Washington Women’s Foundation (WaWF) is proud to announce our 2023 Collective Grants, totaling $454,500 to 30 Washington organizations! We’re especially thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s unrestricted $100,000 Collective Grants and $25,000 Merit Grant Awards. These amazing organizations work to increase equity in Washington State in our 2023 priorities: Early Childhood Education, Food Sovereignty & Security, and Reproductive Justice & Maternal Health.
“Our 2023 Grantees do often-unsung work making Washington State a better place for all to live and thrive. It is a joy to support amazing organizations and their efforts to provide so many Washingtonians with nutritious food, supportive healthcare, and a quality education,” says WaWF President and CEO, Maria Kolby-Wolfe.
All six organizations were offered an additional restricted $5,000 Leadership and Self-Care Grant. This capacity building grant is intended to support leadership development, self-care, and wellness within the organization. Our understanding of leadership includes leadership at all levels of the organization
We’re delighted to introduce you to our 2023 Collective Grantees, Merit Finalists, and Merit Awardees!
2023 Grantees
Early Childhood Education: Communities of Rooted Brilliance
Embracing traditional customs and values, CRB provides newcomers with community-inspired educational opportunities that create pathways for self-determination as they weave into the fabric of their newfound home. CRB’s Early Learning programs provide culturally, and linguistically matched home visiting services focused on child development, school readiness, caregiver advocacy and system navigation as well as connection and referral to relevant community services matched to families’ needs.
Food Sovereignty & Security: Global to Local
Global to Local (G2L) works to reduce health and social disparities in south King County, primarily in immigrant and refugee communities. G2L addresses systemic racism and inequity in food production and distribution and works toward food justice through its Food Innovation Network (FIN). They run the seasonal Tukwila Village Farmer’s Market and Spice Bridge, the Food Business Incubator for BIPOC women and immigrants to start and grow thriving cultural food businesses.
Reproductive Justice & Maternal Health: Ttáwaxt Birth Justice Center
The Ttáwaxt Birth Justice Center, created and led by Native women, serves families on and near the Yakama Nation Reservation. They offer pre and postnatal care, reproductive healthcare, breastfeeding support, childbirth education, cultural classes, plant medicine, and other support for families. They center the wisdom of Indigenous life-givers and protectors, and know their cultural practices are vital to the continuance of the next generation and the healing. They are carrying out their mission through the revitalization of Indigenous intergenerational matriarchal practices and systems and by creating safe, Indigenous spaces where families and communities can heal and thrive.
2023 Merit Award Finalists
Washington Women’s Foundation gave a $25,000 Merit Award to each of our three finalist organizations in recognition of the time, effort and goodwill they invested in our rigorous grantmaking process. This year’s Merit Award Finalists are:
Early Childhood Education: Voices Of Tomorrow
Voices of Tomorrow aims to reduce educational disparities for East African immigrant and refugee children statewide. VOT offers culturally and linguistically responsive early learning programs that preserve children’s culture and language while preparing them for success in U.S. schools. Programs include Somali-English Dual Language Preschool, ParentChild+ and Mind, Body, and Culture Home Visiting Program, and the HUB network.
Food Sovereignty & Security: Peacekeeper Society
Peacekeeper Society (PKS) provides life changing opportunities for indigenous people, but strives to serve everyone regardless of age, ethnicity, color, enrollment, or immigration status. PKS works in rural Native communities to address geographic disparity, lack of transportation, and water issues among others by bringing the food directly to communities. They work to preserve Indigenous cultural practices and relationships with food through the Traditional Food Preservation Program and respond to urgent need for food access through the mobile Emergency Response Program.
Reproductive Justice & Maternal Health: Foundation for Youth Resiliency and Engagement
FYRE’s mission is to advocate for equitable opportunities that allow all youth to thrive. To meet their mission, they offer services to ensure underserved Okanogan youth, ages 12-24, have their needs met in four main areas: 1) education, 2) physical and mental health, 3) basic needs and 4) resiliency programming. This includes providing educational advocacy, supporting young parents, increasing accessibility to whole-person health services, providing referrals and resources to youth experiencing homelessness and those experiencing sexual exploitation, and more.
2023 Merit Awardees
WaWF offered an additional $49,500 in grants to acknowledge the time and energy our Merit Awardees invested in the Collective Grants process. We encourage you to learn more about their work!
Food Sovereignty & Security
- Alimentando al Pueblo ($3,000 Award)
- Black Farmers Collective ($3,000 Award)
- FEEST (Food Empowerment Education & Sustainability Team) ($3,000 Award)
- Community to Community Development ($1,500 Award)
- Living Well Kent ($1,500 Award)
- Rainier Valley Food Bank ($1,500 Award)
- Skagit Gleaners ($1,500 Award)
- White Center Food Bank ($1,500 Award)
Early Childhood Education
- Denise Louie Education Center ($3,000 Award)
- East African Community Services ($3,000 Award)
- First Five Years & Beyond ($3,000 Award)
- La Casa Hogar ($1,500 Award)
- Launch ($1,500 Award)
- Para Los Niños ($1,500 Award)
- Raze Early Learning and Development Center ($1,500 Award)
- Zeno ($1,500 Award)
Reproductive Justice & Maternal Health
- Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services ($3,000 Award)
- Open Arms Perinatal Services ($3,000 Award)
- Perinatal Support Washington ($3,000 Award)
- Mother Africa ($1,500 Award)
- Neighborcare Health ($1,500 Award)
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho ($1,500 Award)
- The Health Center ($1,500 Award)
- Tubman Center for Health & Freedom ($1,500 Award)
Over the next three years WaWF’s Grantee Engagement Team (GET) will build relationships with our new grantees, working with them to find opportunities to support them and their communities. Interested in joining GET or our membership community? Contact membership@wawomensfdn.org for more information. All are welcome!