
HER Fund is set up by a group of committed women, through grant-making as a major tool to support different women's project in Hong Kong. These women's projects are mostly marginalized, less-funded and always being neglected by mainstream charity. Through our various fundraising events, we aim to raise fund for these women's projects, and also raise public awareness about women's rights and gender equality.
Same as other registered charitable organizations, all donations of HK$100 or above are tax-deductible.
Q4. What organizations does HER Fund help? Is there any achievement?
We support organizations and groups that support women's human rights; encourage women's personal autonomy; work with women in marginalized sectors of society; dare to take up new and difficult issues and support women's efforts to instigate social change. We have supported more than 50 women's projects with the total of more than $1,000,000 to promote women's rights and better society for women since our establishment. For example, we supported grassroots women co-operatives' self help groups for self development and mutual support; subsidized women's groups to develop website so as to provide more channels for women to speak out; made grants to research projects to unveil the needs and problems of women in marginalized sector, etc.
In addition, we have delivered school talks in order to strengthen teenagers' knowledge on women's rights and gender equality through community education work.
Click here to review our sponsored projects since our establishment.
Q5. Is HER Fund providing services to women? What are they exactly?
Our main task is to make grants to various projects which promote women's rights, empower women and create social change. We also organize talks and forums to share our views and ideas about women's work in Hong Kong. All these events could make a better society for women and for all.
Q6. HER Fund helps women only? And not men?
The missions of HER Fund include not only protecting women's rights, but also eliminate sex discrimination and to promote gender equality. We truly believe that a harmonious society with gender equality is good for both men and women. Moreover, most women are carers at home, they care for the family, children and elders. The well being of carers therefore is vital to the whole family and the society. It is important to care for the carers too.
Q7. Men and women are already very equal nowadays, is there a need to help women?
The situation of gender equality has improved a lot in the past 10 years; it is also contributed by the persistent effort of the struggle. However, some of the women especially those from the disadvantage sectors are still being neglected. For example, under gender division of labour and traditional thinking like "men are breadwinners; women are homemakers in the family", most women take up the role of carer after marriage, even working women have to bare both caring and working roles. The unpaid labour at home brings definite benefits to society, but cannot enjoy nor being protected by any comprehensive old age benefits when they get old. In the labour market, most of the low paid jobs and unskilled part-time are taken up by women. According to 2006 By-Census, the median monthly income of working women (foreign domestic helpers excluded) and working men in elementary occupation was $5,000 and $7,000 respectively; moreover, around 78% of workers who monthly income less than HK$5,000 are women. Gender equality is still not yet fully realized in all sectors of society.
Q8. What kind of women needs help?
Women with different background in society face different problem due to gender inequality: single mother is unable to look for a job because she has to take care of her children; homemaker sacrifice their personal development opportunity because she has to take care of the whole family; ordinary women face sexual violence or abuse in every 5 hours ; women taking care of the family, work as part-time to support family expenses are not being protected under the labour law; even more-educated woman has to make double effort in order to get recognition in her workplace. Therefore women from all walks of life face different problems and difficulties due to gender inequalities which are imbedded in our values, thinking, social policy and within the social.
Q9. How can I donate to HER Fund?
Ways to support HER Fund:
By Online Donation
By Credit Card
By Bank Autopay (only for monthly donation)
By Crossed Cheque
By Bank-in Donation to Standard Chartered Bank Account
By Legacy Giving
By PPS
By 7-11
Click here to know more.
Q10. What can I help if I donate to HER Fund?
Your donation means a lot to us and women in Hong Kong. Your donation not only supports different women's projects to enhance women's quality of life and well being, it also shows your support and commitment in promoting gender equality in Hong Kong.
Q11. I am not rich. Apart from donation, is there anything I can help?
We truly believe making donation should depend on donor's willingness and ability, therefore we welcome your donation no matter how big or small it is. Even be our monthly donor, HK$100 every month probably is the same amount as dine out in an evening, we believe most people in Hong Kong can afford it, the key is whether we support women's rights and gender equality.
Other than financial support, you are welcome to be our volunteer. We need volunteer in our office and various fundraising activities. At the same time, introduce us to your family and friends to make us popular!
