Despite these discouraging statistics, less than 6% of overall foundation giving funds grants targeted to benefit women and girls. 

The Women’s Fund was established to provide a permanent resource in our community to address serious challenges facing women and girls, to empower Fond du Lac area women moved by this cause to become philanthropists, and to increase community understanding of issues uniquely affecting women and girls.

 What programs does the Women's Fund support? 

The Women’s Fund will consider awarding grants to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations for programs targeted to benefit Fond du Lac area women and/or girls in the areas of education; leadership development; or financial self-sufficiency.

Since 2004, the Women’s Fund has awarded the following grants:  

Education:  $17,250

• UW-Fond du Lac Continuing Education, GMO (Girls+Math=Opportunities) in-school Tutoring Center in math for middle school girl, $11,000
• Lutheran Homes & Health Services, “Navigating the Maze”, living options for maximum independence and related issues; $1,750
• Marian University, UW-Fond du Lac, & Moraine Park Technical College,  SAFENET fund to help women students meet unexpected expenses that would otherwise require them to leave school; $3,000
• Youth for Christ, YFC Teen Parents program; $500
• Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County, "Women Build", educated girls about potential careers in home construction trade; $1,000

Leadership Development: $6,500

• Girl Scouts of Manitou Council, "Girl Scout Leadership Experience"; $2,500
• Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac, "SMART Girls" program; $3,000
• Wisconsin Rural Women's Initiative, weekend program helping rural and farm women learn leadership and other skills to better take care of themselves and their families; $1,000

Economic Self-Sufficiency:  $17,675

• Volunteer Center of Fond du Lac County, HOPE Mentoring Program provides support to women in poverty or transition who are struggling to reach goals that will improve their lives; $5,675
• Soroptimist International, “An Income of Her Own”; $2,000
• Advocap,  Gap Funding; $9,000
• ARC Community Services, Inc., equine therapy for women with criminal and addictive backgrounds, teaches job retention skills along with ways to gain control of their lives; $1,000

Other Grants:  $10,988

• Family Resource Center, Pregnancy and Parenting Support; $4,000.
• Wisconsin Rural Women’s Initiative, Holistic Mental Stress Relief Program; $2,750 
• UW Fond du Lac, Teen Talking Circle; $1,250.
• Mahala’s Hope, addiction recovery support for women age 16-25, their children and families; $2,988. 

How is the Women's Fund different from other community programs for women? 

The Women’s Fund is not a club, program or service organization.  As a permanent endowment fund, it will bring about positive change in the lives of women and girls in our community for many years to come.  It also engages women in philanthropic giving and creates community understanding of the issues and challenges faced by Fond du Lac area women of all ages.

How can I help? 

Make a donation to the Women’s Fund, which can be a pledge paid over 3 to 5 years;

Establish your own named fund within the Women’s Fund with a minimum contribution of $10,000 and choose the kind of programs you want to support to benefit local women and girls;

Establish an “Acorn Fund” within the Women’s Fund with $1,000 and grow it over time to a full-fledged fund whose income you can direct for the good of women and girls in our community;

Share the news about the Women’s Fund with friends and encourage them to give;

Get involved on a Women’s Fund committee:  Governance; Marketing/PR; Grants; Development; or Special Events;

Invite a speaker from the Women’s Fund to tell your group about the Women’s Fund and its potential to change the lives of women and girls in our community.