The Women's Fund of New Hampshire

WFNH fuels positive change in our communities by supporting the most innovative and promising solutions to the issues facing women and girls today. We know that when women and girls prosper, communities thrive.

Our grant making is strategic and focused. We seek out programs that:

Empower and build self-esteem for women and girls.
End sexual and domestic violence.
Ensure access for women to job training and good-paying jobs, health resources, secure shelter, and educational opportunities for a lifetime of economic self-sufficiency.

We are interested in efforts that:

address the root causes of problems faced by women and girls;
result in long-term change for women and girls;
challenge systemic barriers faced by women and/or girls;
have an effect on large numbers of women and girls;
promote the empowerment and leadership of women and girls;
demonstrate collaboration among women's and girls' organizations;
raise consciousness of the status of women or girls or raise awareness of issues of concern to women or girls;
influence public policy in support of the full and equal participation of women and girls;
encourage philanthropy by women and girls.

What Types of Projects Do We Fund?

We look for solutions. We fund at the start-up phase of projects. We fund programs that are up and running and are striving to reach further into our communities. We also support established programs that are looking to add value to the community in which they work by sustaining the program or by funding the dissemination of a model project.

We call these phases of a project the 1) start up phase; 2) mid-stage; and 3) value-added phase.

Community is broadly defined as “family”, town, state.
Programs can use a tool kit of strategies to find a solution to an issue area. These strategies may include public policy advocacy efforts, public education campaigns, and/or direct services.
WFNH is looking for innovative programs that address the root causes of a critical issue affecting the women and girls in our NH communities to affect lasting positive change.

Who Is Eligible for Funding?

New Hampshire organizations designated as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Informal groups of women who have a sponsoring organization with a 501(c)(3) status and have come together for a specific project that benefits women and/or girls

What We Fund:

Start up expenses
New or special projects
Programs
General operating support
Organizational capacity building
Research

Grant awards are typically between $1,000 and $5,000. We now have two funding cycles per year. Over the past five years, WFNH has funded approximately 17% of the grant applications we received.

Our Funding History

Since 1999, we have distributed $450,000 to 130 organizations. The Women's Fund is proud to partner with these outstanding organizations that are enriching the lives of our state's women and girls through their expertise, innovative approach to problem solving and exemplary leadership.

In 2006, WFNH awarded grants totaling $75,000 to 19 organizations throughout the state of New Hampshire. In 2007, WFNH awarded grants totalling over 78,000 to 18 organizations. The programs and expertise of these organizations will truly affect social change in New Hampshire and further the goal of enabling all women and girls to reach their full potential.