Women’s Giving Alliance announces record $543,000 in grants aimed at breaking cycle of female poverty

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The Women’s Giving Alliance (WGA), an initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, recently announced a record $543,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida to them help lift women from poverty.

More than 300 WGA members attended the organization’s annual meeting on Oct. 31 and voted overwhelmingly to ratify the 2018 grants, which represent the second round of annual funding since WGA began its focus on “Breaking the Cycle of Female Poverty: Intervention and Prevention.” In just two years, WGA has channeled more than $1 million toward its poverty focus.

WGA’s commissioned research from The Institute of Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) has guided WGA grantmaking since 2016 when they shifted to the new focus area. All WGA members contribute to the grantmaking pool of funds, and nearly one-quarter of WGA’s membership participated in the decision process for awarding grants.

The 2018 grantees include:

Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center (DBWPC): Breaking the Cycle (BTC)

$68,696 (all counties)

DBWPC will work to identify and change policies, practices, obstacles and barriers in the areas of court costs and housing that lead to intergenerational poverty for girls impacted by the justice system, and those who identify as females living in Northeast Florida. These changes will result in strategic recommendations and solutions, responses, policies and practices that break the inter and multi-generational cycle of poverty for justice-involved girls and their families.

Family Promise of Jacksonville: Back to Work, Back to Home

$50,000 (Duval County)

Utilizing a blend of social services, volunteers, and underused buildings, Family Promise of Jacksonville offers hope to homeless women with children. Family Promise partners with local multi-denominational congregations to provide temporary housing and meals to families. At the Family Promise Day Center, women receive wraparound services and intensive case management focused on resources needed to transition from the shelter to affordable housing.

Girls Inc.: Breaking cycles of female poverty and welfare through mentoring programs for fourth- to eighth-grade girls

$100,000 (Duval County)

The Strong, Smart, and Bold Mentoring Program assists high-risk girls in fourth to eighth grades in overcoming barriers that prevent them from successful high school graduation. Working with Duval County Schools, Girls Inc. supports academic achievement and on-time grade advancement, social and emotional development, and experiential opportunities for personal and career discovery. This grant enables Girls Inc. to add fourth and fifth grades to the existing program, including purchase of evidence-based social and emotional learning curricula.

Her Song: Economic Empowerment Program/EMPath (Economic Mobility Pathways)

$38,210 (Referrals from all Northeast Florida counties)

Her Song is the first residential program in Northeast Florida providing healing home and holistic programs for survivors of human trafficking to aid in their journey toward recovery and restoration. Residential coaches, using the EMPath Bridge to Self-Sufficiency® and the Mobility Mentoring® system, give survivors the time, support, safe space and a prescribed pathway from victimization to empowered living. Participants use EMPath tools to increase their incomes, secure permanent housing, attain education, and establish themselves in careers that help them break the cycle of poverty.

I. M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless and Hubbard House: Step Up To Success

$150,000 (All Northeast Florida counties)

This collaboration will assist formerly homeless women (many with children) and survivors of domestic violence by lifting them out of poverty through career training, vocational certification and job/career placement. One-on-one mentoring by a Goodwill College Navigator and the A-Step Program will help women reach economic security and self-sufficiency through gainful employment at a living wage or entrepreneurial self-employment. Upon completing their education, participants will be eligible for microloans and/or stipends to assist them in acquiring the tools/equipment to start their new career.

Jacksonville University (JU): POWER Camp

$16,094 (Duval County)

JU will create and conduct a camp for rising seventh- to ninth-grade girls from low income households. POWER camp will provide girls with an early awareness of the possibilities and benefits of a college education through exposure to creative writing and arts, STEM careers, healthy coping skills, career development and health education. JU student mentors are paired with camp participants and continue their mentorship through the following year.

Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS): 360 Wraparound Program

$120,000 (Duval, Nassau, St. Johns counties)

JFCS will provide in-home, intense financial assistance case management to low-income female heads of household. Individualized home visits and coaching will help women emerge from crisis with skills and resources to achieve and maintain economic empowerment and self-sufficiency. This includes wraparound gender-responsive, trauma-informed care. There will also be limited emergency financial assistance provided for housing stability and basic needs.

WGA has experienced record 15 percent growth and 92 percent retention in membership this year, which resulted in the largest grants pool to date. For more information on WGA, visit www.wganefl.org