• Connecticut Women's and Girl's Funds Overview - Key facts and a seven-year comparison of women's and girls' funds in Connecticut. (September 2009)
   
• Women's and Girls' Funds in Connecticut - A list of funds, their host organizations, contacts and web sites.
   
• A Plan of One's Own: A Women's Guide to Philanthropy (PDF) - This guide, a project of New Ventures in Philanthropy, a national initiative of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, examines women's roles in philanthropy and features “how to” sections on creating and using a variety of forms of charitable giving, as well as working with professional advisors.
   
• Women and Philanthropy (LINK) - WNPR's "Where We Live" episode from September 21, 2009, features Helen LaKelly Hunt, Women Moving Millions; Dr. Debra Mesch, Women's Philanthropy Institute and Nancy Roberts, Connecticut Council for Philanthropy; and Christine Lodewick, a Connecticut philanthropist.
   
• The Way We Live Now: The Power of the Purse (LINK) - Lisa Belkin's August 23, 2009 New York Times Magazine article on Women's Philanthropy.
   
• Women's Philanthropy Institute (LINK) - based at The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, The Women’s Philanthropy Institute furthers the understanding of women’s philanthropy through research, education, and knowledge dissemination. The Center has just release a new booklet that adds the valuable perspective of personal narrative to understanding the growth of giving circles over the past ten years: Women's Giving Circles: Reflections from the Founders.

Aurora Women & Girls Foundation
Donna Haghighat
860-263-7840
donnahaghighat@gmail.org
www.aurorafoundation.org

Fund for Women and Girls
Fairfield County Community Foundation
Karen Brown
203-750-3207
kbrown@fccfoundation.org
www.fccfoundation.org

Fund for Women & Girls
Middlesex County Community Foundation
Cynthia Clegg
860-347-0025
cynthia@middlesexcountycf.org
www.middlesexcountycf.org

The Community Fund for Women & Girls
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Sharon Cappetta
203-777-2386
scappetta@cfgnh.org
www.cfgnh.org

The Lillian Fund
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
Deborah Rothstein
860-232-7460
drothstein@jcfhartford.org
www.jcfhartford.org

The Women & Girls Fund
Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut
Alison Woods
860-442-3572
Alison@cfsect.org
www.cfsect.org

The Women & Girls' Fund
Main Street Community Foundation
Jarre Betts
860-583-6363
jarre@mainstreetfoundation.org
www.mainstreetfoundation.org

The Women's & Girls Fund
Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut
Sandy Pier
860-626-1245
spier@cfnwct.org
www.cfnwct.org

The Women's Initiative Fund
Connecticut Community Foundation
Marie McFadden
203-753-1315
mmcfadden@conncf.org
www.conncf.org

Women's & Girls Fund
Community Foundation of the Tri-County Area
860-423-4373
tricountyfoundation@yahoo.com

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Women’s and Girls Funds in Connecticut - An Overview

Throughout the world, philanthropy by women and girls and for women and girls has grown, strengthened and become more visible. According to a report by the Foundation Center and the Women’s Funding Network giving by women’s funds grew 24%, from 2004 to 2006  while foundation giving over all increased by 14.8%. A Barclay’s Wealth study, Tomorrow’s Philanthropist, shows that women in the United States give an average of 3.5% of their wealth to charity, while men give an average of 1.8%.

Here in Connecticut, women’s and girls’ funds have become a force in philanthropy. Since 1993, ten such funds have been established. Nine are hosted by larger community-based foundations and one is a free standing 501(c)(3). All focus on engaging women donors for the benefit of women and girls in their respective communities. These funds not only gather philanthropic dollars to be distributed to improve the community, but also build leadership and involve donors by including them in decision making  for the funds and in evaluating  grant requests.

Seven-Year Comparison

A comparison of funds over the past seven years finds that they have quadrupled in the following areas:

• Assets of the funds have increased from $2.9 million in 2002 to $13.2 million in 2008.

• Grants have increased from $150,000 in 2002 to more than $672,000 in 2008.

• The number of founding members and donors has grown from a reported 1,200 in 2002 to more than 4,700 members and donors in 2008.

Other Key Facts

• Funds range from having no minimum gift, to requiring a minimum donation of $50 (one fund) or having minimums for specific levels of membership, such as $1,000 over five years to become a “charter member.”

• Most funds use a decision-making model that uses a grantmaking committee to make recommendations to the board.  Two funds operate as giving circles where several funding opportunities are presented to fund members and a majority vote decides which organizations will be recommended to the board.

• Nearly half the funds have a specific focus for their giving under the women and girls umbrella.

September 2009