Donors create fund for #MeToo movement

NEW YORK — In an unusual team effort to broaden the #MeToo movement, a group of prominent U.S. foundations is launching a new fund aimed at combating sexual violence and harassment in the workplace.

In addition to the foundations’ contributions, some funds are coming from CBS — money initially set aside as an exit package for former CEO Les Moonves that has been redirected due to his firing over sexual misconduct allegations, organizers said.

The fund, which claimed pledges of $20 million ahead of its public launch Thursday, plans to direct most of its grants to programs led by and benefiting the most vulnerable categories of women. Among the likely recipients are campaigns led by women of color to bolster the rights of domestic workers who lack standard labor protections and restaurant workers who depend on tips for income.

The 11 partners that have signed on so far include the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the Conrad Hilton Foundation and the NoVo Foundation.

Most of the partners fund a wide variety of causes, while the NoVo

foundation has focused on the empowerment of women and girls. Its copresidents are Peter and Jennifer Buffett; Peter is the youngest son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

For now, the new initiative is called the Collaborative Fund for Women’s Safety and Dignity.