I was thrilled to receive the news that ELAS+ Giving for change is on the list of organizations receiving donations from Mackenzie-Scott. It's gratifying to receive this kind of recognition and I can't thank this philanthropist enough, who has understood the importance of having full confidence in the strategies and work of a diversity of civil society organizations. They are the ones who know their needs, realities and context best and have the solutions to their problems. Hence the importance of having access to flexible resources. This is reflected in Mackenzie's own words: "This belief in the diversity of voices also inspires our commitment to a vital category of leaders. The leadership of people who directly experience inequalities. Both because they are informed with a vision that no one else could have, and because they are within the community itself, this is the seed of power and opportunity."

It's exciting because ELAS+ is reverberating around the world. This recognition shows that our mission to strengthen civil society organizations led by women and trans people is gaining more and more visibility. For 21 years we have been supporting groups based on a feminist genealogy. During this time, we have learned from other Women's Funds, organizations, activists and feminist thinkers in Brazil and around the world. That's why we believe in this network of women's and social justice funds to strengthen horizontal philanthropy and social transformation.

In the two decades I've been working at ELAS+, I've heard a lot more 'no's' than 'yes's' and I've never let myself get carried away by negativity. I've believed and committed myself endlessly. In 2000, after five years in Mexico, I proposed a women's fund. There was nothing like it in Brazil! Four Brazilian women, from different social movements (the black movement, the lesbian women's movement, the feminist movement and the cultural movement), believed in my idea and agreed to build ELAS+ Giving for change ! The media thought that feminism had gone out of fashion and believed that women in Brazil had already conquered everything! I knew that wasn't true.

What we have received now is not just a donation of money, it is recognition and a vote of confidence for women's organizations and LBTIs, for ELAS+ Giving for change ! I didn't give up! I committed myself to the collective construction of ELAS+, attending meetings on philanthropy and social investment, both in Brazil and internationally, where I asked the question:

"Where is the money, the resource for women's organizations?

According to Oxfam studies, women are responsible for 75% of all unpaid care work in the world. The data, included in the Time to Care survey, released on the eve of the Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, substantiates the reality that women are demonstrably the most affected by global inequalities. It is therefore only right that they should have access to resources, especially those working for gender and racial equality, as is the case with women's organizations in various social movements.

Mackenzie Scott, with her different and generous intention to donate, based on trust, attentive listening, experience and the experiences of other leaders who are applying these important values when making decisions to make their donations, is, I dare say, giving clues to other philanthropists to look up to, and is innovating in the world's traditional philanthropic ecosystem.

Mackenzie Scott expresses her total trust in all the organizations involved, leaving us free in our strategies, methodologies, knowledge, experience, wisdom, needs and criteria for how we will use the resources that will be donated, thus giving us the opportunity to strengthen ourselves according to who we are and what we do. The way Mackenzie donates is the way Women's Funds like ELAS+ and social justice philanthropy funds donate out of trust. This has been and is our greatest learning over these 21 years.

To all the other organizations supported by Mackenzie-Scott's donations: congratulations and let's continue our fight together for a fairer world for all human beings, with gender and racial equity and without discrimination or inequality. I must also thank the people who have been part of the foundation and the boards of ELAS+, as well as the coordinators, staff and all the women who have passed through our organization. Without them, our work would not be possible.

To the organizations and companies that are partners, funders and supporters of ELAS+, thank you very much for believing in our work and we will remain steadfast in our mission of Giving for change.

Amalia E. Fischer P. - Creator, co-founder and General Coordinator of the ELAS+