The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) is pleased to announce that it funded twenty-one Massachusetts community-based organizations and projects for a total of $355,000.
The grants, which cover many communities across the Greater Boston area and beyond, are aimed at bolstering the strategic endeavors of women and girls as they leverage their collective grassroots power in their coordinated efforts for racial, economic and social justice.
For thirty years, the Boston Women’s Fund supported community-based organizations run by women and girls by raising funds from a broad base of donors across economic backgrounds to provide grants and develop programs that strengthen the grassroots initiatives and leadership of women and girls.
Josefina Vázquez, BWF Executive Director, stated: “Together with the Board of Directors, I continue to believe that one of our most critical goals is to build and sustain a philanthropic base of supporters across race and class, uniting concerned women and men to help create a powerful network of donors whose contributions will support the voices of women and girls working for racial, social and economic justice.” Vázquez maintained, “Our programs in the areas of grantee capacity-building, collaboration, education and advocacy are dedicated to expanding the impact and leadership of women and girls throughout the broader community’s efforts in creating better economic and social conditions for all.”
This fiscal year, the Fund welcomed 4 new grantees and funded 17 returning grantees. The Boston Women’s Fund strives to support organizations funded in the past while acknowledging new grassroots efforts. One example of a new grassroots effort is Women Encouraging Empowerment, an organization founded in 2010. They bring together immigrant and refugee women across different languages and cultures in Greater Boston and the North Shore to improve their lives and their communities.
The following is a list of our FY2013 grantees [asterisk next to new grantee]:
Boston Tenant Coalition, Boston
Brazilian Immigrant Center, Allston
Centro Presente, Somerville
Chelsea Collaborative, Chelsea
*Close to Home, Dorchester
Gedakina, Hull
Homes for Families, Boston
MassCOSH, Dorchester
Merrimack Valley Project, Lawrence
*My Life My Choice at Justice Resource Institute, Boston
Mystic Learning Center, Somerville
¿Oíste?, Boston
Project HIP-HOP, Roxbury
Reflect and Strengthen, Dorchester
South Boston en Acción, South Boston
The City School, Dorchester
The Genki Spark: Taiko Projects with Attitude, Jamaica Plain
The Network/La Red, Boston
*Women Encouraging Empowerment, Revere
Women’s Institute for Leadership Development, Boston
*Youth Leadership Sets, Jamaica Plain
