Trends Giving Joy observed among grant applicants in 2024

At Giving Joy, we reviewed over 8,000 applications this year from more than 70 countries. Several trends stood out, highlighting recurring themes in the types of businesses and programs women proposed to create change in their communities:
🩸 Menstrual hygiene and access to period products
🥖 Bakeries and food-based enterprises
✂️ Tailoring and fashion-related businesses
🐔 Poultry farming for sustainable livelihoods
🍎 Nutrition education and healthy living campaigns
🧠 Mental health awareness and support programs
We’re reflecting on what this means for women’s priorities and the needs they’re addressing around the world. But to be honest, we are not entirely sure what it means.
Are these trends similar to what you’re seeing in your programs? Have these areas of focus increased in recent years?