Fact Sheet

What is the WNY Women's Fund?

Our mission is to be a leader in identifying, communicating and funding innovative, effective solutions that improve the lives of women and girls in Western New York. Our recent grants have focused on giving women and girls the tools to become economically self-sufficient by building assets. The Fund raises money and makes grants to local community programs that result in systemic change and help women and girls develop self-reliance and become economically self-sufficient. The Fund also advocates for increased philanthropy by and for women and girls.  The Fund is a member of the Women's Funding Network, and organization of over 135 Women's Funds across the globe, representing over $450 million in assets.

 

Why was the WNY Women's Fund established?

The WNY Women's Fund was established with the goal of acting as a focal point for strategic initiatives benefiting women and girls in our community.  By working with existing community service providers and conducting careful research, the Fund can focus its support in areas of the greatest need and ensure a coordinated effort aimed at benefiting women and girls.  Through the establishment of an endowment, the Fund will provide a permanent source of funding to support this mission in the community.   The Fund is a collaboration between the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

 

What is the need?

Buffalo has the 3rd  highest poverty rate of any large city with 30% of families living in poverty. Women are the heads of household in nearly two out of three of these families.  Only by giving women tools and opportunities to become economically self-sufficient can we affect poverty in Western New York. For more information, please see: What are the needs?

 

What types of programs does the WNY Women's Fund support?

The goal of the WNY Women's Fund is to support programs that will change the lives of women and girls.  Funding guidelines favor projects that are innovative and visionary, involve collaborative efforts, avoid duplication of services and demonstrate the potential for long-term impact on the project participants.  The Fund looks for programs that are transformative and are best practices in their field and where our grant dollars will provide the needed funds to push a program beyond good to great. 

 

Why give to the WNY Women's Fund?

The WNY Women's Fund will leverage your dollars.  We conduct careful research and work with community organizations to focus our support in the areas of greatest need and where the outcomes will be sustainable. The Fund conducts post-grant reviews of projects to ensure that the programs are achieving the intended outcomes.  Your gift to the Fund will have measurable impact on a community-wide basis and beyond.

 

What has been raised to date?

We have raised over $ 2.4 million and are continuing to work to further build our endowment and to make grants to important programs for women and girls.  Also, in just seven years, the Fund has provided over $ 480,000 to programs that are making a real and lasting difference in the lives of women and girls in our community.

 

How can I help?

Your help and support are critical to the success of the Fund.  Your generosity will enable the Fund to continue to fund programs that improve the lives of women and girls. Your involvement as a volunteer on a committee will help you gain insight to the needs of women and girls in our community and become an integral participant in designing solutions that best meet these needs.

For more information contact our office today at 716-887-2621.