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 Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade and, with $5,000, 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, Women’s Fund initially focused on grants for pre-teen and adolescent programs. In subsequent years, we have continued to grow and have directed our grant-making program to focus on developing women and girl leaders, ending violence against women, and increasing economic security for families.
Now, more than a decade later, we are 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. We have awarded over $2 million to more than 350 gender specific programs serving thousands of women and girls, has played an important role in encouraging the development of programs designed to meet the needs of women and girls, and strengthening existing gender-specific programs.