Grants that Change Lives
The Women’s Foundation of Collier County strives to meet unmet needs and empower women and girls in Collier County. To donate to the fund, please call the Collier Community Foundation at 239-649-5000.
Helping Women and Girls
Society’s most chronic problems – from poverty to healthcare to violence – have a greater negative impact on at-risk women and girls than other segments of the population. Since 2002, the Women’s Foundation of Collier County, a field-of-interest fund at the Community Foundation, has granted more than $500,000 to local nonprofit organizations that support at-risk women and girls.
Where does the grant money come from?
Grant monies awarded by the Women’s Foundation of Collier County are funded through a combination of the investment earnings from the endowment fund and the net proceeds from special events like Power of the Purse and the Women of Initiative Honorees Luncheon. The Women’s Foundation will also engage individuals interested in establishing field-of-interest funds in establishing and growing those funds to support the unmet needs of women and girls.
2018-19 Recipients of Grants
WFCC granted more than $500,000 since inception. In 2018-19, the Women’s Foundation focused its grantmaking on supporting three organizations with larger impact grants including:
WFCC awarded $20,000 to Naples Senior Center at JFCS to add a case manager for the Helping At-risk Senior Women Caregivers program. Four months into the grant, 27 women have received stress management assistance and education by attending caregivers boot camp, and 22 senior women have received case management assessments and services that link them to additional resources.
The WFCC awarded $20,000 to David Lawrence Center to provide at-risk women with a 28-day stay in their Crossroads Residential Treatment Program, followed by 24 sessions of Intensive Outpatient Group Therapy, along with assistance with medication and ob/gyn expenses.
The WFCC awarded $25,000 to The Shelter for Abused Women and Children to help build the Shelly Stayer Shelter in Immokalee for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
The WFCC granted $7,500 to Boys & Girls Club of Collier County to support at-risk middle school girls. They also mentor the young women during a 10-week program held at the center. The program, called Junior Women of Initiative (JWOI) assembles an array of experienced community women from the Women’s Foundation who share a common goal of seeking to inspire confidence, character, and leadership in the next generation of at-risk girls. The funding is used to help middle school girls build self-esteem, confidence and personal awareness while building vital life skills necessary for future success. Thirty to forty women signed up as Mentors and dedicate time, experiences and knowledge to assist mentees growth to become responsible, caring citizens.
The WFCC granted $10,000 to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research Project Report to address issues and improve the status of women and girls in Florida. The report will be released soon.
Previous Grantees 2002 – 2017
Alzheimer’s Support Network
American Association of University Women
Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Cancer Alliance of Naples Inc
Care Club of Collier County
Collier County Education Foundation
Collier County Public Schools/Teenage Pregnancy Program
Early Years Education Foundation, Inc.
Families in Need Fund
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Philanthropic Network
Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida
Healthy Start Coalition of SW FL
Immokalee Child Care Center
Hodges University
Jewish Federation of Collier County (JFCS)
Legal Aid Service of Collier County
Meals of Hope, Inc.
NAMI of Collier County
NCH Healthcare Foundation
Neighborhood Health Clinic
Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida
Parkinson’s Association of SW Florida, Inc.
Planned Parenthood of Collier County
Project Help, Inc.
Shelter for Abused Women & Children
St. Matthew’s House
The League Club: Community Trust Fund
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
The Women’s Fund of Southwest Florida
United Arts Council