the birth of rosa

Rosa came into the world in June 2008, after over a decade of gestation.

Rosa was conceived because women's projects in the UK need greater recognition and financial support.

Research* has found that:

• Projects working with women and girls struggle to raise funds.
• Women’s organisations make up 7% of registered charities but receive only 1.2% of government funding.
• Very few grant making trusts and foundations identify women and girls as a priority.
• Potential donors want more education and guidance about why and how to invest in women’s projects.

Leaders from women’s organisations, government, businesses and the media came together to find a solution to this funding problem. Drawing from the experiences of women working on the front lines of charities and inspired by women’s funds elsewhere, they created a model that would work best for the UK.

The result was Rosa – a charity that champions the work of women’s projects in the UK, through awarding grants and encouraging other funders to give.

Find out more about what Rosa offers.


* Why Women?, Women's Resource Centre, 2006 [PDF]