Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts Awards $195,000 in Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kelley Bryant, Director of Grantmaking and Impact
Email: kbryant@mywomensfund.org
Phone: 413-206-7722
Springfield, MA – The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (The Fund) is pleased to announce $195,000 in general cycle grant awards to 17 organizations serving women, girls, and gender-diverse people across Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties in June.
The Fund’s total fiscal-year grant cycle, between August 2025 and June 2026, awarded $450,000 in community investment grants that were distributed throughout the 4-county region.
The Fund highlighted their 30-year anniversary of grantmaking to reflect on decades-long partnerships throughout Western Massachusetts, while inviting new partners to expand its network. “This is an opportunity to reflect on 30 years of grantmaking,” says Kelley Bryant, Director of Grantmaking and Impact at the Fund. “The Community Investments committee, board, and staff sought to invest in close partners and new partners that sustain local communities and fuel gender equity in Western Massachusetts.”
Julia Keosaian, Executive Director of Berkshire Nursing Families, adds, “This support strengthens our ability to provide free, compassionate perinatal and lactation care to families across our region during one of the most vulnerable and transformative times of their lives. Maternal and child health in the Berkshires depends on the kind of sustained, community-centered investment that the Women’s Fund has championed—and we’re proud to be partners in that work.”
Turmoil in the national funding landscape is causing instability for organizations providing direct support in the region. “This investment in our organization comes at a meaningful time…flexible funding such as this allows us to remain responsive, innovative, and grounded in our mission of supporting and uplifting our community,” says Jasarah Burgos, Executive Director, Enlace de Familias / Holyoke Family Network.
Grantees from this cycle reflect The Fund’s focus areas of leadership, economic security, and freedom from gender-based violence. The awarded organizations include: Amherst Survival Center, Arise for Social Justice, Berkshire Nursing Families, Community Action Pioneer Valley, Enlace de Familias/Holyoke Family Network, Flying Cloud Institute, Gardening the Community, Girls Inc. of the Valley, Girls on the Run, Neighbor to Neighbor, Northampton Survival Center, Planned Parenthood – Western Massachusetts Health Center of Springfield, Rites of Passage and Empowerment, Salasin Project, The Care Center, The Heartwing Center, and Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires.
Grant funding is provided by donors and foundations that rely on The Fund’s knowledge of regional gender-equity challenges and expertise in identifying promising solutions. Support gender equity and become a donor at mywomensfund.org/give-now/.
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About The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts
The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts fuels progress toward gender equity by funding the most promising solutions, collaborating with results-oriented partners, and elevating the collective power of local women to take charge and lead with purpose.