Empowering women over50+ to design the digitalisation of CSR strategies

<< Background >>FEMMEPOWERMENT was created to bridge the digital and employment gap affecting women over 50, who are often excluded from professional development opportunities. Limited digital literacy is a concrete barrier to their active participation in the labor market and access to the new opportunities offered by the digital economy. The project aims to strengthen these women’s digital skills, autonomy, and self-efficacy through practical and inclusive training pathways. At the same time, FEMMEPOWERMENT seeks to engage businesses in a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) journey, promoting crowdfunding and match-funding tools as levers to increase companies' social impact and foster inclusion. The project thus acts as a bridge between individuals and businesses, between innovation and social justice, to restore visibility, dignity, and centrality to a generation of women too often left behind.<< Objectives >>The main goal of the project was to empower women over 50 by providing them with practical tools to understand and use crowdfunding and match-funding as innovative ways to engage with the business world and to contribute to the development of impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies.The specific objectives included: – developing a tailored, accessible, and hands-on training program aligned with the learning needs of this population group; – creating operational tools to integrate digital skills and crowdfunding into corporate CSR strategies; – actively engaging companies and stakeholders to encourage broader adoption of these practices; – offering businesses concrete solutions to improve transparency, impact, and participation in their social initiatives through the effective use of crowdfunding.<< Implementation >>The project was structured into several operational phases. It began with a research and development of CSR guidelines, including an analysis of best practices in crowdfunding and match-funding for social purposes. A training program for women over 50 was then implemented, combining theoretical and practical modules aimed at enhancing digital skills and using crowdfunding as a tool for inclusion and participation. At the same time, companies were engaged through focus groups and targeted workshops to support the integration of crowdfunding into their CSR strategies. Finally, communication and dissemination activities were carried out, including the production of digital content, interviews, and reports, with the goal of amplifying the project’s impact and raising awareness on the topics addressed.<< Results >>The project delivered several concrete and measurable results.6 interviews were conducted with companies using crowdfunding as a CSR tool, providing valuable insights for developing guidelines.2 focus groups were organized with at least 20 women over 50 to analyze their training needs and structure the program.A training curriculum on crowdfunding and CSR was developed and made available in three languages (Italian, Spanish, and English).2 online training courses were delivered, supported by teaching materials and personalized guidance.33 women enrolled, and 33 actively participated in the training path.Finally, an interactive dashboard was created to monitor the impact of CSR strategies integrated with crowdfunding, supporting both companies and stakeholders.