The Women’s Fund of Essex County, managed by the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF), offers grants to nonprofit organizations providing gender-specific programs and services for at-risk women and girls in Essex County, Massachusetts. These grants aim to address systemic social inequities and positively impact the lives of women and girls through targeted, results-oriented programming. Since its inception in 2003, the Women’s Fund has awarded over $3.84 million to local nonprofits.

For the 2025 grant cycle, all awards will be multi-year grants totaling $30,000 over three years. This structure allows organizations to secure long-term funding for programs that address complex, longer-term issues affecting women and girls. Organizations receiving funding through the Women’s Fund’s 2024 cycle may apply again, but only for a different program.

To be eligible, nonprofit organizations must serve residents of Essex County. While preference is given to organizations based in Essex County, this is not a requirement, provided the funds are spent within the county. Programs sponsored by religious organizations are eligible, but participation must be open to all qualified individuals, and the program must not include mandatory sectarian religious instruction. Grants will not be awarded to individuals, for debt reduction, capital campaigns, research studies, political or religious purposes, or endowments.

The application deadline for the 2025 cycle is January 8, 2025. Applications must be submitted through the Application Portal on the ECCF website. The review process is competitive, and reporting requirements include submitting final reports through the portal to demonstrate program outcomes and fund usage.

For further information, applicants can contact Carol Lavoie Schuster, VP for Programs & Nonprofit Services, at (978) 777-8876 x133 or via email at c.lavoieschuster@eccf.org. Nonprofits seeking funding are encouraged to ensure their programs align with the Women’s Fund’s mission of addressing inequities and creating meaningful change for women and girls in Essex County.