Grants for Women & Girls

Grants for Women & Girls:

GRANTS TO BENEFIT WOMEN AND GIRLS

The Community Fund for Women & Girls' Grant Application Information

In 2015, the Community Fund for Women & Girls celebrated its 20th anniversary and long-term commitment to improving and advancing the status of women and girls in Greater New Haven. The Fund's grantmaking has been an integral part of this work, supporting programs which reach women and girls as individuals as well as through efforts which address systemic causes of inequity. 

The Fund is proud to support organizations which meaningfully impact women and girls and evaluates all requests for funding through a "gender-specific" grantmaking framework.

As the region’s grantmaker focused on women and girls, the Fund only supports gender-specific programming and or advocacy by providing grants to:

1. Direct service organizations providing individuals with gender-specific programming. Gender specific programming addresses the unique needs and challenges that women and girls experience due to gender.
2. Advocacy and direct service organizations that promote social and economic advancement of women and girls broadly to achieve systemic change.

Support is not limited to organizations and programs that exclusively serve women and girls.

What you need to know before you apply for a 2016 grant: 

1. In order to submit an application and be considered for funding, a brief discussion with Sarah Fabish (sfabish@cfgnh.org) or Kara Straun (kstraun@cfgnh.org) is required before submitting an application. To reach them by phone, please call 203-777-2386.
2. An orientation session will be held on January 22, 2016 from 10:00 am - 11:30 am at The Community Foundation for applicants. Foundation staff will provide an overview of the Fund's grantmaking framework and the application process. Registration is required by January 15; click here to register.
3. The 2016 grant application deadline is February 17, 2016. See below to access the online application.

The Fund values gender-specific initiatives which are:

Intentional

Clearly identifies and intentionally addresses a need or challenge faced by women and girls Accounts for gender difference in program design May include wrap-around services which promote program participant success

Equitable

Promotes equity & social justice for women and girls and maximizes their social and economic well-being May include program components which address other forms of inequity (class, race, sexual orientation, ability etc.)

Well-informed

Rooted in an existing best-practice Incorporates input from target population into program design

“Grantmaking with a gender lens means considering women [and girls] in context.  It means understanding the multiple barriers that confront women [and girls] and designing programs and services to meet the particular challenges facing women and girls.  It means strategically and deliberately focusing on women [and/or girls] as beneficiaries, advocates, AND leaders, and as catalysts for community development.” (Source: Women's Economic Security Campaign; Building Economic Security: the Power of Gender Based Philanthropy 2013)

For more information highlighting the challenges facing women and girls in Greater New Haven, please review the following report: The Status of Women and Girls in New Haven, Connecticut. 

 

The 2016 grant deadline is February 17, 2016 by 5 pm. Click here tostart your application. 

Budget Worksheet and Narrative Form

Please contact Kara Straun at kstraun@cfgnh.org if you have any questions.

About the Community Fund for Women & Girls

The Fund was established in 1995 by an anonymous donor and gifts from the community to promote the social and economic advancement of women and girls through strategic philanthropy, grants, advocacy and collaboration. 

Read the press release announcing 2015 grant recipients.