In September 2025, Channel Foundation new grantee Colmena Fund made a commitment of $9 million USD to advance women’s political leadership in the Global South.  

This initiative, announced at the Clinton Global Initiative 2025 Annual Meeting, marks a significant progression for Colmena Fund on the global stage. Colmena, a public fund to increase diverse, feminist leadership in politics, started their grantmaking journey only one year prior, in 2024.  

Over the next two years, Colmena Fund will support at least 50 organizations in Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America as they break down barriers for women from marginalized backgrounds making transformative change for their communities. 

“In a year where democracy is under pressure and women’s rights face severe rollbacks, feminist political leadership is a necessity,” said Suyen Barahona, Executive Director of Colmena Fund. “This commitment reflects our belief that resourcing pro-human rights leaders, especially those closest to the margins, is the most powerful way to protect democracy and reimagine politics.” 

Colmena Fund’s grantmaking will target organizations working in critical areas including: 

• Protecting women candidates from technology-facilitated gender-based violence such as online harassment and deepfake, a rising threat due to artificial intelligence. 

• Amplifying women leaders in Africa and Asia. This initiative expands on Colmena Fund’s current portfolio that elevates Afro-feminist, Dalit, and Indigenous leadership. 

• Equipping women to lead in climate action and contexts of conflict. 

Despite how growing evidence shows that inclusion of women in politics is proven to improve decision-making and equality, women are significantly underrepresented in the political sphere. While 2024 saw a record number of countries holding elections, women’s legislative representation only rose from 26.9 to 27.2 percent, research find.  

The disadvantages exacerbate for women of historically marginalized communities in the Global South who face even more limited funding. 

Colmena Fund’s impressive commitment to empowering women leadership since its founding in 2024 is crucial for ensuring a more diverse and democratic future for feminist movements worldwide.