Women’s Fund Announces 2016 Grant Recipients

Fall 2016, News

Women’s Fund annually awards grants to local nonprofit agencies making a positive impact on the lives of Omaha’s women and girls. Here are this year’s recipients:

BY NDUULWA KOWA

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO WOMEN GRANT

The Excellence in Service to Women Grant is in-tended to recognize and encourage excellence in programming for women that aims to achieve our shared vision of a community where every woman and girl can reach her full potential.

This year we are awarding $25,000 to Santa Monica, Inc. for their halfway house program offering a holistic continuum of care to women with substance dependence issues.

COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS

The Women’s Fund awards Community Impact Grants in the priority areas of domestic violence, economic self-sufficiency, sexual literacy and leadership development. This year we are awarding $107,000 to seven organizations:

• Notre Dame Sisters, Hotel/Motel Training, $22,000- Training of staff at hotels and motels to recognize the signs of sex trafficking and respond through reporting.

• Justice for Our Neighbors-Nebraska, Domestic Violence Access to Justice, $20,000-Program strengthens collaborations via educational presentation and outreach to law enforcement agencies and service providers on best practices when working with immigrant DV victims.

• Women’s Center for Advancement, Emergency Funds, $15,000-The WCA provides clients with emergency direct assistance including temporary housing, transportation, lock changes, and other immediate needs for low-income clients who would otherwise face a financial barrier in getting help.

• Girls Inc., Sexpertise, $15,000-250 girls will be introduced to medically accurate reproductive health information; the risks of sexual behaviors; the availability of healthcare and counseling; and receive non-judgmental answers to their questions.

• Nebraska Children’s Home Society, Teen Chat, $15,000-offers educational classes and support focusing on STD education, sexual literacy, and pregnancy prevention and the development of a healthy sense of personal wellbeing. To serve 250 youth.

• Legal Aid Nebraska, Elder Access Line, $10,000-provides relief to 250 elderly women facing crisis due to consumer issues by providing advice, representation and peace of mind.

• Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation, Latina Women Go Forward, $10,000-increase opportunities for Latinas through holistic education, entrepreneurial training, business coaching, leadership development, workplace tech training, access to capital, and financial literacy. To serve 300 Latinas.

LEGACY LEAGUE GRANT

Three organizations applying for funding—Urban League of Nebraska, Omaha Girls Rock, and Latino Center of the Midlands—were invited to present to our Legacy League, comprised of local girls, ages 8-18. After all three presented, Legacy League members voted to determine the recipient of this $5,000 grant.

• Omaha Girls Rock, Afterschool Leadership Program, $5,000-Empower young women to find their unique voice through creativity, music education and performance.

EMERGING ISSUES GRANTS

Emerging Issues Grants provide funding for innovative solutions to emerging issues that face women and girls in our community. The goal is to provide agencies with funding for issues that face women and girls that the Women’s Fund might not yet know about or have not identified as one of its priority areas. This year we are awarding $15,000 to two organizations:

• Intercultural Senior Center, Shoulder to Shoulder, $10,000-mental health support group for seniors from around the world.

• Lutheran Family Services, Ambassadors ESL Mentoring Program, $5,000-will provide individualized ESL services to 30 female refugees.

LEGACY CIRCLE GRANT

Three organizations applying for funding—Intercultural Senior Center, Nebraska Children’s Home Society, and Lutheran Family Services—were invited to present to our Legacy Circle, comprised of former Women’s Fund board members. After all three presented, Legacy Circle members voted to determine the recipient of this $5,000 grant:

• Nebraska Children’s Home Society, Raising Your Grandchildren, $5,000—Provides an environment where grandparents can share their blessings and struggles with others experiencing similar challenges, as well as gain knowledge of child development.

BE THE CHANGE

Two organizations applying for funding—Women’s Center for Advancement, and Notre Dame Sisters—have been invited to present their program in a video vignette at the annual Lead the Change luncheon. Attendees will vote to determine the recipient of an additional $10,000 in funding. W

To learn more about Women’s Fund grant opportunities, please visit http://www.omahawomensfund.org/funding-solutions/

Comments