Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
2019 Grantmaking impact: $3.15 total community investment - 290 grants awarded to 246 organizations - 437,259 Minnesotans impacted. Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN) impact - reached nearly 4,000 young women across Minnesota as we invest in organizations, leaders, and the movement so that all young women can thrive. Microgrants to WFMN Innovators increased by 50 percent to invest $82,500 in the ideas and solutions of 33 young women, ages 16-24. As we improve safety & well-being in partnership with organizations, more than 3,000 young women increased their understanding of strategies to be in healthy relationships and to reduce exploitation, bullying, and violence. More than 3,500 young women increased their leadership skills, social capital, and civic engagement. girlsBEST Fund Impact - girlsBEST grants impacted the economic well-being of 4,063 girls through grants to partner organizations. High School Graduation: girlsBEST participants have a 95% high school graduation rate, compared to 50-83% in Minnesota overall. Post-Secondary Enrollment: girlsBEST participants have an 88% post-secondary education enrollment rate, compared to 44-72% in Minnesota overall. Teen Pregnancy: girlsBEST participants have a teen pregnancy rate of 3 per 1,000, compared to 18-48 per 1,000 in Minnesota girls overall. WFMN awarded $467,000 in grants to 16 organizations focused on strengthening systems and infrastructure for strong, continued investment in women’s safety and work with communities to end gender-based violence. WFMN’s Community Response Fund awarded $223,416 in grants to organizations working to safeguard the rights of women related to reproductive health, political leadership, immigration, and sexual harassment.
Current Goals
In November 2015, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees
approved a new, 10-year Strategic Plan (Apr. 1, 2016 - Mar. 31,
2026). The four Strategic Goals represent the
Foundation’s commitment to field-building, creating economic
security for low-income women and girls, strategic
investments, and ending gender-based violence in Minnesota: GOAL 1:
Invest in organizations, leaders, and the movement to create conditions for
women and girls to thrive. GOAL 2: Focus grantmaking,
research, and policy to create pathways to prosperity and
security for low-income women and girls. GOAL 3: Fortify
Foundation’s assets to maximize impact and scale. GOAL 4:
Resource innovation to end gender-based violence, including sex trafficking, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
Community or Constituency Served
Through annual statewide grantmaking, research, and policy, the Women's Foundation of Minnesota is building pathways to economic opportunity, safety, and leadership for women and girls who experience the greatest disparities in outcomes, particularly low-income women and girls, women and girls of color, American Indian women and girls, women and girls with disabilities, LGBTQ+ women and youth, and women and girls from greater Minnesota.
Geographic Area Served
Minnesota
