Your generosity to The Women’s Foundation gives women and girls the reassurance that they are not alone, and that their dreams are still within reach. In a year marked by uncertainty and mounting challenges, your gift was more than support—it became hope, stability, and possibility.
Address the maternal health crisis impacting women in our region.
Support the advocacy efforts of early care educators.
Ignite the dreams of the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Strengthen the leadership and confidence of Black women leaders.
Invest in women pursuing education and professional advancement.
This year, the Women’s Foundation launched our Maternal Health & Birth Equity Fund, a bold initiative to transform maternal health outcomes across the D.C. metropolitan region, through a pilot round of grantmaking to 4 community-based organizations. These organizations are not only addressing urgent needs; they are reimagining what maternal care can and should look like, which is equitable, community-centered, and rooted in dignity.
The launch of this fund marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. Together with our grantee partners, we are advancing a vision where every birthing person in our region has the resources, support, and respect they deserve. We are proud to stand alongside these leaders as they build pathways to healthier pregnancies, stronger families, and thriving communities.
Click here to learn more about our work to address the maternal health crisis in our region.
This year, the Women’s Foundation launched our Maternal Health & Birth Equity Fund, a bold initiative to transform maternal health outcomes across the D.C. metropolitan region, through a pilot round of grantmaking to 4 community-based organizations. These organizations are not only addressing urgent needs; they are reimagining what maternal care can and should look like, which is equitable, community-centered, and rooted in dignity.
The launch of this fund marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. Together with our grantee partners, we are advancing a vision where every birthing person in our region has the resources, support, and respect they deserve. We are proud to stand alongside these leaders as they build pathways to healthier pregnancies, stronger families, and thriving communities.
Click here to learn more about our work to address the maternal health crisis in our region.
The Early Care and Education Funder’s Collaborative (ECEFC) continues to prioritize critical and urgent challenges within the early care and education system. Additionally, the Collaborative seeks to encourage systems change work that might not otherwise occur without the seed funding of private philanthropy.
This year, the ECEFC steering committee awarded $300,000 in grants to eleven organizations, following rigorous grant reviews and site visits. These investments influenced the adoption of 24 state and/or local policies across D.C., Maryland and Virginia through the advocacy efforts of our Grantee Partners and the Collaborative, and are projected to benefit at least 43,000 early childhood educators and over 196,000 children under the age of five.
Interested in learning more about the state of the early care and education sector? Click here to watch our latest #AskHer Webinar: “Championing Change in Early Care and Education.”
The Early Care and Education Funder’s Collaborative (ECEFC) continues to prioritize critical and urgent challenges within the early care and education system. Additionally, the Collaborative seeks to encourage systems change work that might not otherwise occur without the seed funding of private philanthropy.
This year, the ECEFC steering committee awarded $300,000 in grants to eleven organizations, following rigorous grant reviews and site visits. These investments influenced the adoption of 24 state and/or local policies across D.C., Maryland and Virginia through the advocacy efforts of our Grantee Partners and the Collaborative, and are projected to benefit at least 43,000 early childhood educators and over 196,000 children under the age of five.
Interested in learning more about the state of the early care and education sector? Click here to watch our latest #AskHer Webinar: “Championing Change in Early Care and Education.”
The Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) works with two primary grantee partners, the DC Girls Coalition and Community Youth Advance. Last year, we reached over 1,400 young people through YWI, supporting their leadership, amplifying their advocacy, and investing in their ideas. We also funded the inaugural cohort of 5 Prince George’s County Rock Stars through our Rock Star Fund, as well as 9 Rock Stars in D.C.
Through youth town halls, workshops, and other public convenings, young people shaped the conversation on safety, healing, and opportunity in D.C. and Prince George’s County.
Click here to meet our Rock Star Fund awardees and learn more about their inspiring projects.
The Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) works with two primary grantee partners, the DC Girls Coalition and Community Youth Advance. Last year, we reached over 1,400 young people through YWI, supporting their leadership, amplifying their advocacy, and investing in their ideas. We also funded the inaugural cohort of 5 Prince George’s County Rock Stars through our Rock Star Fund, as well as 9 Rock Stars in D.C.
Through youth town halls, workshops, and other public convenings, young people shaped the conversation on safety, healing, and opportunity in D.C. and Prince George’s County.
Click here to meet our Rock Star Fund awardees and learn more about their inspiring projects.
Through the Black Women and Gender Expansive Leadership Project, the Foundation is driving new initiatives to strengthen infrastructure for Black women and gender-expansive nonprofit leaders. This year, we provided a series of board governance trainings to 8 nonprofits, inspired by the Thrive As They Lead report’s recommendations.
Take a moment to watch a special message from our President & CEO, Dr. Tamara Wilds Lawson on why it is important for us to help Black women leaders feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
Through the Black Women and Gender Expansive Leadership Project, the Foundation is driving new initiatives to strengthen infrastructure for Black women and gender-expansive nonprofit leaders. This year, we provided a series of board governance trainings to 8 nonprofits, inspired by the Thrive As They Lead report’s recommendations.
Take a moment to watch a special message from our President & CEO, Dr. Tamara Wilds Lawson on why it is important for us to help Black women leaders feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
This year, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous funder, we launched a scholarship fund awarding over $350,000 to five local institutions supporting students who are pursuing studies aligned with our program areas: early childhood education and maternal health. The scholarship funds also helped improve access to wraparound services and supports and advance women’s economic mobility.
Click here to learn more about the HERizon Fund and our inaugural partner institutions.
This year, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous funder, we launched a scholarship fund awarding over $350,000 to five local institutions supporting students who are pursuing studies aligned with our program areas: early childhood education and maternal health. The scholarship funds also helped improve access to wraparound services and supports and advance women’s economic mobility.
Click here to learn more about the HERizon Fund and our inaugural partner institutions.
$2,500: Supports a young woman or girl in our Rock Star program whose idea has the power to strengthen and uplift her community.
$1,000: Supports vital maternal health programs enabling doulas and birth workers to provide equitable, community-centered care for every birthing person.
$500: Invests in students at our partner institutions pursuing studies in early childhood education and maternal health.
$250: Advances our Early Care and Education advocacy work, helping educators, children, and families access high-quality care and shaping systemic change in the early childhood sector.
Any amount connects you to a movement reshaping our region for women and girls of color—not someday, but now.
Together, we’ll continue strengthening our investments in community-based organizations led by or serving women and girls of color from birth to the boardroom.
We invite you to share this page with your network and inspire others to stand with you in advancing community-led change for women and girls of color in our region.