Cape Cod Foundation Women and Girls Fund

The Cape Cod Foundation recently launched a two-year community challenge to raise $200,000 by the end of 2024 for the Women and Girls Fund.

The permanent endowment fund, set up in September 2022, is expected to build flexible resources to support programs and initiatives that strengthen the lives of women and girls throughout the region.

“The grants are intended to support all women and girls in our community, with a particular focus on work that supports low-income, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and historically marginalized and underrepresented women and girls,” said Kristin O’Malley, president and CEO of the foundation.

According to the Women in Philanthropy, Women and Girls Index, less than 2% of funding nationally is directed toward nonprofit organizations that specifically support women and girls, said O’Malley.

The fund intends to create opportunities for community dialogue and provide financial resources.

Along with creating new opportunities, the fund aims to support existing and new approaches to strengthen services, highlight and promote leadership opportunities for women and girls.

A team from the foundation examined other women’s funds around the country for best practices, and worked closely with the Cape Cod Commission on quantitative community data. The team also conducted a series of focus groups with women and girls for qualitative data.

Based on their findings, the foundation concluded that women need more economic opportunities and paths to self-sufficiency; girls need more mentors, internships and opportunities to prepare them for the future; women and girls need more access to existing resources; and women and girls of color face additional discrimination and inequities.

“The mission of the fund is to strengthen the lives of all women and girls in our region through grant-making and providing resources to tackle systemic inequities that oppress women and girls and limit their opportunities,” said O’Malley.

The goal is to raise $1 million for this fund over the next five years.

The goal is to raise $1 million for this fund over the next five years, which will allow the Foundation to distribute at least $50,000 annually well into the future to support the needs of the community as they change over time.

“We determined that grants in our first year of the fund will help increase economic opportunity and self-sufficiency for women through training and educational programs; and break down barriers for girls by providing new, expanded, or more accessible educational opportunities, out-of-school programs and mentorship opportunities,” said O’Malley.

In March, three inaugural grantees received a total of $50,000 from the fund.

WE CAN and Amplify POC, each received $10,000, while Falmouth Volunteers in Public Schools received $15,000. Falmouth Volunteers received the money to support their ‘Be Bold’ mentorship program for fourth grade girls in Falmouth schools.

Amplify POC:Can American Rescue Plan money help close the Cape’s equity gap? Maybe. Here’s how.

Entrepreneurship for All received $15,000 to support their Accelerator program for women, with a focus on immigrant and BIPOC communities.

The recently announced Women and Girls Fund Community Challenge fundraising started off with Eastern Bank Foundation’s $50,000 donation to the campaign.

Rasheek Tabassum Mujib writes about healthcare and education. Reach her at rmujib@capecodonline.com.

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Cape Cod Foundation Women and Girls Fund

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