$1M in Grantmaking
impact
What?
Over 20 years, the WGC has given over $1M in grants to our nonprofit partners with programs that benefit women and girls in Howard County, MD.
When you stop for just a moment to consider that milestone, it’s simply remarkable.
When you break down the $1M through the Maryland Women’s Commission Gender Lens, the numbers are impressive:
Consider the 250 grants given throughout the years ranging from small to large, from one-time to multi-year, focusing on key areas of identified needs. How are those needs identified? In 2019, the WGC created a DEI Committee led by Judy Smith and Hina Naseem. Among the many outcomes of their work was the creation of a framework to view the WGC’s grantmaking through an equity lens.
And most recently the WGC invested in a living report on the State of Women and Girls in Howard County. This baseline data is designed as a central resource that positions our community to effectively advocate on behalf of women and girls and positively impact legislation, policy, and countywide programming.
It also positions the WGC to learn from our past grantmaking and enhance our future grantmaking to better support women and girls in our community.
So What?
The good news? It’s already happening.
In November of last year, the WGC announced a new Social Justice funding partnership with The 3rd and The Highland Project for the creation and implementation of a Leadership Development program for Women of Color in Howard County, Maryland.
Additionally, the multi-year grant will also invest broadly in the development and growth of The 3rd, a local nonprofit organization building a space that fosters dreams, creates community, and provides mentorship, which enables Women of Color to turn their ideas into economic power and freedom. And what will this funding do? According to Laura Bacon, Founder of The 3rd:
Now What?
What might grantmaking look like over the next 20 years of the WGC?
We’re excited, too, and we hope you are, as well!
While we’re proud of the work we’ve done, there is still much to do. It is going to take all of us working together to address the real, persistent, and pressing issues facing women and girls in our community.
For 20 years, the WGC has dedicated itself to leveraging our collective dollars, to amplifying the power of collective giving, to building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.
Will you join us? www.womensgivingcircle.org
Be a part of our story.
#WGC20Years
#WGC20Years20Stories
impact
What?
Over 20 years, the WGC has given over $1M in grants to our nonprofit partners with programs that benefit women and girls in Howard County, MD.
When you stop for just a moment to consider that milestone, it’s simply remarkable.
When you break down the $1M through the Maryland Women’s Commission Gender Lens, the numbers are impressive:
- 35% Leadership & Political Participation: $363K
- 21% Safety & Justice: $217K
- 19% Education & Educators: $196K
- 7% Health & Wellbeing: $77K
- 7% Work & the Economy: $77K
- 5% Demographics & Diversity: $58K
- 5% Grants TBD to Nonprofit Partners: $55K
Consider the 250 grants given throughout the years ranging from small to large, from one-time to multi-year, focusing on key areas of identified needs. How are those needs identified? In 2019, the WGC created a DEI Committee led by Judy Smith and Hina Naseem. Among the many outcomes of their work was the creation of a framework to view the WGC’s grantmaking through an equity lens.
And most recently the WGC invested in a living report on the State of Women and Girls in Howard County. This baseline data is designed as a central resource that positions our community to effectively advocate on behalf of women and girls and positively impact legislation, policy, and countywide programming.
It also positions the WGC to learn from our past grantmaking and enhance our future grantmaking to better support women and girls in our community.
So What?
The good news? It’s already happening.
In November of last year, the WGC announced a new Social Justice funding partnership with The 3rd and The Highland Project for the creation and implementation of a Leadership Development program for Women of Color in Howard County, Maryland.
- “The WGC is proud to partner nationally with The Highland Project and to invest locally in The 3rd. We are excited to provide support to a local organization that is focusing on gender and race equality, and now specifically on leadership opportunities for Women of Color.” - Candace Dodson-Reed and Alison Canning, WGC Grants Committee Co-Chairs
Additionally, the multi-year grant will also invest broadly in the development and growth of The 3rd, a local nonprofit organization building a space that fosters dreams, creates community, and provides mentorship, which enables Women of Color to turn their ideas into economic power and freedom. And what will this funding do? According to Laura Bacon, Founder of The 3rd:
- “This is what this new funding partnership brings to The 3rd and to Women of Color throughout our community: our growth will be exponential with the local support from the Women’s Giving Circle and the national support from The Highland Project, and we are thrilled that both organizations understand and support the unique challenges we face, and the unique gifts we bring to the table.” - Laura Bacon
Now What?
What might grantmaking look like over the next 20 years of the WGC?
- “The State of Women and Girls in Howard County gives us a guidebook, a playbook. For 20 years the WGC has done a phenomenal job of really focusing on women and girls in our community. We’re going to be well-informed on what our needs are, where the opportunities are, where the challenges are, and how we can play a role in filling the gaps in those areas. I’m excited about where we’re headed.” - Candace Dodson-Reed
We’re excited, too, and we hope you are, as well!
While we’re proud of the work we’ve done, there is still much to do. It is going to take all of us working together to address the real, persistent, and pressing issues facing women and girls in our community.
For 20 years, the WGC has dedicated itself to leveraging our collective dollars, to amplifying the power of collective giving, to building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.
Will you join us? www.womensgivingcircle.org
Be a part of our story.
#WGC20Years
#WGC20Years20Stories
