Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc
Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts is a public charity based in Springfield, Massachusetts, that raises funds and makes grants to advance gender equity in the region. It describes itself as the region’s only philanthropy dedicated to gender equity and says its work includes grantmaking, research, leadership development, partnerships, and advocacy.
Key facts about Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc
In short: Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc gave $462K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 04-3342411
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $462,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- Average grant
- $17,111
- Median grant
- $11,000
- Total assets
- $5,190,322
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$5.2M
+36.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$462K
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
27
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-2.6% YoY
How Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc gives
- 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated in the organization’s 2024 filing is to raise funds to advance gender and racial equity and acknowledge, confront, and dismantle systems of oppression in Western Massachusetts. Its stated program areas include economic security, grantmaking, and the Young Women’s Initiative. The Economic Security Hub is described as a collaboration focused on understanding and addressing barriers to economic security for marginalized and economically disadvantaged women and gender-expansive people. The Young Women’s Initiative is a social justice and leadership program for young women of color and gender-expansive youth from Springfield, ages 16–24.
The fund’s website identifies economic security, parity in positions of power and leadership, and freedom from gender-based violence as strategic grantmaking priorities. It says grants support nonprofits serving women, girls, and gender-expansive people in western Massachusetts.
Past grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Safe Passage says it supports survivors and families affected by domestic violence and relationship abuse and works for systemic change. Elizabeth Freeman Center describes providing services to people affected by domestic and sexual violence in Berkshire County. Other 2021 grantees included Arise, whose stated mission is to educate, organize, and unite low-income working people; Flying Cloud Institute, which aims to inspire young people and educators through science and art; and Pioneer Valley Workers Center, which organizes workers, primarily immigrant workers, around protections and mutual aid.
Grantmaking
It said the cycle brought its fiscal-year community investments to $450,000. The awards focused on leadership, economic security, and freedom from gender-based violence. Named recipients included Arise for Social Justice, Flying Cloud Institute, Girls Inc. of the Valley, Planned Parenthood – Western Massachusetts Health Center of Springfield, and The Care Center.
In September 2024, the fund announced $240,000 in awards to 17 organizations serving people across the four counties, with funding extending through 2026. The announcement described a general grant cycle totaling $200,000 over two years, with unrestricted grants available for general operations or program support, and four additional Young Women’s Initiative gifts totaling $40,000 for the current year. It reported receiving applications from 126 organizations. In 2021, listed awards included $20,000 to Safe Passage, $15,000 to Elizabeth Freeman Center, and $10,000 each to Arise, Flying Cloud Institute, New North Citizens Council, and Pioneer Valley Workers Center.
The IRS filing data lists a grant count of zero for each of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 filing years.
The website also described a grant opportunity announced in November 2022, with up to $150,000 for organizations based in the four counties. That was a past opportunity, not a current application cycle.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s stated grantmaking geography is Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties in western Massachusetts. Its fiscal year 2026 grant-cycle announcement also specifies those counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2019) to $462K (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $462K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Umass Center for Research on Families ($100K). Together the top 10 received $311K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 97 (93%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Umass Center for Research on Families Shrewsbury, MA | GRANT | $100,000 |
| Arise for Social Justice Springfield, MA | GRANT | $45,000 |
| Heartwing Center Turners Falls, MA | GRANT | $45,000 |
| Pioneer Valley Workers Center Northampton, MA | GRANT | $26,000 |
| Roca Inc Chelsea, MA | GRANT | $16,000 |
| Make It Springfield Springfield, MA | GRANT | $16,000 |
| Visioning Bear Greenfield, MA | GRANT | $16,000 |
| Women of Color Health Equity Collective Springfield, MA | GRANT | $16,000 |
| Somali Bantu Community of Springfield Springfield, MA | GRANT | $16,000 |
| Nelcwit Greenfield, MA | GRANT | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,190,322 | $2,184,044 | $1,144,057 | 0 |
| 2024 | $3,814,281 | $1,313,087 | $1,201,070 | 0 |
| 2023 | $3,305,710 | $1,476,001 | $1,414,313 | 0 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,190,322 | $3,814,281 | $3,305,710 |
| Revenue | $2,184,044 | $1,313,087 | $1,476,001 |
| Expenses | $1,144,057 | $1,201,070 | $1,414,313 |
| Net Investment Income | $73,719 | $57,513 | $11,901 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 22, 2022)
- 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 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Shela Levante and Luzed Guzman Romano as co-presidents; Nancy Robinson as vice president; Lynn Griesemer as treasurer; and Stephanie DiMichele as clerk. It also lists Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, Victoria Worth, and Mia Lauer as members, and Annamika Nair as a past member.
The organization’s website names Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez as CEO and lists Andrea Jeffers, Finance and Operations Coordinator; Jorene Lomenzo, Fundraising Data Administrator; Kelley Bryant, Director of Grantmaking and Impact; and Ismary Santiago-Lugo, Director of Community Engagement.
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc is led by Vanessa Pabon-Hernandez, CEO on every filing since 2024; 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vanessa Pabon-Hernandez
CEO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$67K (2025)
Shela Levante
Co-President
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Co-President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luzed Guzman Romano
Co-President
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna Haghighat
CEO *past*
CEO → CEO *past*, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$113K (2019) → $79K (2025)
Lisa Ranghelli
Member
Director → Co-President, 2021
Co-President → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Robinson
Vice President
Director → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tahirah Amatul-Wadud
Member
Director → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Worth
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annamika Nair
Member *past*
Member → Member *past*, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Halli Stewart
Member *past*
Member → Member *past*, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Sharrow
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Griesemer
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Malissa Naylor
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mia Lauer
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Thibault
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robyn Newhouse
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Dimichele
Clerk
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Rania Kfuri (2019–2024) — Member *past*
- Former: Arwen Lowbridge (2023–2024) — Member *past*
- Former: Mehlaqa Samdani (2024) — Member *past*
- Former: Gloria Lopez (2023) — Member *past*
- Former: Michele Equale (2023) — Clerk
- Former: Dora Robinson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Fung Chow (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Haydee Lamberty-Rodriguez (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Leigh Rae (2019–2021) — Co-President
- Former: Pia Kumar (2019–2021) — Clerk
- Former: Trish Bonica (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Gwendolyn Vansant (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Luzed Guzman (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Deb Stephenson (2021) — Director
- Former: Anne Weiss (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Michelle Sears (2019–2020) — Vice President
- Former: Michelle Theroux (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Karla Travieso (2020) — Director
- Former: Chelsea Kline (2019) — Director
- Former: Denise Hurst (2019) — Director
- Former: Kathy Cardinale (2019) — Director
- Former: Layla Taylor (2019) — Director
- Former: Marylynn Murray (2019) — Director
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 $79K, to Donna Haghighat (CEO *Past*). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 333 Bridge Street, Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: (413) 529-0087
Frequently asked questions about Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc
How much does Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc give each year?
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc gave $462K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $421K across 24 grants.
What is Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc's typical grant size?
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc's median grant in 2025 was $11,000, and its average grant was $17,111, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc give grants?
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Springfield, MA (10 grants), Northampton, MA (2 grants) and Greenfield, MA (2 grants).
Does Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant" (27 grants).
Who are Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc's largest grantees?
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Umass Center for Research on Families ($100,000), Arise for Social Justice ($45,000) and Heartwing Center ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc?
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc reported $5.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc fund?
The mission stated in the organization’s 2024 filing is to raise funds to advance gender and racial equity and acknowledge, confront, and dismantle systems of oppression in Western Massachusetts. Its stated program areas include economic security, grantmaking, and the Young Women’s Initiative. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc?
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc's EIN?
Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3342411. 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.
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