She is working.
She is caregiving.
She is contributing.
And she is still one unexpected expense away from going under.
“You feel like the world is on top of you. Like you’re carrying a big rock and you have to carry everything — your daughter, yourself, everything.”
— Leidy
About the Film
Head Above Water is a powerful animated short film that reveals the hidden weight
carried by millions of working women striving to stay financially afloat.
Watch Film Below
“When I watched the film, I felt like it was me. I was that woman with that child. It was me and my financial problems. But after the program with Working for Women, I don’t feel underwater anymore. I feel like I’m floating now, not drowning. Financial stability helps my well-being. I have seen a difference.”
— Binnie, Program Participant
The following shows have recognized our Head Above Water campaign for its creativity in driving positive change:
Beneath the Surface:
The Economic Reality
Across the country, millions of women are part of households identified as ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They earn above the poverty line, yet below what it truly costs to live.
They are the childcare workers.
The health aides.
The service staff.
The retail employees.
They keep businesses operating and communities functioning yet remain financially fragile.
Women earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar earned by men — with wider gaps for Black and Latina women.
(Source: census.gov)
This isn’t simply a personal hardship.
When millions of working women remain one emergency away from crisis, workforce stability weakens, productivity declines, and long-term economic growth slows.
“The women we work with are often one flat tire away from complete chaos. Living on that edge every day is exhausting — and it leaves no room for growth.”
— Elizabeth Stanley, Programming Director, Working for Women
Why Economic Security Is
an Economic Imperative
Economic security is not a “women’s issue.” It is a workforce issue. A business issue. An economic growth issue.
When women achieve financial independence:
- Workforce participation increases
- Employee retention improves
- Household stability strengthens
- Consumer spending rises
- Talent pipelines expand
Research consistently shows:
- Companies with greater gender diversity are 25–27% more likely to outperform financially.
- Closing gender gaps in work could add hundreds of billions — even trillions — to the U.S. economy.
- When women control more income, spending on children’s health and education increases — strengthening the next generation workforce.
“When you look at where capital flows in this country, the imbalance is clear. Less than 3% of venture capital goes to women-owned businesses. Less than 2% of philanthropy goes to women and girls — and most of that doesn’t even focus on economic mobility. And yet women are raising families and powering the next generation of our workforce. If we’re serious about economic growth, investing in women isn’t charity, it’s one of the smartest economic decisions we can make.”
— Beth Bengtson
What Happens When You Invest in Women
At Working for Women, we see the ripple effect every day.
When businesses and professionals invest funding and expertise into programs that support women’s advancement:
- A woman gains skills that lead to stable employment and career mobility.
- Workforce training opens doors to higher-earning industries.
- Families move from fragility to stability and stability to opportunity.
These are not isolated success stories.
They are building blocks of a stronger economy.
The Role of Business
Companies play a critical role in expanding women’s economic mobility
Through intentional investment and skill-based volunteering, businesses can:
- Strengthen nonprofit partners serving women
- Expand workforce development pathways
- Engage employees in meaningful, purpose-driven impact
- Align social impact with long-term economic growth
When companies invest in women, they are not simply supporting a cause. They are strengthening the workforce that sustains their business.
From Awareness
to Action
Head Above Water brings visibility to what millions of women experience quietly every day.
But awareness is only the beginning.
- Invest in Women’s Economic Mobility
- Engage Your Employees in Skill-Based Volunteering
- Share the Film and Expand the Conversation
HOST A SCREENING
Because when women are economically secure:
Families stabilize. Businesses thrive.
Communities grow. Our economy strengthens.
“I used to live in that bubble. Not anymore. Now I have a life — not just survive.”
— Leidy
The Making of Head Above Water
Head Above Water was created pro bono by our investor partner, The Bloc, as a skill-based volunteering project brought to life. Their creative team donated strategy, storytelling, and production expertise to translate real stories into a film that could be seen and felt.
As Lucy Benson, Copy Supervisor at The Bloc, shared:
“It’s been such an honor to work on this project from the very beginning. To now see the film come to life and hear how it’s touching people’s hearts is incredibly special.”
