Investing in Young Women: Our Multi-Year Grantmaking Initiative
The Vermont Women's Fund believes that the most effective organizations are ones that constantly look for ways to improve what they do. In an effort to achieve a deeper and more strategic impact with our limited philanthropic dollars, we have begun a grantmaking initiative targeting young women, ages 15 to 25.
NARROWING OUR FOCUS
In 2009 the Women’s Fund began conversations with a wide range of people about the most pressing needs of Vermont women and girls. Early on the theme of economic security rose to the top. Given the increasing amount of funding the VWF awarded in that area over the years, a focus on economic security felt like a natural direction to take. Recognizing the vast number of underlying issues and approaches to that topic, we knew that identifying key leverage points within the realm of women’s economic security would be essential.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
In January 2010, the VWF conducted a “listening tour” with stops in five different regions of the state to learn more about the barriers to economic well-being facing women and girls in Vermont. From our conversations with community and nonprofit leaders we came away with vast amounts of information. While distilling that information, we identified three key barriers to young women’s future economic security:
- Lack of learning opportunities that build job-readiness, life skills, and exposure to higher education and vocational training options;
- Lack of positive relationships/role models and experiences that build expanded vision, empowerment and awareness of choices;
- Lack of encouragement, self-advocacy, and opportunities to experience success.
< Click HERE to view a complete summary of the issues, ideas and suggestions compiled during the listening tour. (pdf) >
IDENTIFYING A PIVOTAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE
Providing quality programs for young women during the transition from school to life can set a positive trajectory with life-long benefits. Young women without adequate support from their family, school and/or community during the pivotal time between school and life face obstacles that combine to make the path to adulthood increasingly difficult with potentially dire consequences: dead-end jobs, teenage pregnancy, incarceration, addiction, or hopelessness. By taking an “upstream approach” for our grantmaking, targeting young women during the key transitional ages of 15 to 25 before they become disconnected presents The Vermont Women’s Fund with a real opportunity to affect change.
With the barriers listed above as leverage points, our grants will empower young women to make better choices – to stay in school and to develop a positive vision for their future. Armed with a support system, their transition from school to life, (post-secondary education, vocational training or employment), is more likely to be successful and lead them to a future that’s more economically secure.
THE WORK AHEAD
This funding initiative includes both an annual grant round component as well as Strategic Partner awards, and will last a minimum of three to four years. While we are excited about this direction, we realize it comes with an opportunity cost. We won’t be giving out as many grants or supporting the wide variety of programs that we have in the past.
Our hope is that this concentrated investment in young women will prevent them from needing additional services when they reach adulthood, and will relieve some pressure on the network of programs in Vermont for adult women in the years to come.