Semia Women’s Fund is the first ‘feminist fund’ in Italy, dedicated to supporting the feminist movement and organisations committed to promoting gender equality and the rights of LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
Founded in 2023, also thanks to a philanthropic donation from Fondazione Marcegaglia, the Semia Fund has made significant progress in pursuing its mission: providing funding and training support to both formal and informal organisations (associations, committees, third-sector bodies, collectives, groups, and movements) dedicated to the key issues of the feminist and gender movement in Italy. These issues include self-determination and the defence of the right to choose, work, economic independence, social justice, and education for awareness.
At the end of 2024, Semia launched a grant call with a total value of €200,000, offering the 25 successful organisations the opportunity to also take part in tailored training modules designed to meet the specific needs of the selected groups. Semia’s aim is not only to ensure greater financial sustainability for these organisations but also to provide them with the necessary know-how to amplify the impact of their activities, for the benefit of women and the LGBTQIA+ community in Italy.
Fondazione Marcegaglia co-financed Semia’s grant call with a contribution of €50,000, intended to support the following organisations:
Associazione di Promozione Sociale Assolei Aps (10.000 EUR)
Founded in 1993, Assolei combats violence and discrimination against women in the Lazio region. It provides legal support, reception services, and empathetic listening. The organisation manages five anti-violence centres and promotes feminism to fight racism, ableism, and homophobia.
Casa delle Donne di Scicli (5.000 EUR)
La Casa delle Donne supports women who are victims of violence in southern Sicily. It provides empowerment, social integration, and a network of solidarity. It has created the “Solidarity Reuse Room” and organises initiatives to promote circular economy as well as awareness campaigns in schools.
Associazione Lìberas APS – ETS (5.000 EUR)
The Association is a feminist and transfeminist organisation based in Cagliari that combats gender-based violence. It provides support to women through an Anti-Violence Centre and promotes public awareness on the issue of gender-based violence, fostering cultural change.
Associazione Prime Minister (15.000 EUR)
Prime Minister supports young women from every region of the country through free political and social empowerment programmes with an intersectional approach. It focuses especially on marginalised communities, operating from southern Italy to address gender gaps in less developed regions and promote political participation.
Kermasofia srl impresa sociale (5.000 EUR)
Kermasofia promotes women’s economic empowerment nationwide through financial education. By providing training courses that are easy to understand for everyone, it aims to strengthen the economic decision-making skills of vulnerable women to prevent poverty and economic abuse, supporting their well-being and independence.
167revolution APS (10.000 EUR)
The Association supports women in marginalised areas of Lecce through productive activities such as beekeeping and social tailoring workshops. It promotes pathways to awareness and independence to combat structural violence and economic subordination. Originating as a spin-off of an anti-mafia project, it has become a model of social empowerment.