Sabeen Perwaiz
WGA President
Editors Note: This perspective was originally published as a guest column in the Florida Times-Union
Violence against women and girls is often framed as a “women’s issue.” That framing is part of the problem, however. Violence in our homes, relationships and communities doesn’t exist in a silo; it affects families, workplaces, schools and entire regions. Addressing it requires all of us.
For the past 25 years, the Women’s Giving Alliance has worked to improve the lives of women and girls through collective giving and research‑driven grantmaking as an initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. Today, our focus is clear: addressing violence against women and girls by preventing harm, supporting survivors and helping them thrive long-term.
This work is urgent, grounded in data and deeply human. It is also personal for me.
I am a survivor. A teenage relationship (one where I didn’t know any better) shaped me forever. For a long time, I did not name it that way. Like many survivors, I managed, minimized and adapted. Abuse doesn’t always arrive loudly or leave visible marks. More often, it erodes confidence, safety and agency quietly ― until you no longer recognize yourself.
That lived experience shapes how I lead and why this work matters so deeply to me.
What ultimately changed my life wasn’t a confrontation or an ultimatum. It was a quiet moment when a male best friend told me, gently but clearly, that it didn’t have to be this way. What I believed was a carefully guarded secret was actually visible to others. His willingness to say something, to see me and speak up, gave me the courage to leave.
In Northeast Florida, the need is undeniable. Rates of domestic violence in Baker, Duval and Putnam counties exceed state averages, with Duval County reporting more than 5,000 domestic violence offenses in the most recent available data.
Those numbers tell only part of the story. National research consistently shows that intimate partner violence is underreported. Behind every statistic is a person navigating fear, isolation and impossible choices.
Our approach acknowledges that complexity. We fund organizations working across three critical stages: preventing violence, supporting survivors in crisis and expanding long‑term pathways to independence and stability. Shelters save lives and it is only the beginning. Survivors need legal support, mental health care, economic opportunity and community to truly rebuild.
This year alone, the Women’s Giving Alliance awarded $675,000 in grants to nonprofits doing this work across our region. Yet need far exceeds availability. More than $4.8 million was requested through our most recent grant cycle, an unmistakable signal that demand continues to outpace resources.
That’s why this moment matters.
In honor of our 25th anniversary, Delores Barr Weaver (a Women’s Giving Alliance co‑founder) has offered a dollar‑for‑dollar match up to $150,000 for donations to the grants pool through September 2026. Every contribution, large or small, will be doubled, expanding support for organizations working directly with women and girls affected by violence.
Participation is open to everyone. Membership is not required to make an impact and this is where I speak directly to men.
Ending violence against women and girls is not a responsibility women should bear alone. Men are fathers, partners, friends, colleagues and leaders. You are part of this story, whether you realize it or not. Many men want to help but don’t know how to enter the conversation without saying the wrong thing.
Listening is a powerful place to start. Supporting prevention efforts, funding survivor‑centered services and challenging harmful norms in your own circles matter far more than perfect words.
This work is not about blame, but responsibility ― and possibility.
I have seen what happens when survivors are believed, resourced and supported; when communities invest not just in safety, but in dignity and long‑term stability. I have also seen how silence allows harm to persist.
Collective giving is one way we disrupt that silence. It tells survivors: You are not alone. It tells organizations on the front lines: Your work matters. It also tells our community: We are willing to confront hard truths together.
Violence against women and girls is a quiet crisis, but it’s not inevitable. When we show up collectively, across gender and role, prevention becomes possible. Healing becomes sustainable. Futures that once felt out of reach begin to materialize.
This is not just women’s work but community work, and we all have a role to play.
Sabeen Perwaiz, president, Women’s Giving Alliance