Women's Fund of Essex County Grant

The Women’s Fund of Essex County provides grants to non-profit organizations that support at-risk women and girls in Essex County, focusing on gender-specific services. For 2023, it offers eleven 3-year grants of $24,000 and three 1-year grants of $6,000 to address systemic inequalities. Priority areas include academic achievement, economic self-sufficiency, health, and leadership development. Since 2003, over $3 million has been awarded to enhance programs that empower women and girls in the community.

The Women’s Fund of Essex County raises funds specifically to award grants to non-profit organizations focused on gender-specific programs and services for at-risk women and girls and those who identify as women and girls of Essex County. Our grants are awarded annually to results-oriented organizations that have demonstrated success in positively impacting the lives of women and girls, addressing issues of systemic inequality. Our grants provide an essential infusion of funding to maximize the success and impact of the programs or services. By pooling the gifts of The Women’s Fund donors, we can increase the breadth and depth of each donor’s contribution across a broad range of issues and solutions specific to Essex County. Since 2003, The Women’s Fund has donated more than $3 million to Essex County organizations offering gender-specific programs for women and girls.
2023 Grants
The Women’s Fund of Essex County is offering eleven 3-year grants in the amount of $24,000 and three 1-year grants in the amount of $6,000 to Essex County non-profit organizations that address issues of systemic social inequalities specific to women and girls.
3-year grants allow organizations to secure multi-year support for programs that address longer-term issues to improve lives for women and girls. If awarded, funded programs are eligible for consideration only every three years.
1-year grants recognize the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and provide shorter term support for programs or services impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, organizations can apply for 1-year funding to seed a new program or service that is aligned with TWF Funding Priorities. If awarded a 1-year grant, organizations can reapply for a different program the following year.
Funding Priorities
Funding must address racial or gender-based disparities faced by women and girls in Essex County. Funding must focus on gender-specific needs, provide solutions to problems for women and girls, and allow these unique needs to set the pace and determine the content and delivery of programs and services. The application must address at least one of the following areas to be considered eligible for funding.
Academic Achievement Gap for Girls
Programs/services which provide opportunities to reduce disparities in academic performance as a result of the pandemic and/or systemic barriers.
Economic Self-Sufficiency
Programs/services which directly encourage, train or facilitate the economic independence of women and girls. (Includes apprenticeships, basic skills training, education, financial management, workforce development etc.)
Equity and Social Justice
Programs/services which seek at the intersection of equity and gender to meet women and girls where they are, by providing resources that will allow them to thrive. (Examples include but are not limited to supporting access to housing, nutritious food and meal preparation, English language programming, and programs that address the root causes of racial inequality.)
Health and Mental Health
Programs/services which support equitable access to healthcare, promote, protect, and restore health – physical, emotional, psychological, social.
Leadership Development
Programs/services which provide opportunities to develop leadership skills that help to build confidence, ownership of their careers, resiliency, and advancement into new roles.

Eligibility

The Women’s Fund is limited to non-sectarian programming for Essex County women and girls of all religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Programs sponsored by religious organizations are eligible if enrolment is open to all qualified women and girls and the program is free of mandatory sectarian religious instruction.

Ineligibility

Generally, grants will not be awarded:To individuals.To agencies with pending 501(c)3 status.For pilot programs with no proven track record.For debt or deficit reduction.For political purposes.For sectarian or religious purposes.For endowment or capital campaigns.For research or feasibility studies.The Women’s Fund will not be the sole funder of a program.Our goal is to help an agency develop a diverse funding base to ensure its viability.