Women & Girls of Color Fund

Racial justice is fundamental to gender equity and economic justice

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Background

Women of color contribute immensely to the health, well-being, and advancement of our communities. They mobilize grassroots movements that create real change, they are thought leaders who shape our understanding of gender and race, and they are uniquely positioned to lead us into a better future because of their lived experiences. At the same time, women of color face greater disparities in health outcomes, pay, wealth, access to capital, and more. 

Women and girls of color are immense assets to our communities, yet women and girls of color receive just .5% of all foundation funding. The Women & Girls of Color Fund is a community-developed, community-led field-of-interest fund dedicated to investing in and partnering with women-of-color-led organizations that are committed to building economic power and dismantling oppressive systems through direct service or community organizing. Our approach will focus on elevating women and girls of color across the state of Colorado to create a better future for all of us.

Want to learn more about supporting the Women & Girls of Color Fund or have questions about applying? Contact Camisha Lashbrook at CamishaL@wfco.org.

 

Women & Girls of Color Fund Evaluation Report thumbnail- Read the Women & Girls of Color Fund Year One Evaluation & Learning Report

- Read the Women & Girls of Color Fund Year One Community Feedback Report


 

Grantmaking cycle

The Women & Girls of Color Fund has two grant cycles per year:

January - April: Rural focus

June - September: Front Range focus (Larimer, Boulder, Broomfield, Jefferson, Denver, Arapahoe, Douglas, Adams, and El Paso counties)

Meet our advisory council

The Women & Girls of Color Fund advisory council is a group of 20 women and nonbinary people of color from across Colorado. Their backgrounds are in nonprofits and the public and private sectors; they are entrepreneurs, parents, and community leaders; and their expertise ranges from housing and mutual aid to mental health, community organizing to STEM and education, victim advocacy to immigration to name just a few. Most importantly, they reflect the breadth of identity and depth of experience of women, girls, and nonbinary people of color across Colorado. They are uniquely qualified to guide this fund. Advisory council members review applications, meet with potential grantees, and are the final decision makers on which applicants are funded.

Meet Our Advisory Council

Grantmaking priorities

Our funding priorities are grounded in increasing investments in Colorado women and girls of color, their leadership, their futures, and their economic security.

Led by Women and Girls of Color Focused on Women and Girls of Color Colorado-based and Colorado-focused
Women of color Grantee organizations will be led by women of color executive directors. Programs we fund will have a focus on the power and potential of women and girls of color. Colorado is a large and diverse state. Grantees will take a range of approaches to advancing the economic security of women and girls of color based on their specific communities' needs.
Liberatory Leadership Advancing Economic Security Those Most Underfunded

Grantees will not only reject systems of racism, classism, homophobia, and patriarchy, they will also demonstrate radical practices of liberatory leadership such as self care and collective leadership.

The fund will support programs that advance the economic security of women and girls of color. Following principles of intersectionality, the Women & Girls of Color Fund will prioritize those communities marginalized by multiple systems of oppression and most underfunded.

 

Meet Our Grantee Partners

 2023 Front Range Grantees

 2023 Rural Grantees

 2022 Front Range Grantees

 2022 Rural Grantees

 2021 Rural Grantees

 2021 Front Range Grantees

 

 

 

Meet Wendolyne, Women & Girls of Color Fund Grantee

Construyendo, a 2023 Women & Girls of Color Fund rural grantee, helps the Latinx community in Durango develop skills and confidence to improve their health, strengthen their community, and promote economic mobilty. Learn more about Construyendo and its founder, Wendolyne. 

Shay Jacobs headshot: Black woman with brown eyes and brown curly hair

“As a woman of Color who is a founder and Executive Director of a new non-profit, it has been challenging to receive adequate funding to support our mission. Being a recipient of this grant makes me feel hopeful and acknowledged for the work we do to support bereaved moms. It is also a game-changer in the way that it also provides me with a meaningful opportunity to manifest the radical self-care that is necessary for effective leadership, balance, and sustainability." 

Shay Jacbos | Executive Director, Adam's Purpose


 

Frequently-Asked Questions

 Read Our FAQs

Must organizations share WFCO’s commitment to gender, racial, and economic equity to be considered for funding?

Yes, WFCO will consider organizations’ commitment to gender, racial, and economic equity and how that commitment is demonstrated in their programs, board, staff, policy, and practices.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must meet all criteria.

501(c)(3) charitable organizations; tax-exempt educational institutions; tax-exempt state, tribal, local government entities; or initiatives working with a fiscal sponsor. Organizations without nonprofit status who are interested in this fund should contact Camisha Lashbrook, donor relations manager, at CamishaL@wfco.org.

  • Organization headquartered in rural Colorado (regardless of service area) (See our list of counties and zip codes) for funding in the January - April cycle.
  • Organizations based in Front Range counties and statewide organizations are eligible for funding in the June - September cycle.
  • Organizations whose executive director or CEO is a woman of color, girl of color, or nonbinary person of color.
    Examples of exceptions that will be considered:
  • After school programs or extra-curricular activities at K-12 schools led by women of color, girls of color, or nonbinary people of color
  • Projects or departments at institutions of higher education that are led by women of color, girls of color, or nonbinary people of color
  • Community organizing or direct service organizations that advance economic security for or build the economic power of women of color, girls of color, and/or nonbinary people of color along the continuum from birth through adulthood. (Excludes research- and public policy-exclusive organizations). Examples: Early childhood education & child care; job training; entrepreneurship; financial education; self-esteem; trauma and healing; health; food insecurity; safety; reproductive justice; legal services; housing; leadership development; refugee and immigrant rights/services; grassroots advocacy

Contact Camisha Lashbrook at CamishaL@wfco.org if you aren’t sure whether your organization/group/initiative qualifies.

What are your funding priorities?

Our funding priorities are grounded in increasing investments in Colorado women and girls of color, their leadership, their futures, and their economic security.

  • Led by women and girls of color: Women of color have the experience and community knowledge to best lead our communities into an equitable future. Grantee organizations will be led by women of color executive directors.
  • Focused on women and girls of color: Women and girls of color receive just .5% of all foundation funding. Programs we fund will have a focus on the power and potential of women and girls of color.
  • Colorado-based and Colorado-focused: Colorado is a large and diverse state. Grantees will take a range of approaches to advancing the economic security of women and girls of color based on their specific communities' needs.
  • Liberatory leadership: Grantees will not only reject systems of racism, classism, homophobia, and patriarchy, they will also demonstrate radical practices of liberatory leadership such as self care and collective leadership, which undermine white supremacy culture.
  • Advancing economic security: In alignment with The Women's Foundation of Colorado's mission, the fund will support programs that advance the economic security of women and girls of color.
  • Those most underfunded: Following principles of intersectionality, the Women & Girls of Color Fund will prioritize those communities marginalized by multiple systems of oppression and most underfunded.

Can an organization apply for funding if they currently receive funding from WFCO or received funding from WFCO in the past?

Yes.

Can an organization apply for a grant from the Women & Girls of Color Fund if they are also applying for a grant from WINcome or have received previous funding from WFCO?

Yes.

Does an organization have to be based in Colorado?

Women & Girls of Color Fund grants will be made to organizations based in Colorado to serve and improve opportunities for women and girls of color in Colorado.

What does the application process look like?

You can find the application questions now in a PDF or Word document to prepare. Applicants will first be asked a series of eligibility questions. If your organization is eligible, you will be directed to the application. You do not need to complete your application in one sitting. You will need to submit the Google Form and come back via the link that will be automatically sent to your email or you can download the questions in advance to compile your responses before beginning to fill out the online application. There are no word minimums or maximums. Please feel free to copy and paste from other grant applications, collateral, or your website. After you’ve submitted your application, you will receivve a Calendly link to schedule a 30-minute conversation with our staff/advisory council and your executive director. We will take that time to get to know each other, answer any of your questions, and talk in more detail about your application responses.

What is the timeline for the application process?

See our FAQ document for a full timeline.

What does the review process look like?

After WFCO staff complete legal due diligence, we will compile each organization’s application and notes from follow-up conversations for our advisory council’s review. The advisory council members will independently evaluate organizations in alignment with our funding priorities and goals. Finally, council members will meet as a group to discuss the applications and make final decisions on who to fund and grant amounts. To ensure a well-diversified group of grantee partners and meet our goal of funding those most underfunded, the advisory council will also take into consideration factors such as populations served, counties served, type of services offered, size of organizations, and more.

Is this a multi-year grant?

Although they are not multi-year grants, grantee partners may reapply each year.

What size are the grants and what can funding be used for?

All grants from the Women & Girls of Color Fund are unrestricted. Grantee partners can use funds as startup funds, for operating expenses, to fund a new program, to supplement their work in areas traditionally difficult to fund (cash stipends, for example), to deepen their commitment to or work toward liberatory leadership, prevent staff burnout, uplift the leadership of women of color within their organizations or their community, or anything else necessary to achieve their mission.

Grants will range from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on how many organizations are selected for funding. Applicants do not need to submit an application for a specific amount. Organizations will also receive a $750 for staff appreciation or professional or personal development.

How many grantees will be funded?

We expect 10-15 grants will be awarded each cycle.

Will organizations of all budget sizes be considered for funding? Will new and more established organizations be considered for funding? Can an organization use a fiscal sponsor?

Yes, organizations of all sizes, as well as new organizations and those that have operated for many years will be considered. An organization can use a fiscal sponsor.

What are reporting expectations of grantees?

WFCO staff and the Women & Girls of Color Fund advisory council will schedule a virtual site visit with grantee partners in April after grants are distributed. Mid-year and end-of-year reporting will each consist of an hour-long conversation with WFCO staff: How did this grant impact your work, share a story from a constituent, and updated demographic breakdowns.

How will WFCO support our grantee partners?

The Women’s Foundation will take a holistic approach in supporting our grantee partners. In addition to funding, we hope to offer time and space for grantees to gather to discuss topics of their choosing, offer capacity building, make community connections, etc.

How can I learn more?

Organizations considering applying may reach out to Camisha Lashbrook at CamishaL@wfco.org or Renee Ferrufino at ReneeF@wfco.org with questions.

 

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