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Kellogg press release

Boston Women’s Fund Changes the Faces of Philanthropy

BOSTON (September 9, 2005). The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) is launching a new project, “Our Public Spirit,” to recognize and enhance philanthropic efforts in communities of color. This is perfect timing as BWF celebrates over 20 years of promoting the spirit of giving from diverse communities to support the social change movement led by women and girls.

The project is partially funded by a $300,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan.

“Our Public Spirit” engages communities of color, particularly women and young women of color, as donors supporting social change. Partners of the project include the Haymarket People’s Fund, The Women’s Theological Center, and the Women of Color Fundraising Institute (WOCFI).

Renae Gray, Executive Director of BWF stated: “The Boston Women’s Fund, like many of the innovative, pioneering projects that we fund, has been including racially and socio-economically diverse donors into building the fund for over 20 years. It is imperative that we, along with our partners, continually develop new resources which are culturally inclusive and that respond to the needs of successive generations of our constituency. We are confident that our project will reveal new strategies as well as illuminate the unique giving strategies employed by communities of color around the country. This effort will change the faces of philanthropy. Ultimately, we hope that these activities will draw increasing numbers of people to become knowledgeable about social change issues.”

With a combined experience of more than 50 years of social change philanthropy work from our team, the project is a 3-year initiative to: increase the racial diversity of donors and the leadership base by involving women of color as donors and leaders; increase the capacity of grassroots organizations through leadership development and training; and create knowledge by documenting models of social change philanthropy in communities of color.

Founded in 1984, the Boston Women’s Fund is a community foundation that raises money from a broad base of donors to provide much needed grants and technical assistance to women and girls led organizations that strive for social, racial and economic justice. For more information, call the BWF office, or visit our website at www.bostonwomensfund.org.