Women & Girls’ Fund Grant

Women & Girls’ Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Main Street Community Foundation
Last Updated: September 05, 2025

Summary

The Women & Girls’ Fund, established by the Main Street Community Foundation in 2001, supports organizations that empower women and girls in Connecticut. With a focus on senior services, confidence building, and mental health, the fund prioritizes projects that enhance self-sufficiency and promote leadership skills. Collaborations among organizations are encouraged, fostering community connections and addressing critical needs. Grants are available for program and capacity-building initiatives that align with these goals.

Overview

NOTE: Applicants must cDirector of Grants & Programs or another member of the grantmaking team for a preliminary screening of their proposal at least 1 week prior to the deadline. About Us Main Street Community Foundation, Inc., is a public charity committed to partnering with individuals, families and businesses who wish to build permanent charitable connections, now and for generations to come, to support and better the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott, Connecticut, USA. Founded in 1995, the foundation takes great pride in helping to make each town a better community in which to live and work. The foundation addresses a broad range of community goals. We support meaningful dialogue on issues affecting the towns we serve. We convene community members, monitor and assess changing needs, locally and beyond and propose action on critical concerns. In this way, we are able to meet changing needs and provide support to what matters most to the people who live and work in the cities and towns of this region. As a community foundation we are committed to connecting donors with the community and to causes they care about through charitable giving. We talk with donors about their charitable interests and find ways to help them achieve their goals - often by setting up permanent endowments. Women & Girls Fund The Women & Girls Fund was founded in 2001 by a group of caring and committed women. Through grantmaking, the Foundation assists women and girls with obtaining the skills and competencies to develop their potential and improve the quality of their lives. Grants will allow organizations to build internal capacity to ensure ongoing support of women and girls in the local communities. Applications will be accepted for program grants and capital requests that are related to a program that meets grant guidelines. Grantmaking Priorities Based on input from over 20 participating grantee and community partners, Main Street Community Foundation has identified three priority areas for the Women & Girls Fund. Preference will be given to grant requests that address these needs: Services for Senior Women: Programs that provide supports to senior women to increase self-sufficiency such as - basic needs, financial literacy resources, and opportunities to decrease social isolation. Confidence Building and Leadership: Programs that build self-esteem and self-reliance particularly in young girls and teens such as - programs that promote connections with a caring and stable adult, programs that promote financial literacy and life-skills, and programs that develop skills to be a successful leader in school, the community or in a career. Mental Health and Well-being: Programs that reduce anxiety and stress through non-clinical methods, teach mindfulness skills, and improve overall self-care and well-being for women of all ages. Collaborations between organizations are encouraged and will be given special consideration.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants are made to organizations serving women and girls of any age in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.Applicants must be in compliance with all previous grant reporting requirements to be considered in the current grant cycle.