ABOUT BOSTON WOMEN'S FUND
MISSION.
BWF envisions a world where power, opportunity, and access are not limited by gender. We work to achieve this by advocating for and investing in grassroots organizations and community solutions led by women+ and girls+* to advance racial, economic, social, and gender justice in Greater Boston and beyond.
*Women+ and girls+ refers to women and girls, including transwomen, as well as those who identify as femme, nonbinary and/or genderfluid.
PRINCIPLES.
WE BELIEVE:
TO EMBODY OUR BELIEFS WE:
01
In grassroots change and community-led solutions.
02
In being a bridge to philanthropy.
03
In engaging diverse voices for authentic, creative, and effective ideas and solutions.
04
In the democratization of philanthropy and value of all voices.
05
In the importance of shared leadership, equity and cultural diversity.
06
When we improve the lives of women+ we lift families, communities, and society.
Seek, support, and center the voices of our constituents: elder women+, girls, immigrant and refugee women+, the LBTQIA+ community, low income women+, women+ of color, and women+ with disabilities.
Partner, identify, and connect communities with resources to elevate issues and amplify grassroots-driven solutions.
Take an informed, responsive, participatory, and transparent approach to philanthropy.
Educate and engage donors, supporters, and partners of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Commit to shared leadership, equity, and cultural diversity in all of BWF’s decisions, operations, and practices.
Support and advocate for systems change and movement building addressing the root causes of racial, economic, social, and gender injustice.
OUR HISTORY.
The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) was founded in 1984 by a group of progressive women who sought to support marginalized women+ and girls+ in achieving racial, economic, social, and gender justice. BWF was the first women’s foundation in Massachusetts and is one of the oldest of the over 145 nonprofit women’s foundations in the United States.
Our founders recognized that organizations supporting women+ and girls+ received fewer foundation grants than other organizations. This was especially true for groups helping low-income women+ and women+ of color. Today, research shows that women+ and girls+ receive less than 7.5% of all grants awarded by traditional foundations and public institutions nationwide.*
Over the past 38 years, BWF has granted more than $6.3 million to over 335 grassroots organizations. We believe that change begins with women+ and girls+ in their own communities, and that with the necessary resources these women+ and girls+ are able to implement their ideas. We believe that women+ and girls+ can and must be leaders within all movements if progressive change is to occur.
Since its inception, a core value of BWF has been that decisions would be made by a racially and economically diverse group of women+ and that money would be raised by a broad group of donors across all economic backgrounds.
*Women’s Funding Network, Accelerating Change for Women and Girls: The Role of Women’s Funds, 2009. Washington, D.C., Foundation Center.
MEET THE TEAM.
Executive Director
she, her, hers
Director, Organizational Development & Culture
they, them, theirs
Director, Community Investments
she, her, hers
SENIOR PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR.
Jackie Jenkins-Scott
Senior Philanthropic Advisor
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Claudia Thompson
BWF Board Chair
Managing Launch Director,
BNI Global
she, her, hers
Chastity Bowick
Director
Director
Trans Emergency Fund
she, her, hers
Amanda Matos-Gonzalez
Director
Senior Manager, NeighborWorks America
she, her, hers
Makeeba McCreary
Ex-Officio Member
President,
New Commonwealth Fund
she, her, hers
Akosua Ampofo Siever
Vice Chair
Senior Partnerships Manager, Root Capital
she, her, hers
Rita German
Director
VP, National Stakeholder & Policy Engagement
JP Morgan Chase
she, her, hers
Melissa Tearney
Director
Co-Chair Litigation Department,
Choate
she, her, hers
Virginia Meany
Treasurer
Retired
she, her, hers
Lauren Pimpare
Director
President & Founder Tomorrow’s Women Today
she, her, hers
Magalis Troncoso Lama
Director
Executive Director,
Dominican Development Center
she, her, hers
Brianna Boggs
Director
Leadership Coach & Consultant
she, her, hers
Danielle Parish
Director
Professional Fundraiser
she, her, hers
Jennifer Aronson
Ex-Officio Member
Associate VP of Programs,
The Boston Foundation
she, her, hers
PARTNERS.
The work of the Boston Women’s Fund is only possible through the support of our donors and partners. They are the fuel that keeps us going. We are grateful for their commitment to women+ and girls+.
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