The Women’s Fund, established through the Stark Community Foundation, is dedicated to advancing the status of women and children in perpetuity within Stark County, Ohio. Its mission is multifaceted: to benefit future generations, significantly increase funding for programs that foster the economic, educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic, and personal growth of women, and to educate and inspire women to become leaders in philanthropy. This grant program aligns perfectly with the foundation's broader goal of supporting nonprofit agencies and projects that directly address the critical needs of women and children in the local community.
The target beneficiaries of The Women's Fund grants are underserved women and children of all ages, cultures, ethnicities, races, and abilities within Stark County. The primary impact goals are to improve their lives by supporting initiatives that lead to greater economic stability, enhanced mental and emotional health, and strong, supportive neighborhood programming. The fund's strategic priorities, and its theory of change, revolve around building a financially strong and sustainable permanent endowment that grows yearly, ensuring long-term impact. This sustainable fund then enables consistent grant-making to local nonprofit organizations.
The program focuses on three key grantmaking areas. The first, Economic Stability and Advancement, aims to empower women and children through projects like job training, career planning, parenting skills, and financial and digital literacy, ultimately removing barriers to employment. The second focus, Mental and Emotional Health Support, seeks to enhance or expand mental health services, particularly for women living at or below federal poverty guidelines. Finally, Neighborhood-Based Programming supports services in high-risk neighborhoods, encouraging collaboration among service providers, churches, businesses, and residents to create a supportive community network.
Expected outcomes and measurable results include increased access to job training and financial literacy programs, leading to improved economic self-sufficiency. Additionally, the fund anticipates a measurable enhancement of mental health services available to vulnerable women, contributing to their overall well-being. Through neighborhood-based initiatives, the program aims to strengthen community ties and provide essential services in areas with significant needs. By inspiring philanthropy, the fund also expects to see increased engagement from women of all backgrounds in giving back to the Stark County community, further solidifying the long-term sustainability and impact of The Women’s Fund.
