Dec. 5, 2023 -- The Women’s Fund of North Carolina has awarded $19,570 in grants to charitable organizations throughout the state. The Women’s Fund is a program of the North Carolina Community Foundation.

The fund supports the changing and diverse issues, needs and challenges facing women in North Carolina through an annual grant program benefitting nonprofit organizations and programs that serve women and girls in any county within the NCCF network.

2023 recipients included the following:

$5,000 to Simply Girls, Inc., for general operating support. Based in Dunn, Simply Girls provides after-school and summer enrichment programming for girls ages 5 to 18, equipping girls to grow up healthy, educated, and independent.

$5,000 to Abundant Life Community Services, Inc., for their Single Moms Empowerment Series including personal finance curriculum and seminars facilitated by a certified family life educator. Abundant Life Community Services is based in New Bern.

$3,500 to Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina-Duplin for MCEC Empowers, promoting character education and positive self-image while empowering youth to peacefully resolve conflicts through small-group sessions and community activities.

$2,500 to Tried By Fire, Inc., for My Sister’s House: Safe Shelter for Justice-Involved Women. My Sister’s House provides temporary shelter for women in a monitored, supportive environment after their release from prison and serves Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico and Pitt counties.

$1,190 to Koinonia Community Solutions for Strong Healthy, Empowered and Resilient Girls (StrongHER). Through an afterschool and summer enrichment program, StrongHER provides teen girls in Pitt County with interpersonal and academic support and vocational resources.

$1,190 to North Carolina Immigration Law and Justice Center for general operating support. The N.C. Immigration Law and Justice Center, based in Fayetteville, provides affordable legal services, education, and advocacy to help immigrants in North Carolina.

$1,190 to StandUp-SpeakOut of North Carolina for the Circle of Hope Support Group, a no-cost, survivor-focused support group for youth and adults that aims to instill confidence, independence, and break generational cycles of abuse.

This year, the selection committee prioritized funding organizations led by women of color or who identify as a member of a historically marginalized population and services that promote leadership development for women and girls.

The recipients of the two largest grants received top scores from the selection committee for their efforts in promoting leadership among women and girls. Other recipients also received high marks from the selection committee. Grant recipients for 2023 cover a variety of women’s issues and come from all around the state.

Established in 1991, the Women’s Fund has awarded more than $284,000 in grants since its inception.

“Narrowing down the list was a challenge again this year as we again saw an increase in applications,” said Kathryn R. Holding, NCCF’s vice president of philanthropic services. “Clearly the need is great, and we welcome donors and other funders to join us as we support women across North Carolina.”

The grant selection committee is comprised of representatives from other NCCF women’s giving circles across the state, including the Women’s Giving Network of Wake County, the Bertie-Hertford Women’s Fund, the Currituck-Dare Woman’s Fund, and the Cary Women's Giving Network.

Learn more about the Women’s Fund of North Carolina and its work throughout the state or make a tax-deductible donation at nccommunityfoundation.org/WomensFund.