By Greg Archer | Contributing Columnist
has distributed another round of grants through its , which is for helping women in need. The grants will provide resources to Inland Empire organizations that offer services to women and their families.
A total of $45,000 will be distributed to three nonprofits. Individual grants hit $15,000.
This year also marks a significant honor with the 2024 Woman of Achievement award being given to Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, trustee of the San Bernardino County Board of Education. Dowdy-Rodgers also received $5,000 for the charity of her choice that serves women in the region.
“We’re incredibly honored to distribute these grants that center the needs of women in the region,” said Nefertiti Long, board chair of IECF and chair of the IECF Women’s Giving Fund. “We are also grateful that this fund has continually grown through the generous support of our donors who believe in what’s possible when you come together.”
The 2024 grants will enhance resources available to these nonprofits and empower them to expand their reach while make a lasting difference in the lives of women and their families. The IECF Women’s Giving Fund is dedicated to using collaborative philanthropy to create opportunities for women to thrive in the Inland Empire.
The 2024 grant recipients are a dynamic mix of nonprofits.
was founded in 2001 by Michelle Watson’s friends and family to ensure nobody faces cancer alone. The grant will support the nonprofit mental health services.
, founded by Pastor Roseanna Campos, will use the grant to support its women’s transitional services.
San Antonio Regional Hospital’s program will benefit from the funding.
The Women’s Giving Fund was established in 2017, thanks to efforts of a group of professional women who wanted to create an inclusive opportunity for female donors to learn about women’s economic security issues, focus their giving on issues impacting women and children, and experience the power of collaborative philanthropy.
Celebrating IECF’s 80th anniversary, WGF was named a Signature Fund in 2022. Since 2018, more than $185,000 has been distributed by WGF to nonprofits helping women and families.
The recent grant awards were presented at the annual WGF Spring Fling brunch at Edwards Mansion in Redlands on April 21. More than 200 guests listened to Dowdy-Rodgers, who was the keynote speak and shared an inspiring message.
The Women’s Giving Fund also announced plans to commission and invest in new research. Guided by data, the Women’s Giving Fund will be able to better understand the issues affecting women in the Inland Empire, ensure contributions are directed where the need is greatest, and support the community for maximum impact.
A contribution of $200 or more to the WGF allows donors to participate in the annual grantmaking process as they identify and support the organizations most in need.
For more information or to donate to the Women’s Giving Fund, visit .
works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy.
