FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Mercy Chikowore
April 6, 2022 202-469-3643, mchikowore@wawf.org
Washington Area Women’s Foundation Awards Over $100,000 in Grants to DC-Area Survivor-Centered Organizations
Investments Fund Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention Organizations
Washington, D.C. (April 6, 2022) – 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 fourth round of grants from the Stand Together Fund. The new docket, with investments totaling $105,000, will fund organizations that provide culturally specific support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
“The ongoing pandemic continues to make funding opportunities more critical for our Grantee Partners. Funding the selected survivor-centered organizations is critical to our mission of investing in women and girls of color as they statistically experience violence at a disproportionate level,” says Jackie Lendsey, Interim President and CEO of Washington Area Women’s Foundation. “The Stand Together Fund employs trust-based philanthropy to fund safety and violence prevention organizations who work with specific populations that are not filled by other providers in the area.”
Launched in April 2020, 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
Hiring a part-time case manager to help ease the very high caseload to assist the case management team as their cases have increased and are in emergency mode. Additionally, they will be providing group therapy for staff
Building Bridges Foundation $10,000
Continue to link survivors of domestic violence who seek emergency medical services after-hours at the United Medical Center and Family Justice Center with wrap-around services and case management to help them exit abusive relationships. Hire a peer navigator due to the decrease in staff capacity as a result of a lack of volunteer staff.
Community Advocates for Family and Youth $15,000
Upgrading software for on-demand hotline reporting, increasing technology access for staff/volunteers to connect with more survivors, and expanding communication campaign to include bus stop ads, WhatsApp and social media to engage more survivors.
DC Rape Crisis Center $15,000
To support its individual and group counseling services, 24/7 crisis hotline and its 24/7 hospital advocacy, and community based advocacy services program.
DEAF DAWN $15,000
Expanding training for volunteer staff to provide culturally and linguistically relevant services, printing language accessible materials, transportation funding to accompany Deaf clients to receive legal and housing services.
Tahirih Justice Center $15,000
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 training and outreach events to equip service providers to provide culturally responsive services for participants.
The Safe Sisters Circle $15,000
Implement the first phase of Health Justice Initiative to include Intimate Partner Violence support groups for adult Black Women Survivors located in DC. Trauma-informed facilitator, transportation and food will be provided.
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.
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