in 1999, the global fund for women and mama cash brought together six women's funds from around the world for a brainstorming session. in 2000, the first meeting of inwf was held, with nine members. according to shirley waters, founder and chair of the women's hope and education and training trust, "these international women's funds provide[d] an easily identifiable way to support the work of women's groups in other countries." similarly, while discussing women's funds and the history of the inwf in 2013, musimbi kanyoro (ceo of the global fund for women) said, "organized philanthropy can make a difference if the funding is targeted towards addressing the root causes of women’s vulnerability."