January 25, 2010

Women’s Fund Awards More Than One Quarter Million in Grants

The Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee has awarded 46 grants totaling $287,344.50 to 32 local non-profit agencies for gender-responsive programs that enable social change for women and girls in 2010.  This grant budget is the result of pooled funds from a diverse group of local donors and matching national funders.

This year’s grantmaking is more than double the grants made in the 2008 grant cycle and slightly higher than what was allocated in the 2009 year’s grant cycle.  The Women’s Fund believes that investing in women is a solution to the economic downturn.  Local nonprofits with shrinking funding streams simultaneously face an increase in demand for their services.  Women are adversely affected by the economic downturn and when women suffer, their families suffer.  “Although the economy has dominated our newspapers, debates and airwaves for months, little attention is being paid to the fact that investment in women is a solution,” said Women’s Fund executive director Elaine Maly.  “We know that when women are economically secure, families are economically secure, and ultimately, so are communities and nations.”

Grants range from $1,000 to $42,200 and support programs that represent some of the best work impacting women and girls. This includes:

• The Women's Fund Social Change Program made ten grants totaling $100,000.
• The African American Women's Fund Project made 19 grants totaling $30,000.
• Latinas en Acción made eight grants totaling $16,224.50.
• The Lesbian Fund made four grants totaling $12,120.
• Five grants totaling $129,000 were directed by participants in the Reproductive Justice Donors Learning Circle.

Here are a few examples of programs that will receive grant funding this year:

• The Women’s Fund’s Social Change Program made a grant to the Wisconsin Apprentice Organizers Project to build a strong culture of diverse grassroots community organizing for social, economic, racial and environmental justice.
• The Reproductive Justice Donors Learning Circle supports women of color leading the way in The Reproductive Justice Collective organizing around the intersection of reproductive and sexual health issues with other justice issues for the full achievement and protection of human rights. 
• Health promoters trained by CORE/El Centro will continue educating Milwaukee's Latina community on healthcare options and preventative health measures thanks to Latinas en Acción.
• A financial awareness program at the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation will offer workshops and a matched savings account in part due to a grant from the African American Women's Fund Project.
• A grant from the Lesbian Fund to Diverse & Resilient will support African American lesbian and bisexual women as they engage in health awareness projects and community organizing.

View the complete list of grant partners. For more information, please contact Elaine Maly at 414-290-7350 or emaly@womensfund.com.