FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Mercy Chikowore
July 7, 2020 202-469-3643, mchikowore@wawf.org
Washington Area Women’s Foundation Awards $100,000 in Grants to DC-Area Nonprofits
Investments Fund Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention Organizations
Washington, D.C. (July 7, 2020) – Washington Area Women’s Foundation, the only donor-supported, public foundation dedicated to building economic security for women and girls in the Washington region, announces its first round of grants from the Stand Together Fund. The new docket, with investments totaling $100,000, will fund organizations that provide culturally specific support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
“The safety and health of women and girls of color is critical to our mission, which is why we are specifically concerned about gaps in funding for people of color-led organizations at the outset of the coronavirus outbreak,” says Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, President and CEO of Washington Area Women’s Foundation. “We applied trust-based philanthropy to fund safety and violence prevention organizations for the critical services they provide to specific populations that are not filled by other providers in the area.”
Launched in April, the Stand Together Fund helps support women and girls of color in the region who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The Women’s Foundation identified the safety of women experiencing violence, and the stability of frontline care workers as two issue areas where there are critical gaps in funding.
The list of Stand Together Fund Grantees:
Asian-Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project $20,000
Bringing a part-time case manager to help ease the very high caseload they have because of COVID-19. Their cases have increased by 70 percent as a result of new clients and recurring clients who have been triggered.
Building Bridges Foundation $5,000
Linking survivors of domestic violence who seek emergency medical services at United Medical Center with wrap around services and case management to help them exit abusive relationships.
Community Advocates for Family and Youth $15,000
Increasing their pro bono counseling availability to clients who do not have health insurance or who are undocumented and increasing the client financial assistance fund to directly support client needs.
DC Rape Crisis Center $15,000
For general operating support to advance the mission of the DCRCC in advocating for, and providing services to, survivors of sexual violence.
DEAF DAWN $20,000
Supporting their overall programming, including resource referral, case management, wrap around services, peer advocacy, counseling, support groups, resiliency education, and emergency crisis support
Tahirih Justice Center $10,000
For general operating support to advance the mission of providing free legal and social services to immigrant women and girls fleeing violence, and to provide direct financial assistance and meet the basic needs of their clients.
The Safe Sisters Circle $15,000
Bringing a temporary staff attorney to assist The Safe Sisters Circle’s sole attorney with the influx of survivor’s cases during COVID-19 and immediately afterwards.
An upcoming round of grants, which will be released in July, will provide financial support to care workers.
For more information about Washington Area Women’s Foundation and our grantee partners please visit: www.thewomensfoundation.org.
About Washington Area Women’s Foundation
Washington Area Women’s Foundation is a DC-based public foundation dedicated to mobilizing our community to ensure that economically vulnerable women and girls in the Washington region have the resources they need to thrive. Learn more about The Women’s Foundation’s mission to transform the lives of women and girls, the Washington region, and the world by visiting us online, on Facebook, Instagram, or on Twitter.
###
