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Young Women's Initiative

The Young Women’s Initiative (YWI)

The Women’s Fund SouthCoast is proud to be one of 16 members of the National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives (NPCYWI)—a powerful movement working to advance gender, racial, and economic justice across the country. Through this partnership, we launched our own Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) to center the leadership, vision, and lived experiences of young women and gender-expansive youth of color right here in our community.

At the heart of our initiative is the Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC)—a group of youth leaders ages 14–22 with strong connections to New Bedford. YWAC members meet regularly to build leadership and advocacy skills, advise the Women’s Fund on key issues, and decide how to invest $20,000 in grant funding to support youth-driven solutions.

Our YWI is about power, purpose, and possibility—equipping youth with tools for change, amplifying their voices, and ensuring they have a seat at every table where decisions are made.

Check out our first cohort’s policy brief here

Our Peer Mentor Fellows for 2025-2026

Young Women's Advisory Council Highlights

Join YWAC!

Join the Young Women’s Advisory Council of the Women’s Fund SouthCoast. We’re all about power, purpose, and possibility.

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Announcing the Young Women’s Initiative!

To further support and expand its mission, the Women’s Fund SouthCoast (WFSC) is excited to join 15 other Women’s Funds from around the country as a member of the National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives (the Collaborative).

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About Us

We imagine a world in which women and girls are valued and their voices heard.

 

Our Impact

The success of women and girls ripples through the community to make a more just place for all.

Join Our Movement

Local women helping local women. We advocate, we advance. Our collective voice initiates change.

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