The Women’s Fund Announces New Research Report and 2020 Grant Recipients

On Tuesday, November 17, The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem held its 15th Annual Luncheon entitled, “Where Do We Go from Here?” where more than 200 members and friends of the Fund gathered in a virtual format to celebrate the power of philanthropy dedicated to women and girls. With a mission to build economic security for women and girls in Forsyth County, members of The Women’s Fund come together to advance equity through the power of collective giving.  

At the luncheon, the Fund released its new online research report, Through a Gender Lens: The Economic Security of Women and Girls in Forsyth County in 2020 and hosted a panel discussion around the issues and metrics uncovered in the report. The Fund will be launching a three-part virtual series at the beginning of 2021 where they will invite the community to discuss the report and have honest dialogue to help inform future advocacy efforts focused on women and girls, particularly those of color. To read the report, visit wfgenderlens.org.  

The Women’s Fund also announced its 2020 grant recipients, awarding a total of $142,560 to the following 10 local nonprofits:  

• Bethesda Center for the Homeless: $15,000 to provide emergency and supportive services to women who are homeless
• Children's Law Center of Central North Carolina: $15,000 to support domestic violence survivors in evaluating their needs/barriers and connecting to community resources

• City with Dwellings: $10,000 to hire and train up to three female staff to provide peer support for women experiencing homelessness
• El Buen Pastor Latino Community Services: $15,000 to provide technology workshops for women
• LEAD Girls of NC Inc: $15,000 to support programs designed to help middle school girls develop critical social and emotional skills
• Planned Parenthood South Atlantic: $15,000 to support education, advocacy, and comprehensive health care services for sexual health
• The Shalom Project: $15,000 to help women heads-of-household transition out of financial insecurity

• The Wells Center, Inc “For Women in Transition”: $12,560 for a post-release program for formerly incarcerated women
• Unity Women's Desk of the Moravian Church - in partnership with Estamos Unidos: $15,000 to purchase computers and teach technology skills to Latina mothers in the Sunnyside neighborhood
• YWCA of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County: $15,000 to support a state-licensed recovery facility for women diagnosed with substance use disorders

Over the past 15 years, the Fund has granted more than $1.75 million to organizations working to improve the lives of women and girls in Forsyth County.  

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S FUND OF WINSTON-SALEM

The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem is a community of passionate women creating social change through the power of collective giving. Established in 2005, our mission is to engage our community to build economic security for women and girls in Forsyth County.

Our nearly 600 members include individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, and circumstances. They are corporate and nonprofit leaders, educators, activists, community leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and volunteers.

We all share the belief that all women and girls in Forsyth County should have equal opportunities and the skills and resources to be independent, self-sufficient, and contributing members of the community. So far, the Fund has granted more than $1.75 million to programs that directly benefit the women and girls of Forsyth County. More at womensfundws.org.