CFAAC: Women and Girls Fund Grant

The Women and Girls Fund, established by the Klompus Family Foundation and managed by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, aims to empower women and girls facing obstacles like poverty and domestic violence. With grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, the fund supports nonprofits that enhance economic security, promote education, and improve health and wellness. This initiative addresses critical needs in Anne Arundel County, focusing on removing barriers and fostering positive life decisions.

In 2009, the Klompus Family Foundation distributed its assets to the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) to establish the Women and Girls Fund. The mission of the fund is to support projects that develop individual skills, decrease isolation, create new experiences and empower women and girls who face major obstacles due to poverty, disability, domestic violence, and/or lack of access to resources.
Grants from the Women and Girls Fund will be used to support nonprofits that help women and girls pursue positive, productive lives by helping remove barriers for women and girls, increase their economic security, enhance their well-being and safety, and empower them to make positive life decisions for themselves and their families.
As outlined in the CFAAC Community Needs Assessment, Poverty Amidst Plenty VI: On the Road to Progress for All, there are 31,377 households led by single parents, of which 22,565 have a single female as the head of household. Estimates suggest nearly 15 percent of the single parent households in the county make an income that is below the federal poverty level. Annapolis has 790 public housing units for low and moderate-income residents; the majority (almost 85 percent) of residents are African American females living with their children on an average of $25,000 per year, equal to or below the poverty threshold. The Women and Girls Fund will focus its grantmaking in the following areas that pertain to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of vulnerable women and girls living in Anne Arundel through:

• EducationExpanding OpportunitiesHealth and Wellness
• Examples of programs and initiatives for which grants will be considered are, but not limited to:
• Initiatives that provide access to quality healthcare and wellness programs, including mental health, trauma education, and advocacy.
• Early childhood education and K-12 programs.
• Experimental learning or training program in a shelter environment, such as parenting skills, financial literacy, etc.
• Programs that provide counseling services and/or child-care.
• Programs that provide unique learning experiences to girls, such as a STEM or STEAM activities.
• Initiatives to encourage professional and small business development and provide women with access to economic opportunities.
• Programs that provide access to professional services, such as free legal, financial, or accounting support.
• Funding
• Based on available funding, the Women and Girls Fund will award one or two $3000 to $5000 grants.
• Successful grant applicants will demonstrate:
• Strategic and data-informed solutions, aligned with community needs and the organization’s mission
• Credibility in the field or project
• The ability to create a measurable impact

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, organizations must meet all of the following criteria:Operate in Anne Arundel County (AAC), Maryland,Have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation from the Internal Revenue Service;Be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation;Be in compliance with the Maryland Secretary of State Charitable Organization Registration Requirements.An organization may file only one application.