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Overview of Women's Fund
In 2003 eight energetic and passionate women created The Women's Fund, a philanthropic vehicle to raise funds that support women and girls in need. Grants are directed toward programs which enhance the health, safety and educational well-being of Essex County women and girls. Since its founding, the Women’s Fund has granted over $300,000 thanks to the generosity of women all across Essex County and corporate donations.
What is the Women's Fund of Essex County?
The Women's Fund of Essex County is a nonprofit grant making fund dedicated to increasing resources, expanding opportunities and promoting positive social change for women and girls. In 2003, The Women's Fund of Essex County was created to raise and distribute funds to organizations that provide opportunities and promote solutions for women and girls in Essex County. Essex County is made up of 35 towns, from Amesbury to Saugus and Andover to Rockport.
Over 1,500 non-profit agencies provide valuable work in Essex County, many of which have programs designed specifically for women and girls. The Fund was created by women, for women and girls to:
- Identify and effectively address the needs of women and girls in Essex County.
- Educate women about philanthropy and engage them in creating change through collective, targeted giving.
- Raise a permanent endowment to generate support for the Fund.
Mission Statement
The Mission of The Women's Fund is to raise and distribute funds to organizations that provide opportunities and promote solutions for women and girls in Essex County.
WHY A WOMEN’S FUND?
Research shows that traditional philanthropy is not meeting the most critical needs of women and girls. Seventy-eight percent of the nation's poor are women and their children, but less than six cents of every dollar donated by organized philanthropy goes to programs which specifically address the needs of women and girls.
Since 1980, more than 100 Women's Funds have emerged across the country. The complex issues that affect the lives of women and girls are brought to light by these funds through information and education. Women's Funds do not replace existing resources; they augment them. A Women's Fund publicly highlights the specific needs of women and girls and the inequity of resources available to address these needs in a particular geographic area. Women's Funds encourage a philanthropic response from the broadest possible community.
HOW DOES THE WOMEN'S FUND OF ESSEX COUNTY RAISE MONEY?
Individual, Corporate and Foundation donors from Essex County and beyond contribute to The Women's Fund through the Annual Grant Awards Luncheon, the Annual Appeal, and by making direct donations to the Fund. Each donation supports The Women's Fund in three ways:
- Funding grants to support programs which foster the economic, educational, emotional and social growth of women and girls.
- Building a permanent endowment.
- Helping to cover the administrative expenses directly related to The Women's Fund.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDING?
Any established non-profit 501(c)3 organization with programs that focus on issues impacting women and girls within Essex County are eligible to receive a grant from The Women's Fund.
HOW DOES THE WOMEN’S FUND OF ESSEX COUNTY DECIDE WHICH AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS TO FUND?
The Grants Allocation Committee, through collaboration with the Essex County Community Foundation, seeks to identify existing programs or projects that offer the most significant impact for the grant dollar. The focus of the committee is to identify programs or projects that serve women and girls in three major Fields of Funding Interest:
1. Economic Self-sufficiency and Security
- Employment and career readiness
- Access to employment opportunities
- Financial planning
- Promoting women’s and girls’ philanthropy
2. Health and Well-being
- Safety and security
- Gender barriers
- Self-esteem
- Health promotion
3. Leadership and Empowerment
- Leadership skills for girls, teens and women
- Gender barriers
- Mentoring
- Engaging women and girls in leadership roles
(Areas not funded: Generally, funds will not be awarded for political purposes, debt or deficit reduction, sectarian or religious purposes, endowment or capital campaigns, research, feasibility studies, or to individuals, state and local government agencies, or agencies with pending 501(c)3 status or using fiscal sponsors.)
WHAT IS THE GRANTING STRATEGY OF THE WOMEN’S FUND OF ESSEX COUNTY?
The Women's Fund Advisory Board will select one Field of Funding Interest per year. The Grant Allocation Committee will pro-actively identify a pool of agencies to be considered for funding. Annually, The Women's Fund of Essex County will make grants with a 1 to 3 year commitment to agencies within that year's selected Field of Funding Interest. The range of grants will be $500 to $15,000.
The Women's Fund of Essex County is a fund of Essex County Community Foundation www.eccf.org |
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