Introduction

In 2022, we established The Women and Girls Fund to build resources to support women and girls on Cape Cod. Our vision is simple: to change lives.

For more than three decades, The Foundation’s grantmaking and civic leadership initiatives have positively impacted women and girls across Cape Cod. We have funded health and human services, housing initiatives, childcare programs, and efforts to improve food security and access. We have invested in educational and mentoring programs, supported entrepreneurial ventures, and distributed millions in scholarships.

So why is this fund so important? The gaps are widening. Only 1.9% of all charitable giving in the United States is directed specifically to nonprofits serving women and girls. The cycle of poverty continues. The inequities—in pay, in job opportunities—are still great. The barriers to affordable housing and childcare are incredibly high. So are the unemployment rates. The challenges faced by women and girls of color persist. 

Yet, while the statistics are sobering, we are driven to act. We are building a community of support and deepening our investment in the women and girls in our community. With our collective power and collective resources, we can fund broad-scale initiatives that lead to regional, systemic change. Together, we can change HERstory.