For over two decades, grantmaking has been central to our mission at the Women’s Fund SouthCoast.
It’s how we invest in bold ideas, build grassroots leadership, and advance gender, racial, and economic justice across our region.
But we don’t just fund programs — we share power.
Our Approach: Participatory Philanthropy in Action
We engage residents, youth, grassroots leaders, and grantee partners in every stage of our grantmaking. Our values show up in how we fund — and who decides.
- Community-led grant review committees
- Youth-led decision-making through YWI
- Support for BIPOC-led and grassroots organizations
- Transparent, accessible processes
- Relationship-building rooted in trust and equity
- Grantees are not “recipients” — they are partners in a shared movement.
We honor their leadership, trust their expertise, and walk alongside them as allies in the work for systemic change.
Beyond the Grant: Investing in Systems Change
We know movements need more than funding — they need support, strategy, and solidarity.
That’s why we provide:
Capacity-building and technical assistance
Peer learning and cohort convenings
Visibility, thought partnership, and amplification
Participatory in Practice
Our approach to participatory philanthropy is embedded in everything we do:
Meet Our Current Grantees
Each year, we fund a dynamic cohort of organizations leading change in our communities. Scroll down to explore our most recent grantees and the transformative work they’re doing across the SouthCoast.
Young Women’s Initiative Youth-led GrantMaking Cycle Now Open
As part of the Young Women’s Initiative (YWI), members of the Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC) are actively engaged in a participatory grantmaking process, through which they collectively advise on the distribution of general operating funds to community-based organizations. This year, YWAC members will award a total of $20,000 in grants, allocating four $5,000 awards to organizations serving the Greater New Bedford community.
Through this process, participants identify key issues impacting their communities and develop funding priorities grounded in their lived experiences and shared values. For the FY27 grant cycle, YWAC members established four focus areas:
- Safety & Gender-Based Violence
- Family Separation & Youth Impact
- Language Justice
- Media Justice
To be eligible for funding, your organization must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Provide programming in New Bedford
- Have 501(c)(3) designation or be fiscally-sponsored by another 501(c)(3) organization
- Demonstrate clear alignment with our mission to advance gender, racial, and economic justice
This youth-led grantmaking model not only directs critical resources to community-based solutions, but also builds the leadership, advocacy, and decision-making skills of young women and gender-expansive youth of color, empowering them to shape more equitable systems of philanthropy.
Link to Apply Below:
Family Separation and Youth Impact Grant
Safety and Gender-Based Violence Grant
Application Process:
The applications open on April 30, 2026 and close on May 28, 2026. Grants will be awarded in June.
You can find the PDFs to the grant applications here. The application must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved for later.
The Women’s Fund SouthCoast will offer office hours to discuss your grant application. Please email Audrey Straw, Research & Impact Manager, at astraw@womensfundsouthcoast.org to schedule a time to meet.
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Want to Apply for a Future Grant?
We’re always excited to connect with mission-aligned organizations, grassroots leaders, and community builders.
Whether you’re interested in our core grant cycle, youth-led funding opportunities, or our new Step Further Fund, we invite you to learn more.
Our new grant cycle is announced each March.
To be eligible for funding, your organization must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Provide programming in communities covered by our service area (See graphic at right)
- Have 501(c)(3) certification OR be fiscally-sponsored by another 501(c)(3) organization operating on the SouthCoast.
- Have demonstrated organizational and programmatic mission-alignment. Our mission is to advance gender, racial and economic justice.
- Have at least ONE identified project lead for the entirety of the grant cycle (July 1st – June 30th) OR demonstrated plans to recruit and retain one during the grant cycle.
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In order to prepare for the submission of the grant, please see the grant applications and supporting materials below:
