Women Working WOnders Fund

Bringing Women Together to Shape the Future

Grants

The vision of the Women Working Wonders Fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation is to advance the contributions of women and girls in the community and empower them to effect positive change. To date, we have distributed $514,075 in grants to worthy organizations that are improving lives in our communities.

Through the power of collective philanthropy, the Women Working Wonders Fund is pleased to award grants to programs and projects that assist women in transition, provide leadership development in girls and women, and/or contribute to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls.

WWW Awards Seven Grants Totaling $70,000

The Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, has announced the recipients of $70,000 in grants to support local nonprofit programs that empower women and girls in the community.

“Women Working Wonders is proud to support these six outstanding organizations in their work to effect positive change in the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell,” said Marcia Cassidy, Women Working Wonders board president. “Every year the need grows for funding of programs to support women and girls, and every year Women Working Wonders answers that call.”

Recipients of the 2024 WWW grants (each for $10,000):

• Catie’s Closet for “Hair Care for All” to create equitable access to culturally appropriate hair products for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) girls

  The Center for Hope and Healing for Get Together: A Survivor-led Drop-In Support Group

  Dignity Matters for “Dignity in Greater Lowell” to provide women in need with basic hygiene and menstrual care products

  Ellie Fund for “Equitable Pathways to Breast Cancer Care” to empower women during breast cancer treatment with essential support needed to ease the stresses of everyday life and allow them to focus on family, recovery, and healing

  Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell for “Extraordinary Girls Outreach Program” to provide the Girls Inc. programs and services during school hours

  Women’s Money Matters to fund Greater Lowell women living on low incomes to participate in Financial Futures financial wellness program at no cost

  University of Massachusetts Lowell to empower underrepresented racial minority women in STEM through mentorship, community and leadership development, and advocacy

Women Working Wonders, an all-volunteer group of women dedicated to effecting positive change, provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development in girls and women, and/or contributing to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls. Founded in 2004 by a small group of women coming together to form a collective giving organization that focused on women’s issues, the fund has awarded made more than $514,000 in grants to organizations supporting women and girls in the Greater Lowell area.

Read the full press release.

WWW Awards $10,565 in Mini Grants for 2024

The Women Working Wonders Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, is pleased to announce the awarding of $10,565 in mini grants to deserving nonprofits impacting the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell.

“Through these mini grants, as well as our annual summer grant cycle, Women Working Wonders fulfills our mission to empower women and girls by providing vital funding to the frontline organizations breaking down barriers and lifting up the women and girls we serve,” said Marcia Cassidy, Women Working Wonders Fund board president. “Now more than ever, our philanthropy and commitment are needed in the Greater Lowell community.”

The 2024 Mini Grants Recipients:

• Girls, Inc. of Greater Lowell, Outreach Program: $2,000

• Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Keeping Our Senior Women Healthy and Safe at Home: $1,000

• Lowell Community Charter Public School, Girls Rise & Shine Program with Female Leaders: $880

• Project Kompass, Nurturing Parent Program: $2,000

• Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital, Beauty Cart for Patients: $1,000

• Wish Project, Transition to Motherhood Support: $2,000

• Women's Money Matters, Life Launch Financial Wellness Program Incentive: $1,685

Women Working Wonders provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development for women and girls, and contributing to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls. Established in 2004, the fund is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024.

Angels

History

In 2004, Brenda Costello, inspired by a magazine article about women’s funds, collected a group of like-minded women who embarked on the creation of Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF). In no time, 72 women had stepped forward with initial gifts of $36,000. In 2005, the Hunt Alternative Fund issued a challenge grant that was met by six Angel donors. The Hunt challenge brought an additional $120,000 to WWWF, and a sustainable endowment was created. In 2006, WWWF awarded its first grant. Today, our Trustees proudly continue our founders’ vision to empower women and girls through lasting change by:

• Soliciting and broadening financial support among women throughout the region of all financial means and backgrounds

• Establishing and directing a fund distribution process to include application review and fund award decisions and distribution

• Planning and implementing fundraising projects that provide a vehicle for financial program support for women and girls.

Since our inception, WWWF has awarded dozens of grants and created positive change in the lives of countless women and girls.

Women Working Wonders Fund "Angels”

The WWWF is thankful to these six women - our "Angels" - for their generous multi-year donations, comprising the cornerstone gifts of our endowment:

Linda Chemaly
Brenda Costello
Nancy Donahue
Carol Duncan
Niki Tsongas
Elaine Zouzas Thibault