Third Wave Fund is the only national fund aimed at supporting youth-led Gender Justice activism to enhance the political power, well-being, and self-determination of communities of color and low-income communities in the United States. They believe in the leadership of directly impacted individuals, particularly young women of color and gender non-conforming youth, for designing and leading solutions to achieve substantial social justice changes by addressing root causes.
The Sex Worker Giving Circle (SWGC) Fellowship Program, initiated in 2018, focuses on empowering sex worker-led groups by mobilizing resources to enhance safety, self-determination, community power, and mutual aid systems for sex workers in the U.S. This giving circle, inclusive of various communities with current or past experience in sex work or trading sex, emphasizes community and political strength, grantmaking to sex worker-led groups, and the inclusion of their voices in philanthropy. Fellows engage in training for fund distribution across the U.S., collectively decide on grant allocations, advocate for philanthropic engagement with sex workers, and build community with peers. The fellowship, running from March to June 2024, involves around 50 hours of virtual meetings and independent work, and provides a $5,000 stipend to acknowledge the effort and learning experience of participation.