Economic Blueprint for Women

We become architects of change for our community using the Economic Blueprint to fund systemic change.

Advancing Gender and Racial Justice Through Research: From the Economic Blueprint to a New Statewide Initiative

In 2017, the Women’s Fund SouthCoast launched The Economic Blueprint for Women—a bold, community-informed plan identifying the systemic barriers facing women and girls across our region. That Blueprint became the foundation of our grantmaking and the beginning of our long-term commitment to research as a tool for equity.

Today, that commitment is deepening.

We are proud to partner with the UMass Boston Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy on a new statewide initiative to equip nonprofit, philanthropic, government, and business leaders with the data and insights needed to advance gender, racial, and economic justice in Massachusetts. Through a mixed-methods approach—grounded in community voice, regional context, and an intersectional, anti-racist lens—this research will illuminate how women, girls, and gender-expansive people are faring across critical indicators of wellbeing.

As a regional pilot partner, the Women’s Fund SouthCoast is helping shape this work from the ground up—ensuring that SouthCoast voices, experiences, and solutions are front and center.

In the coming months, we will launch Community Advisory Councils to help guide this work locally. Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved as we build a shared foundation for systems change—rooted in research, powered by community, and aligned with our vision for a more just and equitable SouthCoast.

Learn about our 2017 Economic Blueprint for Women below which will inform our future data initiative.

The Blueprint’s six points, while distinct, are interdependent. All work together to move women forward.

Each is necessary but not sufficient by itself to promote more equitable, just social structures.

The Blueprint
serves as the
rubric for our
action and
investment:

Early Education and Child Care

Increase access to free/affordable quality education and child care providing universal pre-K, a longer school day, after-school programs, and increased wages for child care providers.

Employment and Benefits

Create gender, racial, and ethnic equity in employment, benefits, and wages through legislative and legal and collaborative partnerships. Advocate for paid family and medical leave and a fair minimum wage.

Education and Training

Increase access to living wage-focused education and training programs concentrating on financial literacy, bridge and retention programs for women. Prepare young girls for career and college readiness paths. Promote STEAM education across all age groups.

Health, Safety, and Wellbeing

Increase and improve funding for services such as family planning, relationship violence education, and early trauma intervention with mental health and substance abuse support.

Public Safety Nets and Wraparound Services

Prioritize funding for emergency shelter services, transitional housing, access to public transportation, and child care vouchers. Support federal immigration reform.

Civic and Political Leadership

Develop a coordinated and diverse women’s advocacy voice in the region. Create and expand leadership development. Promote civic engagement.

How the Ripple Effect Works

When a woman advances, her life improves, and her family’s stability grows. Her success is our community’s success. The ripple effect continues. She passes along to generations new and imagined possibilities.

Economic Blueprint for Women

We become architects of change for our community using the Economic Blueprint to fund systemic change.

Advancing Gender and Racial Justice Through Research: From the Economic Blueprint to a New Statewide Initiative

Learn about our 2017 Economic Blueprint for Women below which will inform our future data initiative.

The Blueprint’s six points, while distinct, are interdependent. All work together to move women forward.

Each is necessary but not sufficient by itself to promote more equitable, just social structures.

The Blueprint
serves as the
rubric for our
action and
investment:

Early Education and Child Care

Employment and Benefits

Education and Training

Health, Safety, and Wellbeing

Public Safety Nets and Wraparound Services

Civic and Political Leadership

How the Ripple Effect Works

When a woman advances, her life improves, and her family’s stability grows. Her success is our community’s success. The ripple effect continues. She passes along to generations new and imagined possibilities.

As she rises, we all rise.

Stronger Communities

Stronger Families

Stronger Women

All the details on the 5k

Sponsorship Information

Our FY25 Impact Report is now available

Contact Us

Economic Blueprint for Women

We become architects of change for our community using the Economic Blueprint to fund systemic change.

Advancing Gender and Racial Justice Through Research: From the Economic Blueprint to a New Statewide Initiative

Learn about our 2017 Economic Blueprint for Women below which will inform our future data initiative.

The Blueprint’s six points, while distinct, are interdependent. All work together to move women forward.

Each is necessary but not sufficient by itself to promote more equitable, just social structures.

The Blueprint serves as the rubric for our action and investment:

Early Education and Child Care

Employment and Benefits

Education and Training

Health, Safety, and Wellbeing

Public Safety Nets and Wraparound Services

Civic and Political Leadership

How the Ripple Effect Works

When a woman advances, her life improves, and her family’s stability grows. Her success is our community’s success. The ripple effect continues. She passes along to generations new and imagined possibilities.

As she rises, we all rise.

Stronger Communities

Stronger Families

Stronger Women

All the details on the 5k

Sponsorship Information

Our FY25 Impact Report is now available

Contact Us

Join Us!

Join Us!

The Blueprint
serves as the
rubric for our
action and
investment: