Breaking Barriers to Women’s Economic Independence in Iowa

The Iowa Women's Foundation (IWF) awards Core Grants to organizations dedicated to dismantling barriers to women's economic self-sufficiency. This grant program is directly aligned with the foundation's mission to empower women and girls in Iowa by addressing systemic issues that hinder their economic progress. The Core Grants are a cornerstone of the IWF's strategy to foster a more equitable and prosperous environment for women across the state, ensuring that initiatives tackling these barriers receive crucial financial support. The primary beneficiaries of the Core Grants are women and girls in Iowa, with a specific focus on those facing significant challenges to economic independence. The impact goals are centered on achieving measurable improvements in areas such as housing stability, access to reliable transportation, enhanced education and job training, secure employment, affordable and quality childcare, and robust mentorship opportunities. The IWF's theory of change posits that by investing in these key areas, they can create a ripple effect, leading to increased economic stability, improved quality of life, and greater leadership potential for women and girls. The grant prioritizes six critical areas: Housing, Transportation, Education & Training, Employment, Childcare, and Mentorship. Within Housing, examples include emergency shelters and life-skills programs. For Transportation, initiatives focus on vehicle access, financial literacy, and maintenance support. Education & Training encompasses job-specific training, apprenticeships, and financial literacy. Employment efforts include resume writing, job application assistance, and career advancement. Childcare initiatives aim to increase access and affordability. Mentorship programs focus on professional networking and leadership development. Expected outcomes include a reduction in homelessness among women, increased rates of women obtaining and maintaining reliable transportation, improved workforce participation and career advancement for women, enhanced access to quality childcare, and the development of a new generation of female leaders. Measurable results will be tracked through the progress of the funded initiatives, such as the number of women served, job placement rates, housing stability metrics, and participation in educational and mentorship programs, all contributing to the IWF's strategic objective of fostering long-term economic self-sufficiency for women in Iowa.