
Celebrating 25 years!
We work to improve the quality of life for women and girls in our region, through information, education, advocacy and – most importantly – by encouraging women's philanthropy. Join us!

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Celebrating 25 Years
Journey back in time with us to the beginning of The Community Fund for Women & Girls. Read about all we've accomplished together! Read our 2020 special newsletter.

Women & Philanthropy: Leaving a Legacy
In 1995, a founding group of committed women established The Community Fund for Women & Girls. See The Fund's founders. Women of all backgrounds have joined to build the endowment over the years. Learn more about some of these WaveMaking Women. Some have chosen to establish individually named funds to be a permanent resource for women and girls' programs in Greater New Haven. Read about their stories.
Past Events
The Community Fund for Women & Girls holds convenings and events, inviting inspirational women to Greater New Haven to impart their knowledge and giving local advocates a chance to meet and discuss regional, national and global issues affecting us all.

Donor Briefing Recap – Interrupted: Women, Work and COVID-19 ›
A Community Foundation event presented in partnership with The Community Fund for Women and Girls. On Nov. 16, a panel of women leaders in their fields discussed the realities faced by working women during COVID-19 and the once-in-a-generation opportunity for passing federal legislation for comprehensive childcare supports and to value care and caregiving as essential infrastructure in our economy and our society.

Investing in Women and Girls
The Community Fund for Women & Girls supports organizations which meaningfully impact women and girls and evaluates all requests for funding through a gender-specific grantmaking framework. As the region’s grantmaker focused on women and girls, the Fund supports gender-specific programming and advocacy initiatives.
Since 1995, more than $1.3 million has been awarded to support women and girls' programs.
Newsmakers

Community Fund for Women & Girls Advances Gender Equity with $130,000 in Grants ›
The Community Fund for Women & Girls announces grants to partner organizations working to advance gender equity.
Dive Into The Issues
Essential Equity: Women, COVID-19 and Rebuilding CT ›
02.17.2021
Measuring the unequal impact of COVID-19 and proposals for equitable solutions

Undervalued and Underpaid in America Women in Low-Wage, Female-Dominated Jobs ›
05.03.2020
From the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

05.02.2020
Millions of women work long hours caring for the needs of the elderly, the infirm, and children. For large numbers, particularly women of color, their earnings are so low that they and their families live in poverty.
Advisory Board
Officers
Karen Peart - Chair
Christine Kim- Vice Chair
Meredith Gavrin - Treasurer
Janna Wagner - Immediate Past Chair
Roxanne Coady - Community Foundation Board Liaison
Members
- Nilda Aponte
- Keisha Blake
- Barbara Chesler
- Mary Beth Congdon
- Barbara Ellinghaus
- Anne Godsey
- Miriam James
- Amy Marx
- Maribel Lopez
- Liza Petra
- Carol Ross
- Tressa Spears Jackson
- Cynthia Watson