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The X Fund

Committed to bringing about lasting social change, The X Fund is a women’s giving circle that makes annual grants to non-profit organizations that enable women and girls and gender-expansive individuals to reach their potential, strive for economic justice and live free of discrimination and violence.

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Our Mission

THE X FUND is a women's giving circle established in 2014 to address the needs of women and girls in Los Angeles and is committed to bringing about lasting social change. The X Fund makes annual grants to nonprofit organizations that enable women, girls, and gender expansive individuals to reach their potential, strive for economic justice and live free of discrimination and violence. Eligible grantees may directly provide services or promote change through policy reform with a focus on any of the following areas:

EMPOWERING WOMEN
Empowering women and girls through education, advocacy, job training, childcare, parental leave, and sick leave.

ERADICATING CRIMES
Eradicating crimes against women and girls, and providing support to victims of human trafficking, rape, and domestic violence.

WORKING FOR EQUITY
Working for equality for women and girls by eradicating pay disparity, fighting to secure reproductive freedom and civil rights, eliminating homelessness and poverty, and welcoming women refugees and immigrants.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
Special consideration will be given to women-led organizations and to organizations to whom a grant of $15,000 will be impactful, typically with annual budgets under $2 million.

Why The X Fund vs. The XX Fund? 

In 2024, The XX Fund giving circle celebrated its 10th anniversary of bringing about social change in Los Angeles. To continue expanding on the great work of our donor community—and while staying connected to who we are—we announced that we evolved the giving circle name to: The X Fund!

This name change came at a pivotal time in the gender justice movement and builds upon the inclusivity we are working to foster by better representing the multiple intersecting forms of our vision of gender justice. We are committed to ensuring trans women and nonbinary individuals are included, represented, valued, and empowered.

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    Executive Committee

    Flora Hewlett Birdzell

    Flora Hewlett Birdzell holds a firm belief in the dignity of all people and places high value on nurturing, growing, and connecting communities. She has served in varying capacities as a family council / board member for the Flora Family Foundation and board member for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. As reproductive freedom continues to come under attack nationwide, Flora is evermore committed to the futures envisioned by X Fund partners: we must work together to uplift women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals in Los Angeles and beyond.

    Teresa Cisneros Burton

    Teresa Cisneros Burton is an attorney in Los Angeles. In her career she was a Deputy City Attorney in San Francisco and Los Angeles and the Senior Compliance Director at CityView, most recently she was Executive Director at Focusing Philanthropy. Teresa has been actively engaged in several nonprofits, serving on the board of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, the Getty House Foundation, Reading Partners and Per Scholas.

    Susan Genco

    Susan C. Genco is Co-President of The Azoff Company where she helps develop and manage its diverse portfolio of media and entertainment companies. Susan is also a Lecturer in Law at UCLA School of Law where she has taught for over a decade. She has been recognized by Billboard Magazine in its “Power 100” editions and its “Women in Music” editions as Executive of the Year and Hall of Fame. She is proud to be the recipient of the Gary Stewart Entertainment and Integrity Award from L.A.A.N.E., the Service Award from The Recording Academy’s Entertainment Law Initiative and, along with her husband, the Founders Award from Liberty Hill. Susan serves on several Boards including: KCRW Foundation Board; The Herb Alpert School of Music Advisory Board; The Hammer Museum Board of Advisors; Music Artists Coalition; and Unified Youth. She is co-founder and Executive Committee member of The X Fund.

    Julie Hermelin

    Julie Hermelin is the managing partner at Gutsy Media, an award winning creative impact agency, a producer, filmmaker and community organizer working at the intersection of activism and popular culture with a particular focus on gender justice, political media and voter mobilization. In addition to being co-chair of The X Fund, she sits on the board of Liberty Hill and is a Reboot Fellow, a Wexner Heritage Fellow. A Michigan native, she enjoys raising her three spirited sons as Los Angelenos.

    Andrea Blaugrund Nevins

    Andrea Blaugrund Nevins is an Academy-Award nominated documentary filmmaker whose work has appeared on HBO, Showtime, ABC, NBC, A&E, Lifetime, iTunes and Hulu. In addition to being a co-founder of the X Fund, she has served on the UNICEF board of Southern California for the past decade, and was also a founder of Ikar, a post-denominational Jewish congregation and community founded in Los Angeles and led by Rabbi Sharon Brous. She and her husband, David Nevins, both from the East Coast, are proud to have raised their three children in Los Angeles.

    Meiko Takayama

    Meiko Takayama is the CEO and Founder of AWE, a global training company partnering with Fortune 1000 companies to develop talent and future leaders focusing on allies, women, and under-represented communities. A 26th-generation rebel born of immigrant parents, she is a connector, a global change agent, and a tireless advocate for inclusion. In addition to being on the Executive Committee of The X Fund, Meiko is also on the Advisory Board of Guild (formerly Guild Education). Meiko and her husband, Rocco Rich, moved to LA from New York over 20 years ago, and they love that they have two Los Angelenos, born and raised, sons.

    Sarah Vaill

    Sarah Vaill is the founder and president of VIVA Strategy | Vital. Intersectional. Vibrant. Advising + Strategy. VIVA is a consulting practice for global feminist and collaborative philanthropy, philanthropic advising, donor organizing, and strategic communications for democracy, racial justice, and gender justice. Sarah leads with a survivor-activist lens, starting as a canvasser at age 17 for the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, now Peace Over Violence. She subsequently held the roles of Program Officer (Americas, Caribbean, Oceania) at the Global Fund for Women, Director of International Advocacy at Karama, Director of Philanthropy (donor advised funds) at Liberty Hill Foundation, and Vice President of Programs at Panorama Global. Sarah proudly serves on the Board of Directors of Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs and the Executive Committee of The X Fund.

    Amy Elaine Wakeland

    Amy Elaine Wakeland is a public policy expert, social justice advocate, and champion for children and families across our city and the world. Her work is focused on combating sexual and domestic violence, strengthening opportunities for women and girls, and serving our city's most vulnerable residents. As First Lady of Los Angeles, she played an instrumental role in addressing a wide range of challenges. She helped lead the campaigns to raise LA's minimum wage, doubled the size of LA's Domestic Abuse Response Team program, and dramatically boosted girls' sports participation at LA's parks and recreation centers.

    Shana Weiss

    Shana Weiss is a community organizer whose work encompasses elements of advocacy, communications and philanthropy. She currently serves on the Board of Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County (PPAP) working on elements of fund development, messaging and strategic planning.

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    2025 Finalists and Nominations

    As a donor or member of the X Fund, you will be eligible to attend the 2025 kick-off event, engage in nominations, attend screenings of finalists’ videos, and vote.

    Annual Membership

    The X Fund has the following tiers of Membership:

    • X – Over 35, $1000 minimum annual contribution
    • NXT X – 25-35, $500 minimum annual contribution
    • X Junior – Under 25, $250 minimum annual contribution
    • XO – $250 minimum annual contribution for activists and those in public service (education, government, nonprofits, nursing, unions)

    All members enjoy full voting privileges.

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    Please Note

    Making the donation by credit card will incur a third-party transaction fee of 3.3%, which is added below in the payment options for membership, putting the total at $1,035, $520, or $260 depending on the membership level. To ensure seamless processing of your donation, please be sure to enter your name and address exactly as shown on your credit card billing statement, matching any use of middle initials or street abbreviations.


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    Liberty Hill Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our federal tax identification number is 51-0181191.
    Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent that the law allows.
    Please consult with your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of your donation.