Join us in Telling the Story of our Legacy
Thirty years ago, a group of visionary women believed something powerful! Investing in women would change not only individual lives, but the future of our communities. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, I find myself filled with deep gratitude for our founding mothers—Dianne Fuller Doherty, Martha Richards, and Sally Livingston—the visionary women who came before me, and the countless acts of leadership, courage, kindness, and generosity that paved the way for so many women leaders.
In this moment, we are called back to what has fueled the Women’s Fund for 30 years.
Women leaders have the power to transform communities, strengthen workplaces, and shape a more equitable future. I understand the challenges women leaders are facing today. The growing demands, the pace of change, the weight of uncertainty, and the complexity of leading while often caring for others.
As we continue listening, learning, and building alongside our community, the need for the Women’s Fund to stand beside women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals at every stage of their journey has never been greater. We also recognize the growing need to support sustainable leadership by creating space to pause, reflect, and reconnect.
Rest is a leadership practice. Reflection is a strategic advantage. Together, they allow us to lead with greater clarity, creativity, and purpose. And when we lead together, collective impact becomes our greatest source of strength.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
In solidarity,
Welcome to our Director of Community Engagement
Join us in welcoming Ismary Santiago-Lugo to the Women’s Fund team. She joined the staff in July and will lead efforts to elevate the visibility of the Women’s Fund of Western MA., strengthen community relationships, and advance philanthropic support.
Ismary has over 10 years of storytelling, video production, video editing, and educational experience. Before joining the Women’s Fund, Ismary was the Director of Education at New England Public Media, where she oversaw and led the implementation of Media Lab, a youth media training initiative with a focus on audio, video, and digital storytelling.
She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Santurce, Puerto Rico. In 2016, Ismary relocated from Puerto Rico to Western Massachusetts where she resides with her daughter and husband.
Give to Women & Girls on Tuesday, October 13, 2026
We’re launching our own Give to Women and Girls Day this year! Building on our 30 years of women-led philanthropy, this one-day, online, giving day will bolster our work to provide financial support and collective power for a network of nonprofits building equity for women and girls in Western MA.
In 2022, the Women’s Philanthropy Institute launched Give to Women and Girls Day with the goal of amplifying support for organizations serving women and girls around the world on International Day of the Girl, celebrated on October 11. We plan to make our Give to Women and Girls Day an annual event on the second Tuesday of October.
Together, we can elevate the lives of women and girls in all their diversity across Western MA. Watch our social media channels and your inbox for Giving Day reminders and please share them with your friends.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
As we look ahead to Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are sharing three resources from the Rural Network to End Domestic Violence.
1. NEW VIDEO From the Ware River Valley Domestic Violence Task Force.
This video walks us through the process of getting a restraining order at Eastern Hampshire District Court but is useful for any Massachusetts court. It discusses:
- getting ready for court
- what to expect when we get to court
- speaking before a judge
- what happens after court
2. Domestic Violence Court Experiences Survey
The Rural Network to End Domestic Violence has put together an anonymous Domestic Violence Court Survey that will help domestic violence task forces and agencies in Massachusetts learn about court experiences—on or after January 1, 2025— so they can work to improve future experiences.
The survey takes under 10 minutes to complete, is available in English and Spanish and a $25 gift is available for the first 75 people from MA who take the survey.
3. Affidavit Tips Brochure
Need to write an Affidavit? This brochure offers tips for survivors on writing an effective affidavit for a restraining order. Learn more here.
Change is Prompted by Data
We know funding is a proponent for action, and yet change is prompted by data that proves it is necessary. Share your lived experience in the MA Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Community Health Equity Survey (CHES).
What is the goal of the survey?
The Community Health Equity Survey will help communities improve conditions that impact health, particularly those most impacted by health inequities. The survey was developed in collaboration with community members and partners across Massachusetts, and it reflects what residents want to know about how their communities experience housing, mental health, safety, and other drivers of health. The MA Department of Public Health and partners will use CHES data to spend funding, improve programming, and develop policies that address health inequities.
Here are other ways you can help:
- Send a link to family, friends and colleagues in Massachusetts
- Promote the survey on organizational email lists
- Post about the survey on social media
- Post flyers about the survey in places where people in your community go
