Women’s Fund of Central Indiana is proud to announce the distribution of $475,000 in grants to 30 organizations in Central Indiana. As part of its annual grant round, Women’s Fund awarded critical financial support to not-for-profits and programs that empower and uplift women and girls across Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, and Shelby counties.
With a record number of applications this year, the grants were strategically directed to support key areas impacting the lives of women and girls in Central Indiana. Among the grantees, 11 are first-time recipients, and 6 are small grassroots organizations with revenues under $250,000. Nearly half of the grantee organizations are led by people of color, reflecting the Women’s Fund’s commitment to fostering diverse leadership and inclusive initiatives.
“Last year we asked women in our community what issues were most important to them. They told us health, especially reproductive health and mental health. They were concerned about access to reproductive care, Central Indiana’s tragic infant and maternal mortality rates and the emotional well-being of girls and young women,” said Tamara Winfrey-Harris, President of Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. “We listen to women. Our grants are an investment in lasting change focused on the areas that women have told us will be most impactful for them.”
Women’s Fund is committed to funding organizations that promote the health, economic stability, safety, and overall well-being of women and girls in Central Indiana, especially those who are most vulnerable. The organization also endeavors to address inequities in funding and support that leave women- and girl-serving organizations, and those they serve, under-resourced. Women and girls’ specific issues receive less than 2 percent of all U.S. philanthropic giving. The needs of women and girls of color receive less than 1 percent. Each year, organizations serving women and girls in Central Indiana can apply for grants through Women’s Fund’s annual grant round. Women’s Fund provides operating support to organizations whose mission focuses on women and girls, while other organizations may apply for project or program-specific funding.
The Power of Women Supporting Women
As those who identify as women in a society that wasn’t designed for our success, we must lift each other through our words, actions and friendship. Women’s Fund recently interviewed a few women connected to our organization to gather some examples of the power of help and support they have received from other women.
Rhonda Bayless, Executive Director and Founder of Centers of Wellness for Urban Women
“The transformative moment in my journey into community work occurred when a woman told me, ‘We all have a story; these are just their stories.’ As someone new to working with women with diverse lived experiences, I found myself engulfed in emotions while listening to their powerful narratives. In that instant, I learned to see myself in every story and every experience while also respecting each individual’s unique journey.
“This profound realization taught me that I can walk into any room and see myself reflected in others while still acknowledging and respecting our differences. I understood that listening to someone’s story should not evoke pity but rather foster a shared perspective. We all have a story, and in recognizing that, I embraced the notion that we are all connected. I am the same. We are the same.”
Olivia West, In-Game Host for Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever
“My mentor, Angela Freeman, has profoundly impacted my professional journey with her transformational advice. From the outset, Angela emphasized the importance of self-belief and embracing my unique strengths. Her wisdom and guidance have been instrumental in helping me navigate the complexities of my career. Angela’s strategic insights into effective networking, personal branding, and leadership have empowered me to overcome challenges and seize opportunities with confidence. She encouraged me to take bold steps, and her unwavering support has been a cornerstone in my development. Thanks to Angela’s mentorship, I have not only grown as a professional but also as a person, fully embracing my potential and striving for excellence in every endeavor.”
Katie Wiley, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Round Room, LLC and The Cellular Connection, LLC.
“I don’t know this woman personally; however, the author/speaker Laura Vanderkam fundamentally changed the way I navigate work-life integration. The book 168 Hours helped me put down the weight of expectations that I had about being a woman who carries many titles (wife, mother, friend, along with the ones on the business cards). Ms. Vanderkam writes about how we each get 168 hours in our week. We are the one to choose how those get spent. There is time for a full professional life, sleep, family, friendships, healthy movement, hobbies and more. It may have to fit in spaces and times that aren’t traditional or combine two things at once, but it is possible! Because of this book, our family does family breakfast rather than what I felt was the pressure of fitting in a traditional family dinner. We are each the authors of our own lives … pick up your pen!”
This article was published within the November 2024 issue of the Women’s Fund’s Diane magazine.
