Women Helping Women Fund
Women Helping Women Fund is a Spokane, Washington public charity that pools community contributions to support women and children through grants to nonprofits and educational scholarships. The organization says it was founded in 1992 and has awarded more than $7 million in grants and scholarships.
Women Helping Women Fund at a glance
In short: Women Helping Women Fund gave $286K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Washington. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $286,069
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,828
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $3,196,093
- +9.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (9 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Women Helping Women Fund
- How to Apply
-
For responsive grants, submit a Letter of Intent during the grant cycle; qualifying applicants may be invited to submit a full application. For an InstaGrant, submit a brief description of the proposed use of funds. The website lists 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship, service to women and/or children in Spokane County, and spending no more than 5% of the agency budget on legislative involvement among its eligibility requirements.
- Next open deadline
- January 31, 2027 (Vivian Winston Scholarship)
- Contact
Mailing address: 3704 N Nevada St 201, Spokane, WA 99207
Phone: (509) 328-8285
Website: https://whwfspokane.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Women Helping Women Fund
General Grant Program
Women Helping Women Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
InstaGrant
Women Helping Women Fund
Amount
$500
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Vivian Winston Scholarship
Women Helping Women Fund
Amount
$1,500 - $4,000
Deadline
Expected ~January
Based on past cycles
Who Women Helping Women Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Thrive International ($21K). Together the top 10 received $202K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s stated service area is Spokane County, Washington. All grant dollars itemized in the 2025 filing went to recipients in Washington; the listed 2025 grantees are in Spokane.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Women Helping Women Fund open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 17 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 29% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $184K (2020) to $311K (2021). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $286K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Thrive International Spokane, WA | Program support | $21,010 |
| Partners with Families & Children Spokane, WA | Program support | $21,000 |
| Joya Child & Family Development Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
| Vanessa Behan Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
| Women & Children's Free Restaurant Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
| YWCA Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
| Volunteers of America Eastern Washington Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
| Lumen Public School Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
| Women's Healing and Empowerment Network Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
| Maddie's Place Spokane, WA | Program support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Women Helping Women Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The following figures are from the fund’s filings:
The fund reported that, during the reporting year covered by its 2024 filing, it awarded scholarships to 13 mothers pursuing higher education.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,196,093 | $852,952 | $780,822 | $286,069 | 17 | $24,730 |
| 2024 | $2,909,231 | $891,160 | $709,603 | $310,500 | 18 | $80,774 |
| 2023 | $911,237 | $591,124 | $718,517 | $296,500 | 18 | $64,283 |
| 2022 | $902,081 | $593,699 | $578,708 | $291,411 | 19 | $60,999 |
| 2021 | $1,030,682 | $466,232 | $554,817 | $311,368 | 18 | $62,919 |
| 2020 | $1,035,626 | $447,957 | $351,576 | $183,500 | 12 | $9,645 |
| 2019 | $960,455 | $511,558 | $395,252 | $245,000 | 16 | $10,385 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to empower Spokane-area women and children to achieve their full potential by building a strong, diverse community of engaged and strategic givers.
The fund supports nonprofit organizations serving women and/or children in Spokane County. Its 2024 Funding Focus Vote listed priorities in this order: mental health services; family and domestic violence resources; early childhood education and childcare and food and nutrition security; family support programs; financial education and housing assistance and resources for people experiencing homelessness; senior services; and K–12 education.
Examples illustrate the range of grantees’ work. Thrive International says its mission is to empower multicultural communities to thrive. Women & Children’s Free Restaurant says it meets the nutritional and social needs of low-income women and children with free meals. Lumen Public School says it supports teen parents through high academic standards, an early learning center, and wraparound services. Maddie’s Place says it provides care and support for drug-dependent newborns and their mothers and caregivers.
The organization also offers the Vivian Winston Scholarship for women in the Spokane area pursuing eligible education programs within Spokane County. This is scholarship support for individuals, distinct from grants to outside organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the fund reported 17 grants totaling $286,069. Individual grants ranged from $6,059 to $21,010, with a median of $20,000. The fund’s website separately describes its 2025 cycle as awarding more than $300,000; the filing reports the figures above.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $21,010 to Thrive International, $21,000 to Partners with Families & Children, and $20,000 each to Joya Child & Family Development, Vanessa Behan, Women & Children’s Free Restaurant, YWCA, Volunteers of America Eastern Washington, Lumen Public School, Women’s Healing and Empowerment Network, and Maddie’s Place. The listed grants were for program support. The fund also awarded $15,000 each to Embrace Washington and Manzanita House.
The fund describes its annual responsive-grant process as beginning with a Letter of Intent. Eligible organizations that meet the initial criteria may be invited to submit a full application; the process can include a site visit and due diligence before a decision. The website says responsive grants are for one year, funds are to be spent between July 1 and June 30, and unspent funds must be returned by September 1 after the grant year ends. It encourages agencies to submit one application per year and says it examines applicants’ financial stability and favors innovative, collaborative, and creative programs aligned with its mission.
For InstaGrants, the fund says organizations may apply with a brief description of how funding would support their work. These grants are intended for immediate needs or opportunities. The fund does not fund individuals, political action organizations, capital projects, or endowments through its responsive-grant program; its InstaGrant information also excludes capital requests, religious activity for religious purposes, fundraising events, and elected officials.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Geneva Johns as Executive Director as of June 2025 and Heather Hamlin as Executive Director until June 2025. It lists Nicole Stewart as President, Jennifer Koenig as President Elect, Besse Bailey as Treasurer, and Kendel Froese as Secretary. Other directors listed on that filing are Gwen Cash-James, Nicole Diedrich, Alison Mallahan, and Pam Murray.
Women Helping Women Fund is led by Heather Hamlin, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 2 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heather Hamlin
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$12K (2019) → $92K (2025)
Geneva Johns
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$78K (2025)
Nicole Stewart
President
Board Member → President Elect, 2023
President Elect → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Koenig
President Elect
Board Member → President Elect, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tara Pendleton CPA
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison Mallahan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Winter CPA
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Toth
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Besse Bailey
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Plischke
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Selby
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Diedrich
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwen Cash-James
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kendel Froese
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Murray
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Mackin
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Geddes
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Skinfill
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Hunt
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Bull Schaefer
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamitha Shockley French
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Anne Oakley (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer O'Callaghan (2019–2024) — Past President
- Former: Brittany Lockwood (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Megan Livers (2023–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Kim Watkins (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Megan Hulsey (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Angela Hayes (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Linda Tompkins (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kristi Gravelle (2019–2022) — Past President
- Former: Meridith Banka (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Stephanie Baumann (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Amy Roberts (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Val Senatore (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Anne Cowles (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Stacy Wenzl (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Tija Danzig (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Traci McGlathery (2019–2021) — Past President
- Former: Amy Parsons (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Deena Presnell (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Elisabeth Hooker (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Kathy Maurer (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Laureen Driscoll (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Megan Thilo (2019) — Past President
- Former: Melanie Miller (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Rachel Houglum (2019) — Executive Director
- Former: Sarah Carlson (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Stacy Destito (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Tamara McGregor (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Tammy Erickson (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $92K, to Heather Hamlin (Executive Director (Until 6/25)). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Women Helping Women Fund
How much does Women Helping Women Fund give each year?
Women Helping Women Fund gave $286K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $311K across 18 grants.
What is Women Helping Women Fund's typical grant size?
Women Helping Women Fund's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $16,828, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Women Helping Women Fund that year got $15K on average.
Where does Women Helping Women Fund give grants?
Women Helping Women Fund gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Spokane, WA (17 grants).
Does Women Helping Women Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Women Helping Women Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program support" (17 grants).
Who are Women Helping Women Fund's largest grantees?
Women Helping Women Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Thrive International ($21,010), Partners with Families & Children ($21,000) and Joya Child & Family Development ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Women Helping Women Fund?
Women Helping Women Fund reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $853K.
What does Women Helping Women Fund fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to empower Spokane-area women and children to achieve their full potential by building a strong, diverse community of engaged and strategic givers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Women Helping Women Fund?
For responsive grants, submit a Letter of Intent during the grant cycle; qualifying applicants may be invited to submit a full application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Women Helping Women Fund's EIN?
Women Helping Women Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1561874. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Women Helping Women Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/women-helping-women-fund-morg_7271b0a1e43249318f057a3d002a63f5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911561874_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Women Helping Women Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/women-helping-women-fund-morg_7271b0a1e43249318f057a3d002a63f5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Women Helping Women Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Women Helping Women Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?