Boston Women’s Fund
/OVERVIEW: The Boston Women’s Fund is a community of interest foundation that focuses on women-centric justice issues in the Boston metropolitan area. It funds grassroots organizations with small budgets that have trouble finding support or connecting with like-minded women around the city.
FUNDING AREAS: Social justice, homelessness, housing, public policy women’s rights
IP TAKE: This is a great foundation to keep on the radar for nonprofits working for the advancement of women in Boston. This foundation views “advancement” broadly, so programs in healthcare access, voting engagement, employment, domestic violence, and affordable housing are all supported.
PROFILE: Established in 1984, the Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) supports community-based organizations and grassroots initiatives that are run by women and for women. The Boston Women’s Fund was the first women’s foundation established in Massachusetts and is one of the oldest of the 100 or so such foundations in America. It grew out of a well-attended community meeting, when several racially and economically diverse women decided to create an organization that would help break down barriers and improve the lives of low-income women. Its grantees work with “womxn of color, low-income womxn, immigrants and refugees, LBTQIA+ community, womxn with disabilities, elder womxn, and girls who are often excluded from full participation in our society.” This foundation strives to fight racism, sexism, and poverty and organize a diverse donor base to support social change movements. It has celebrated over 30 years of grantmaking and has even supported men who actively support women’s leadership and nonviolence. Grantmaking interest areas include social justice, homelessness, housing, public policy and women’s rights.
BWF currently has a couple grantmaking program areas, each of which is exclusively focused on the Boston metropolitan area. Its mission is to provide program support, seed money, and ongoing funding for organizations here that are led by women and girls. It awards technical assistance through The Organizing Institute and focuses on girls programming and leadership development through its Girls Leadership Initiative. BWF founded the Organizing Institute in 2000 to create stronger coalitions between women’s activists in the Boston area. Nonprofits received mini grants to help them build networks and spark dialogue through a luncheon series. It collaborated with the Haymarket People's Fund and the Women's Theological Center to celebrate and encourage giving from people of color. BWF also has a Young Women's Ambassador's Program to inspire a new generation of donors. In the past, BWF has paid attention to emerging social change groups that often get overlooked by other grantmakers and mainstream funding sources.
Recent grants have been between $5,000 and $25,000. In a previous year, BWF awarded $150,000 in grants to 16 organizations. View a list of current grantees with amounts and descriptions here. Oftentimes, the fund likes to stick with grantees it knows and trusts from year to year. This foundation does not support typically groups that already receive substantial ongoing support, one-time events, or individuals. It prioritizes nonprofits with organizational budgets under $950,000.
BWF has one annual grant cycle and posts information on upcoming grant cycles on its website. Check the funder’s Apply for a Grant section of its website for the most up-to-date information. Direct general questions to the foundation staff at 617-725-0035 or info@bostonwomensfund.org.
PEOPLE:
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