BWF GRANTS
OUR UNIQUE
APPROACH.
#IAMBWF
Boston Women's Fund is a role model in participatory and trust-based philanthropy. From our inception in 1984, we have relied on a diverse, all-volunteer Allocations Committee to review and assess grant funding proposals and influence our giving priorities. BWF has always trusted in, listened to, and been inspired by the work of our grantees.
We believe achieving racial, economic, social, and gender justice through philanthropy involves the following approach to support grassroots organizations at different stages of their work:
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Movement Building Grants designed for grassroots organizations led by women, girls and gender-expansive individuals that shift us towards community-driven solutions that promote systemic change. BWF is committed to investing in leaders, infrastructure, capacity building, and leadership development.
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Community Impact Grants for organizations serving their communities through outstanding systems change work, leadership development and community organizing. These grants help organizations build their capacity and expand their networks, and offer beyond-the-grant support.
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Youth-Centered Movement Building and Activism Grant supporting organizations and coalitions led by women, girls and gender-expansive individuals that provide training, support and meaningful leadership opportunities for youth ages 24 and under to direct transformative social change.
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Seed Funding to support emerging organizations and help new, budding ideas take shape.
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Momentum Grants offering capacity building and beyond-the-grant support for those in the BWF family whose annual operating budgets have grown to exceed our commitment to serving organizations with a budget of $500,000 or less.
THE BOSTON WOMEN’S FUND INVESTS WHERE TRADITIONAL PHILANTHROPY DOES NOT.
GRANT MAKING STRATEGIES.
BWF grants amplify the voices of women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals who work tirelessly for racial, economic, social, and gender justice. Change begins in the community, frequently led by efforts of inspirational women, girls, and gender expansive people who know the solutions to their problems yet lack the resources to solve them.
Movement Building Grants
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BWF supports community-led grassroots movements that build collective power to advance racial, economic, social, and gender justice.
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Movement building starts with a shared vision focused on systems change where a collective addresses concerns and creates opportunities that no person, organization, or institution can alone.
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There is no application process for Movement Building Grant awards. The Boston Women's Fund uses nominations from the public to identify organizations creating solutions to issues impacting their communities. Our Allocations Committee, built of community members, then interviews organization leaders and community members to compile information about each organization. Together, the committee decides which organizations receive funding.
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Community Impact Grants
We understand that barriers exist when it comes to funding opportunities, like lengthy grant-applications that pull grassroots leaders away from their vital community work. In an effort to reimagine philanthropy, the Boston Women’s Fund is experimenting with more equitable grantmaking practices. We don't send out an RFP for our Community Impact grants. Instead, we issue a Request for Conversations (RFC), saving leaders time and weaving a more human point of connection into our process.
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Youth-Centered Movement Building and Activism Grants
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This grant supports organizations or coalitions led by women, girls and gender-expansive individuals providing training, support and meaningful leadership opportunities for youth ages 24 and under to direct transformative social change! Like our standard Allocations Committee, our youth participants accept nominations from the public to determine which organizations in Greater Boston would be considered for this grant award. They then use a consensus model to select a grant recipient.
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