AUSTIN, Texas – The Women’s Fund at Austin Community Foundation announced today five local nonprofits were chosen to receive a combined total of $250,000 — the largest annual amount in the 15 year history of the Women’s Fund — for programs aimed at improving the economic security of Central Texas women and children. The grant recipients include: Saint Louise House, Mainspring Schools, Breakthrough Central Texas, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and PelotonU.
The Women’s Fund — a program of Austin Community Foundation — educates, engages and inspires giving to improve the lives of women and children in Central Texas.
The 2019 grant process included thorough evaluations of applicants based on the nonprofit’s ability to meet the goals of the Women’s Fund focus areas in housing, child care, education, and unintended pregnancy prevention. This year, the Women’s Fund launched the new Innovation Grant, an award designed to recognize a nonprofit project addressing one or more of the Women’s Fund focus areas by utilizing an innovative solution.
Women’s Fund 2019 Grant Partners:
/ Housing
Nonprofit: Saint Louise House
Project: Wraparound services for women and children
/ Child Care
Nonprofit: Mainspring Schools
Project: Access, support & expansion for low-income & single mothers in Austin
/ Education
Nonprofit: Breakthrough Central Texas
Project: College completion program
/ Unintended Pregnancy Prevention
Nonprofit: Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
Project: Unintended pregnancy prevention program
/ Innovation
Nonprofit: PelotonU
Project: College peer coaching and child care for working mothers
“The practice of collective philanthropic giving enables each member of the Women’s Fund to have an impact far greater than that possible for most women in our community,” Jane Louis, co-chair of the Women’s Fund Grants Committee, said. “When the spirit of generosity meets the face of identified need and both are backed by relevant data, the result can be summed up in one word: hope. The work of the Women’s Fund, together with our nonprofit partners, is to bring hope home to women in our community and to their families.”
The Women’s Fund was established in 2004 to focus on the needs of women and children in Central Texas. Since then, Women’s Fund investors have granted nearly $2 million to more than 60 local nonprofit programs.
The Women’s Fund is a key strategy in Austin Community Foundation’s effort to close the opportunity gap.