On February 22 2007, The Foundation held the second forum in its “Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy” series. The first forum was held in June 2006 and focused on bringing together secular and religious activists to discuss working together to uplift women and girls through differences of identity and religious beliefs. The second forum sought to expand upon these points and to further define leadership and feminism as well as the role of faith in social justice movements.

The panel, included Aleciah Anthony of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Barbara Dobkin of the Dobkin Family Foundation, Helen LaKelly Hunt of the Sister Fund and founding pioneer of NYWF®, and Purvi Shah of SAKHI for South Asian Women. Katherine Henderson, author, activist and member of NYWF® Board of Directors moderated the panel. Katharine Henderson spoke about growing up in a family where both religion and activism were simply part of who they were. Her parents taught her that being a person of faith included taking action to alleviate the suffering of others. This is the intersection between faith and social justice work. Henderson feels that women have a "special place in healing the world," and that God is in this work. She spoke of women as "social alchemists" - leaders who move toward suffering and transform it, instead of ignoring it and walking.

The panel discussion focused on women’s leadership in the context of traditional exclusion in religious communities. Women, left out of decision-making by religious and secular patriarchies, have had to construct their own form of leadership. Barbara Dobkin spoke about the need to distinguish women’s leadership. “Women’s leadership should be different than men’s” she said “rather than women trying to be more like men and overcome their perceived ‘deficits’.” Helen Hunt added that the individual paradigm of leadership is outdated and must be replaced with a collaborative paradigm, one that is well represented among women. Purvi Shah added that feminists tend to prioritize consensus and collective decision-making. Women leaders, as those who have been excluded from power themselves, lead with a goal of including others who have been excluded; in this way they are both leaders and constituents of the movements they are building.

A lingering barrier to women’s leadership is misconceptions about power, including, as Barbara Dobkin continued, an internalized patriarchy and oppression. Women, and men, she said, “must learn that leadership is about sharing power, not wresting power away from men.” Aleciah Anthony added that women do not recognize their own leadership in daily life, and there needs to a collective shift in consciousness about what true leadership means to women. Purvi Shah commented on the need to transcend barriers regardless of religious beliefs and differing definitions of feminism.

As Ana Oliveira, President and CEO of The New York Women's Foundation® said, “There is no closing to this conversation. We have all engaged in active listening and modeled ‘followership’, which is part of effective leadership.”

The Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy forums are part The Foundation’s Ruth Ray Hunt Initiative. Through this Initiative, NYWF® has granted over $500,000 to faith-based organizations serving women and girls in New York City.