Why a Women’s Fund?
Gender-specific programs are underfunded. Less than 5% of philanthropic dollars go specifically to women’s and girl’s programs in the US. And that’s a shame. Because there is an undeniable connection between poverty, low self-esteem, poor health and inadequate healthcare, job access, domestic violence, sexual assault...and being female. Until gender issues are better funded, women and girls will continue to suffer.

Why give grants “through a gender lens”? Don’t coeducational programs work?
Dozens of books and studies published in the past ten years have reached the same conclusion: so-called universal (or coeducational) programs do not help women and girls nearly as well as gender-specific programs.

What special things does a Women’s Fund support?
Grants will address the unique needs of women and girls. Women’s funds often support underfunded and at times unpopular social change programs.

Can organizations apply to both The Rhode Island Foundation and the Women’s Fund?
Yes! Organizations can now seek funding from two sources: The Rhode Island Foundation and the Women’s Fund. The two have separate review processes. A grant received from the Women’s Fund
will not in any way reduce an organization’s eligibility to apply to the Foundation.

Since the Women’s Fund solicits donations, won’t it compete with existing organizations for money?
Not enough money is being raised currently for women’s issues. Organizations who do the best work serving women and girls need much more money. The goal of the Women’s Fund is to stimulate new and increased giving, by focusing more attention on women’s issues.
Rhode Islanders can afford to give much more to charity than they currently do. The state ranks 40th out of 50 in generosity, according to the IRS.