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July 14, 2023
The VOICEINSPORT Foundation, a global non-profit that advocates for equity for girls and women in sport, has established a fund to help close the pay gap for women athletes and inspire the world to get involved during major sporting events. Launched just ahead of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC), the Side of Equity™ Fund will create a tangible path for brands and fans of women’s sports everywhere to take action.
The WWC, where the prize money set by FIFA is $330 million less than what the men’s teams received at the 2022 Men’s World Cup (MWC), is the Fund’s first initiative. According to VOICEINSPORT, the global pay gap for women athletes exists due to only 1% of sponsorship money going to women athletes, lower salary caps set by leagues and federations and lower prize money at tournaments and major sporting events. While progress is slowly being made, for example by the US Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Federation, where national teams are continuing to fight for equal play, not much progress has been made by FIFA. The Federation has stated a goal of reaching parity by 2026/27.
Led by women athletes and women-founded brands, The Side of Equity™ Fund has been raising money since June for all the women playing at the WWC and to honor the winners from the past eight WWC’s. The program is designed to support women athletes that are underpaid and striving to compete on a global level without adequate funding from traditional sources such as endorsements and national governing bodies. The Fund is open to all the athletes that have qualified for the tournament.
More than 2 billion fans are expected to tune into the 2023 World Cup and VOICEINSPORT Foundation wants to inspire at least 16.5% of the global fan base to donate $1 dollar to the Side of Equity™ Fund, with the goal of raising $330 million dollars for all the women playing at the Women’s World Cup by the August 20 finals.
The Foundation’s first partner was The Sports Bra Bar – a woman-owned Bar in Portland, Oregon USA that plays only women’s sports on its TVs. Customers can order a literal Side of Equity™ with the VOICEINSPORT Foundation for $5 in the ‘Sides’ section of the Menu, where 100% of the donations will go towards the women athletes at the World Cup. The goal is to invite brands big and small to integrate a “Side of Equity™” donation option into their World Cup plans, enabling fans globally to support.
The very first WWC in 1991 had no prize money compared to the $3.5 million awarded to the MWC winners in 1990. It was only in 2007 that the Women’s World Cup players received prize money from FIFA at $5.8 million compared to the men’s 2006 prize money of $238 million – a mere 2.46% of what the men’s teams took home. The unequal trend has continued for the women as a percent of the men’s prize money resulting in the most recent 7.5% in 2019. The 2023 WWC will shift it to 25% at $110 million compared to the men’s $440 million. However, VOICEINSPORT want to accelerate change in a tangible way with the support of a global community of women athletes.
“In the 1991 World Cup (the first-ever for women’s soccer), the World Champion USWNT received zero prize money and US Soccer paid us $10 a day per diem. I scored 10 goals winning the first-ever FIFA Golden Boot in that World Cup and I literally went broke funding my own training, medical care, and attorneys to fight for equality in policy, opportunity, and medical care. The game has grown tremendously since then, and while the industry is still accountable for achieving equal standards, the Side of Equity™ Fund is a game changer in accelerating pay equity globally for women athletes,” said Michelle Akers, USWNT Player 85-00′, World Cup Champion 91′ 99′ and FIFA Player of the Century.
Grants will be given to all eligible athletes that apply and as each athlete has different financial needs, they will also have the opportunity to pay it forward and donate their portion back to the fund for another athlete in need. The application window for the grant closes September 20. The Side of Equity™ Fund and Grant Program will continue after the WWC to focus on other pay gaps for women athletes.
Athletes from around the world are supporting the Fund and raising awareness of the pay inequity issue for women including Sophia Smith (US), Allyson Swaby (Jamaica), Louise Quinn (Ireland), Allyson Felix (12x Olympic Medalist – track and field) and many more.
Source and photos: VOICEINSPORT Foundation
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