Leading philanthropic nonprofit investing in the economic empowerment of women and girls in Massachusetts awards over $1.7 million to 10 local non-profits
Boston, MA – June 1, 2023 – The Women’s Foundation of Boston (WFBoston) is proud to announce that it has awarded a total of $1,707,428 to 10 nonprofits through its 2023 grant cycle. This marks WFBoston’s sixth year of grantmaking to nonprofits that serve women and girls across the Commonwealth, and the largest single grant cycle in the organization’s history. WFBoston is a nonprofit public charity that creates, funds, and accelerates economic empowerment, leadership, and mentoring programs that equip women and girls in Massachusetts to be financially independent and successful leaders. Since its inception in 2017, WFBoston has committed a total of $6,060,749 to women and girls-serving nonprofits.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming continues to be a focus of WFBoston’s grantmaking because studies show it boosts girls’ confidence, driving them to pursue future leadership positions, innovate, and feel less afraid of failure. In this grant cycle, WFBoston is awarding six grants to support STEM programming offered by Esperanza Academy, Mother Caroline, MUA, Women’s Money Matters, Girl Scouts of Central and Western MA, and Girl Scouts of Eastern MA. The six STEM-support grants total $1,158,428.
Of these six STEM-focused grants, three of the grantees serve women and/or girls in Massachusetts Gateway Cities, including Esperanza Academy, Girl Scouts of Central and Western MA, and Women’s Money Matters. Women and girls residing in the state’s 26 Gateway Cities often experience gaps in access to crucial resources and programming. In addition to supporting these programs, WFBoston is expanding its investment into the Gateway Cities through grants to nonprofits including Girls on the Run Greater Boston, Girls on the Run Worcester, and WE CAN. Of WFBoston’s total 2023 grantmaking, $1,149,000 is committed to supporting work in the Gateway Cities.
“Historically as a society, we have not done enough to build women and girls’ confidence in their academic, athletic, leadership, and financial abilities, all of which are priorities for the organizations we support and help scale,” said Christina Gordon, Co-Founder and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Boston. “It is crucial that we continue to invest in nonprofits, especially those operating in our Gateway Cities, giving them the ability to serve thousands of women and girls in need of our support.”
The 2023 grantees include:
Girls on the Run Greater Boston (GOTRGB) inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a research-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. WFBoston is awarding a three-year $150,000 grant to fund growth in under-resourced, high-need communities including Lynn, Lowell, Brockton, and Boston. Through four previous grants, WFBoston has provided funding to GOTRGB for growth in underserved communities in Greater Boston and the Gateway Cities.
Girls on the Run Worcester (GOTRW) creatively integrates running into a research-based curriculum that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident. WFBoston is awarding a three-year $204,000 grant to fund programs in low-income community schools in Worcester. WFBoston has provided two previous grants to GOTRW for growth in underserved communities in Worcester.
Dress for Success Boston (DFSB) empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. This three-year $45,000 grant will cover a portion of the salary for a Youth Coordinator to cultivate relationships with Boston youth. DFSB previously received funding from WFBoston to support their teen programming and technology upgrades.
Esperanza Academy is a tuition-free, independent middle school for girls from low-income communities in Lawrence. This three-year $180,000 grant will fund a second science teacher to ensure a more robust STEM program and instruction. Esperanza Academy previously received two grants for an additional math teacher and COVID relief assistance.
Girl Scouts of Central and Western MA (GSCWM) Girl Scouts of Central and Western MA (GSCWM) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. This three-year $165,000 grant will fund a Community Partnership Specialist to work in Western MA, where there is currently limited community-based Girl Scout programming. GSCWM previously received funding from WFBoston to expand their It’s a Girl’s World program and for fundraising software.
Girl Scouts of Eastern MA (GSEMA) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, providing positive outcomes through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience that focuses on four pillars which are STEM, Outdoors, Entrepreneurship, and Life Skills. The $174,428 three-year grant will support a Community Engagement Specialist who will provide direct support to caregivers, girls and volunteers, in order to increase participation in Girl Scouts for girls from under-resourced communities. GSEMA previously received two grants from WFBoston for their Girl Scouts at Home programming and technology upgrades for virtual programming during the pandemic.
Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center (MCA) is the only tuition-free independent school for girls in grades three through eight in the City of Boston serving traditionally under-resourced neighborhoods. This three-year $219,000 grant will strengthen MCA’s STEAM program by funding a coding teacher, a part-time makerspace teacher, and the costs associated with a week-long internship program at Boston Children’s Hospital. MCA previously received three grants from WFBoston to cover pandemic-related expenses, hire an outreach and admissions coordinator, and hire a marketing consultant.
Mujeres Unidas Avanzando (MUA) provides low-income Latina and other immigrant women who are English Language Learners the tools to empower themselves through mentoring, education, and job training. This three-year $120,000 grant will fund an additional Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) educational training and externship program, for which there is currently a waitlist. MUA previously received funding from WFBoston to pilot a Medical Administrative Assistant job training program.
WE CAN is a Cape Cod-based nonprofit focused on supporting and empowering women going through life transitions and challenges. This three-year $150,000 grant will fund a program staff position and volunteer coordination to support WE CAN’s expansion to a second location in Hyannis, MA. WE CAN previously received WFBoston funding for an impact and program measurement study to assess their programs and offerings.
Women’s Money Matters (WMM) is a nonprofit whose mission is to empower women living on low-incomes to improve their financial health to create a more secure future for their families and communities. This three-year $300,000 grant will support the hiring of a Community Engagement Coordinator to scale WMM’s existing financial wellness programs. WMM previously received four grants from WFBoston to grow their financial health workshops and mentoring programs.
Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, was named President and CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2016. She is also Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Previously, she was the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and Professor of Medicine of Weill Cornell Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University. Dr. Glimcher is a distinguished immunologist, widely renowned for her work in one of the most promising areas of cancer research.
Linda Henry is the CEO of the Boston Globe Media Partners. She is a co-founder of HUBweek, a civic collaboration between the Boston Globe, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and MIT that explores the future being built at the intersection of art, science and technology. Linda is also an early-stage impact investor, an Emmy-Award winning television producer with two shows currently airing, and a community activist. She serves as a director of the Red Sox Foundation, is a trustee of the Liverpool Football Club Foundation, chair of the Boston Globe Foundation, and chairman of the John W. Henry Family Foundation. In addition, she is a founder of the Boston Public Market, serves on the advisory board of MassChallenge, and is on the board of the Engine at MIT. She earned a BS from Babson College and her MS from MIT.
Bekah Salwasser joined the Red Sox Foundation as the Executive Director in January of 2018. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Brown University and has extensive experience in philanthropy and both professional and semi-professional sports. After four years working as Community Relations Director for the Boston Celtics, Bekah went on to lead Scholar Athletes as its Executive Director, a program that supports public high school athletes with both their athletic and academic achievements. Earlier in her career, Bekah served as a professional soccer player for the Boston Breakers and as Executive Director of the Charlestown Lacrosse and Learning Center.
Kimberly Fay Boucher is a business executive who has driven high performance organizations in technology, consumer products and social enterprise/nonprofit industries over the past 25 years. She is currently the Technology Commercialization Business Leader for the CTO at Analog Devices, where she is responsible for driving new technologies from incubation stages to successful businesses. Kim is also a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where she teaches Disciplined Entrepreneurship in the Martin Trust Center. She holds a BS in Management Industrial Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a NCAA Academic All-American Women’s Basketball player and has been inducted into the WPI Hall of Fame.
Ami Kuan Danoff (Co-Founder and CFO) is a private investor and the trustee of a foundation. She is a Harvard Quantum Founder and a member of the Harvard FAS Dean’s Council. Ami earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in Visual and Environmental Studies and holds a dual master’s degree in Applied Economics and International Finance from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. She was a portfolio manager in global equities at Putnam Investments and co-manager of the Putnam International New Opportunities Fund, and also worked as an international equities analyst at Fidelity Investments.
Christina Heenan Suh holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in English and Marketing and a master’s from Columbia University. A former management consultant, her work focused on strategy and implementation projects for Fortune 100 clients. She was also an account executive at Hill+Knowlton (WPP) marketing consumer packaged goods. As an Executive Board Member of the Brookline Education Foundation, which funds professional development in the Brookline Public Schools, Christina led their Grant and Oversight Committees. She currently sits on the board of the Brookline Library Foundation and teaches ESL at Rosie’s Place in Boston.
Christina Gordon (Co-Founder and CEO) holds a dual master’s degree in International Finance and Applied Economics from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston University and also studied for a joint master’s degree in Women’s Studies and Sociology at Brandeis with a focus on women in the workplace. Christina is a former assistant fund manager and technology industry equity analyst at Wellington Management. She also worked as a stock analyst at Fidelity Investments. She is a trustee of a private foundation, a member of Women Moving Millions and currently sits on the board of Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women in Boston.