Economic Opportunity Fund Grants
The Economic Opportunity Fund addresses key issues impacting the economic security of women and girls in the Puget Sound region. Currently, over half of WFA’s granting supports efforts that advance the overall economic well-being of low-income and underemployed women and girls in the Puget Sound region, particularly single heads of households and women from marginalized communities.
Maximum grants awarded will be $25,000.
2012 Economic Opportunity Fund Priorities
We are interested in funding efforts that:
- Promote pathways to education and higher paying jobs with emphasis on careers in high growth, nontraditional and male-dominated professions.
- Build entrepreneurship by helping women create, finance and develop businesses.
- Decrease gaps in pay related to both gender and race.
- Increase access to:
- Workplace and health coverage benefits.
- Quality, affordable early childcare and education.
- Increase assets and financial literacy through asset building efforts, matched savings programs, debt reduction and financial literacy and training.
- Advocate for and advance public policy that ensures the economic security and advancement of women and their children.
If you have programs promoting economic opportunity of women that don’t directly fit into these categories, please contact Sara Reyerson at sara@wfalliance.org to see if you might be eligible to apply.
Applicants demonstrate efforts to affect a shift in one of 5 Social Change Indicators:
- Shift in Definitions or Reframing: A particular issue is viewed differently in your community or the larger society as a result of your work.
- Shift in Individual or Community Behavior: Specific behavior changes in an individual or the community you serve occur as a result of your work.
- Shift in Critical Mass/Engagement: People in your community or the larger society have become more engaged as a result of your work.
- Shift in Institutions/Policy: A specific organizational, local, regional, state, national or international policy or practice is changed as a result of your work.
- Maintaining Current Position/Holding the Line: You’ve been able to maintain earlier progress on an issue in the face of opposition.
Download the Letter of Inquiry Application. Applications are due in the WFA office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13th. Invitations to submit full proposals will be extended in March.
