|
Our History
In 1993 a group of dedicated women made a decision that
transformed the lives of many women and girls in Miami-Dade
County. They founded the Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade and with
$5,000, they began to fill the huge funding gap that existed
for programs working exclusively with girls and young women.
In 1996, with funding from the Roblee Foundation, the
Women's Fund surveyed local agencies, looking especially at
programs for girls and young women. Three hundred fifty
agencies were contacted and 142 responded. The results
highlighted the extent of the local funding gap:
§
Only 5% said they worked exclusively with girls and young
women;
§
36% said they had some specific programs for pre-teen and
adolescent girls;
§
49% said they had no specific programs, but that girls could
be included in general programs.
On the basis of this survey, the Women's Fund initially
focused on grants for pre-teen and adolescent programs. In
subsequent years, the Women's Fund has continued to grow and
has directed its grant-making program to
focus on developing women and girl leaders, ending violence
against women, and increasing economic security for families.
Now, over a decade years later, Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade
is a flourishing source of funding in our community, thanks
to the support of people in Miami-Dade who believe in
creating a community where all women and girls can prosper.
Women's Fund has awarded over $2 million to more than 225
projects serving thousands of women and girls and has played
an important role in encouraging the development of more
programs designed with the need of women and girls in mind
and strengthening existing gender-specific programs.
Women's Fund
of Miami-Dade is honored to have received the following
awards:
2002 Miami New Times
- Best Charity
2005 Governor's Peace at Home
Award
2006 Greater Miami Chamber of
Commerce NOVO Award for Non-Profit
Innovative Excellence (Women's Fund of Miami-Dade's Women's
Advocacy Project)
2006 Donors Forum Impact
Award
2006 Conrad Miami/Miami Today
Reflections in Excellence Award
2007 Diamond Award from The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce |
