The Maine Women’s Fund announced $120,000 in direct grants, which aim to provide general operating support for more than 24 grantee partners throughout Maine, according to a news release from the Falmouth-based foundation.

The grants will help advance a wide range of organizations that work to end gender violence, improve financial skills and literacy, promote health equity, ensure access to education, and improve gender equity through policy change. Since its inception 33 years ago, the fund has made more than 525 investments, which total more than $3 million, to organizations transforming the lives of women and girls across the state.

“We recognize that our grantee partners are focusing their energy on meeting the needs of women and girls across Maine, while also making pivotal systems and social change needed to create greater gender equity, especially for Black, indigenous, and people of color,” said Kimberly Crichton, executive director of the Maine Women’s Fund. “During this annual grant cycle, we purposely chose to streamline the grantmaking process in order to send immediate support to organizations working in all of Maine Women’s Fund six funding areas: education, financial skills and literacy, healthcare, leadership, personal safety and policy.”

“The Maine Women’s Fund is an inspiration, a coach, and a connector to me all the time. Their support goes beyond grant money to empower people,” said Claudette Ndayininahaze, co-founder and executive director of In Her Presence.

“At this time in history, we are especially proud to help support collaboration rather than competition among the many incredible organizations that have been at the forefront of our annual grantmaking advancing gender equity for the last five years. We’re delighted to report one of our long-term grantee partners will share half of their grant with Wabanaki Women’s Coalition in recognition of their powerful leadership in support of Wabanaki women and girls,” said Crichton.

“Beyond funding, the collaborative community that the Maine Women’s Fund supports is essential in how we move forward into sustainable systemic change,” said Shannon Els, executive director of ArtVan.

Below are this year’s grant awards, listed in alphabetical order.

• A Company of Girls, Portland
• ArtVan, Bath
• Elder Abuse Institute of Maine, Brunswick
• Equality Maine Foundation, Portland
• Four Directions Development Corporation, Orono
• Gedakina, Inc., Essex, Vermont
• Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Portland and Lewiston
• In Her Presence, Westbrook
• The League of Women Voters of Maine Education Fund, Portland
• Mabel Wadsworth Center, Bangor
• Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Augusta
• Maine Community Integration, Lewiston
• MaineTransNet, Portland
• Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund, Augusta
• New England Arab American Organization, Westbrook, Portland, Biddeford
• New Ventures Maine, Augusta
• Restorative Justice Institute of Maine, Portland
• Somali Bantu Community Association, Lewiston
• Survivor Speak USA
• Tree Street Youth, Lewiston
• Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, Bangor
• Wayfinder Schools, Brunswick, Camden, Machias
• YWCA Central Maine, Lewiston

Learn more at mainewomensfund.org.

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