Women & Girls Fund

The Women & Girls Fund is a community-based endowment established in 2001 under the Main Street Community Foundation, which serves the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott in Connecticut. The Fund was initiated by a group of women committed to improving the lives of women and girls by providing them with the skills and competencies to reach their potential and enhance their quality of life. Through strategic grantmaking, the Fund supports both programmatic and capital initiatives that are directly aligned with its mission. For the 2025 grant cycle, the Fund has outlined three primary areas of focus based on comprehensive feedback from more than 20 community partners. These include services that promote self-sufficiency among senior women—such as financial literacy, access to basic needs, and initiatives to reduce social isolation; confidence-building and leadership development, particularly for young girls and teens through mentorship, life skills, and leadership training; and programs that enhance mental health and well-being through non-clinical approaches like mindfulness and stress reduction. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and, on a case-by-case basis, public or governmental units under section 170(c)(1). These organizations must provide services to residents of at least one of the six designated towns. Special consideration is given to collaborative proposals. All applicants must be current with past grant reporting obligations and must sign a non-discrimination policy statement. Additionally, organizations that have received funding for three consecutive years must wait one year before reapplying. The Fund generally supports future expenditures and may allow proportionate inclusion of salaries and operational costs related to program delivery. Capital requests are considered if directly linked to programmatic goals. To apply, applicants must submit proposals through Main Street Community Foundation's online grants platform. The application portal opens on August 15, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 26, 2025. However, before submission, all applicants must contact Kate Kerchaert, Director of Grants & Programs, or another member of the grantmaking team at 860-583-6363 or kate@mainstreetfoundation.org at least five business days prior to the deadline for a required preliminary screening of their proposal. The application includes detailed organizational and programmatic information, budget documentation, demographics of the population served, a timeline for program implementation, and evaluation metrics. Proposals are evaluated based on alignment with the Fund’s priorities, clarity of outcomes, and potential community impact. Final grant decisions are made by the Foundation's Board of Directors based on recommendations from the Women & Girls Fund Advisory Board. More information, including grant guidelines and eligibility requirements, is available through the Foundation’s Online Grants Center.

Applicants must call for screening at least five business days prior to the deadline. Collaborative efforts are encouraged and prioritized