Philanthropisms Rachael Jarosh & Suzanne Ehlers: Women-led philanthropy in support of refugees
Nov 27, 2025
45:02
In this episode we talk to Rachael Jarosh and Suzanne Ehlers, Chair and CEO respectively of USA for UNHCR, the US-based support organisation for the United Nations refugee agency, about their new women-led philanthropy project Building Better Futures. Including
- What is the aim of the Building Better Futures campaign and how did it come about?
- Why was it decided to focus on access to education? What makes that such an powerful catalyst for wider change?
- Why do female refugees face particular challenges when it comes to accessing education?
- Does fundraising from female donors need to be done differently? If so, how?
- Why is narrative and storytelling so important?
- What impact does applying a gender lens to funding have?
- Do female donors put more of an emphasis on collective approaches? What additional value can this bring?
- Is it easier or harder for a large organisation like the UNHCR to fundraise from donors than for a smaller organisation?
- Are there particular challenges right now for organisations working with refugees and migrants? How can these be overcome?
Further Resources:
- USA for UNHCR
- The Building Better Futures campaign
- Jessica de Rothschild talking about her involvement with Building Better Futures in Spears Magazine
- Suzanne and Jessica de Rothschild's article for Inside Philanthropy, "Fundraising Wasn’t Built for Women. So We Built Something New"
- WPM article "Philanthropy at a time of chaos"
- Philanthropisms podcasts with Sarah Jeffrey, Victoria Tayler & Lonnie Hackett; Lisa Greer, Farahnaz Karim; and Elizabeth Barajas-Román