This initiative is implemented within the framework of the Organisational Grants Programme for Civil Society Organisations working in the field of Gender Equality, run by the Bodossaki Foundation in partnership with Fondation CHANEL.
Women Do Business is one of the organisations selected to receive an organisational development grant as part of the two Foundations’ new three-year cycle of collaboration.
The framework of the partnership
In March 2025, the Bodossaki Foundation and Fondation CHANEL announced the renewal of their partnership to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Greece. The new three-year cycle follows the Capacity Building Programme launched in 2023 and expands its reach to support up to 27 civil society organisations through two open calls.
During the first cycle of the partnership, 15 organisations were supported, with more than 2,700 people benefiting directly and over 11,000 indirectly.
The need for such initiatives remains pressing: according to the 2024 report of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Greece ranks 25th among the 27 Member States of the European Union.
Why “Strong by Structure”
An organisation does not grow on the passion of its people alone. It needs structure, it needs resources, and it needs the capacity to plan beyond its next activity.
Seven years of operation have taken us from a single forum in Heraklion to a network of activities spanning the whole of Crete and reaching into European partnerships. That growth, however, brought the next major challenge into focus: financial sustainability.
“Strong by Structure” is our answer to precisely that. It invests in the organisation’s own capacity to identify, manage and diversify its resources.
Purpose of the Project
The aim of the project is for Women Do Business, within one year, to have stabilised and broadened its funding sources, so that it can plan for the long term and consistently support the women it serves.
This translates into three concrete directions:
- Strengthening fundraising capacity: more and higher-quality funding proposals submitted to European programmes, national foundations and regional bodies.
- Diversifying income: developing own resources through membership subscriptions, training programmes for businesses, and corporate partnerships.
- Growing our network: building new relationships with prospective funders, sponsors and European partner organisations.
What the Project involves
The project is built around two core actions:
- 1. Recruitment of a Fundraising Officer
For the first time, Women Do Business has had the opportunity to bring on board a dedicated fundraising professional. The role covers the drafting and submission of funding proposals, the management of sponsorship partnerships, the development of the membership network, and the management of Corporate Social Responsibility relationships with businesses and companies.
- 2. Collaboration with a Financial Advisor
In parallel, the organisation is working with a specialist Financial Advisor to develop a comprehensive Fundraising Plan, to establish formal recording and reporting procedures, and to train the team in resource management tools.
Why it matters
Every proposal submitted, every partnership built, every new source of income ultimately translates into more women trained, mentored and empowered.
The investment made by the Bodossaki Foundation and Fondation CHANEL is an investment in continuity: in the ability of Women Do Business to keep going, to keep growing, and to keep responding to the needs of women in Crete and across the wider Greek regions.
More information about the Organisational Grants Programme: Bodossaki Foundation | Fondation CHANEL