2025 Spring Impact Report

During a moment of overwhelming global challenges, Planet Women is doubling down on our vision of a world in which all people have the tools and resources they need to protect our precious Earth. This work began long before our organization existed, and we are committed to helping lead it far into the future. By fiercely supporting and investing in women’s leadership and decision-making power, we will carve out new opportunities for all of us to thrive.  

In January, Planet Women welcomed a new CEO, Emma Robbins, kicking off an exciting new chapter in our journey to partner with women to create a healthy planet for the benefit of all life. And despite the rollercoaster of 2025, our community has repeatedly come together to offer mutual support and empathy. We’ve seen it in our Fundraising 101 workshops, our 100 Women Pathway gatherings, and our Center for Gender, Equity & the Environment community. And we’ve seen it in the vital financial support provided by our generous donors and Ripple members.

Without you, our vision of a brighter future would not be possible. Thank you for your partnership in advancing a better world—for women, for the Earth, and for us all. We hope you enjoy the highlights below of what our community has accomplished together this year.

TRANSFORM THE CULTURE OF CONSERVATION

Planet Women Strategy

Planet Women offers two initiatives that empower everyone to be an environmental leader:

100 Women Pathway

and

Center for Gender, Equity & the Environment

CENTER FOR GENDER, EQUITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

OBJECTIVE: Increase gender equity in the environmental sector by offering resources and technical support to grassroots groups.

IMPACT: Since 2023, more than 200 gender champions from 23 African countries have been resourced through our two CGEE projects: the Women’s Leadership Circle and Gender Mainstreaming. Over the last six months:

100 WOMEN PATHWAY

OBJECTIVE: Rapidly advance diverse women into senior leadership roles in the U.S. conservation and environmental sectors.

IMPACT: In April, Cohort 4 of the Pathway graduated with 18 women from across the Southeastern U.S. We’re very proud to report that 64 women have now joined the 100 Women Pathway—70% of whom identify as women of color. As of June 2025, 14 women (22%) have advanced to higher level roles, including nine women of color.

See more in this blog post!

FUNDRAISING TRAININGS

OBJECTIVE: Advance nonprofit partners’ missions by teaching fundraising information and skills in an accessible way.

IMPACT: Planet Women Co-Founder Kristine Zeigler has delivered trainings to more than 250 people in 2025.

Attendees reported that these workshops have helped them to respond to their organizations’ loss of funding and learn new skills in identifying donors, communicating about their organization, scripting an ask and thanking supporters.

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Testimonials

  • “Gender Mainstreaming was an eye-opener. I especially enjoyed engaging with others, exchanging ideas, and creating an action plan. It showed me the importance of collaboration and intentional planning when working to dismantle gender stereotypes. Personally and professionally, it helped me understand how inclusive conservation efforts benefit everyone in the community.”

    Francis Maghanga, Community Ranger Scout, Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association, Kenya, and participant in Gender Mainstreaming

  • “This is a unique experience that the Planet Women team has curated. I have seen nothing like it and feel blessed to have been a part of it. This is a legacy type of project that will have impact on generations to come. It will create paradigm shifts in the way women leaders see themselves, show up in the world, and affect change.”

    Participant, 100 Women Pathway, US Southeast Cohort

  • "I love that Planet Women hosted this fundraising workshop. Fundraising is often seen as a competitive space so it's rare for an organization to share advice about raising funds...It made us feel that is one of us thrives, we all thrive."

    Participant, Fundraising 101

PROTECT NATURE AND SUPPORT COMMUNITIES

Planet Women Strategy

Planet Women creates healthier forests, rivers and biodiversity by funding projects that are co-created and led by women in the Amazon, Congo and Colorado River Basins.

WOMEN AND WATER CONVENING

OBJECTIVE: Bring together Indigenous women and allies who are stewarding and protecting the Colorado River to address water issues and community-driven approaches.

IMPACT: Women leaders in the water sector in the Colorado River Basin said they had no spaces dedicated to networking with other Indigenous women and allies, so in 2023 we co-created one.

In November 2024, we co-hosted the second annual Women and Water Convening at the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona with Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network, Sonoran Institute, The Chapter House and The Nature Conservancy.

The last two WAWC (2023 and 2024) brought together 136 Indigenous women and allies, representing 10 tribes. Attendees spent two days building connections, exchanging knowledge, and charting a path forward to steward and heal the Colorado River for generations to come.   

We’re busy planning for the next Women and Water Convening taking place on the Navajo Nation in November. Learn more here.

GRANT SPOTLIGHT:

INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NETWORK

MISSION: IWLN connects and supports Native women working on water, natural resources, and environmental issues in the Colorado River Basin. It seeks to engage past, present, and future Native women leaders – to learn from each other, mentor one another, and support each other.

PARTNERSHIP: Planet Women had the privilege of seed funding the IWLN in 2021 and has continued to support the organization, most recently providing a $45K grant. 

This funding supports a variety of IWLN initiatives including educational webinars and opportunities for knowledge sharing between multi-generational Indigenous women at gatherings, conferences, and a rafting trip. The funding provided scholarships for five young professionals to attend the 2024 Colorado River Water Users Association conference, an important conference of water policymakers, providers, users and conservationists in the Basin.  

Learn more in the grant highlights blog post!

GRANT SPOTLIGHT:

RED DE MUJERES EN CONSERVACIÓN DE LATINOAMÉRICA Y EL CARIBE

MISSION: Bring together women and male allies in a collaborative space to strategize how to elevate women’s leadership in this field—and to achieve conservation goals in a more equitable, inclusive and human-centered way.

PARTNERSHIP: Planet Women is excited for this new grant partnership with the MeC LAC Network, comprised of Latin American leaders, advocates, students, professionals, scientists and academics who are protecting biodiversity at local, regional and global levels.

Thanks to your support, Planet Women granted $15K to the Network in fall 2024 enabling them to participate in the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Colombia. Their delegation of 10 women implemented the MeC LAC COP16 Network Agenda, which comprised 20 events and positioned the Network as a relevant player in the global gender and biodiversity agenda.  

Learn more in the grant highlights blog post!

THANK YOU!

Together, we can ensure that all women have the resources they need to fulfill their vision for a healthier, more sustainable future. Thank you for joining us in protecting the Earth and its people.

Photo Credits: © Candid Sol. © Djinadja Akoessi. © Planet Women/Sydney St. Fleur. © Planet Women/Kristine Zeigler (with thanks to Rebecca Kormos). © Sonoran Institute/Rabi Hernandez. © Candid Sol. © Candid Sol. © Melina Velasco, Red MeC LAC/Legado.