Celebrating Local Leaders

The Metrowest Women's Fund celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring local leaders whose work serves women and girls in Metrowest.

Stephanie Di Dio is the Director of Programs at Family Promise Metrowest, an organization committed to transforming the lives of families with children facing homelessness by mobilizing the community to provide shelter, education and comprehensive support.

Lisa MacDonald brings her passion for social justice to her equity work with students, faculty and staff at MassBay Community College. She also highlights the issues impacting local women and girls as Chair of the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women.

Trae Crockton manages a critical emergency housing program for girls at Wayside Youth & Family Support Network. The program provides a safe, secure and welcoming environment for those requiring housing.

In loving memory of Heidi Shear, our dedicated and talented leadership volunteer.  Her unwavering and early support of the Metrowest Women’s Fund made such a difference. We relied on her keen judgement and understanding of the real-world challenges facing women and girls.

2025 Grant Applications Open

The Metrowest Women's Fund is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations serving women and girls from low incomes in the Metrowest area.

The application is electronic and completed online. 

NEW in 2025: The Spruce Fund Grant will be part of the 2025 grant application process and will support programs for girls and their safety from violence. The Spruce Fund Grant will be awarded up to $20,000. Nonprofits may apply singularly or jointly for the Spruce Fund Grant. Details here.

We welcome applications from first time applicants, those who have applied before, and organizations that have received MWF grants previously.

Applications close at 5 PM EST on March 14, 2025.

Supporters of MWF play an important role in our grants process: Please share this opportunity with organizations that are making a difference in the lives of women and girls in your Metrowest community.

Applicants can visit our Grants page for details.

Announcing a New Impact Grant Opportunity for Girls and Their Safety From Violence

The critical and distinct needs of girls continue to be a priority at the Metrowest Women’s Fund.

Right now, girls are experiencing threats to their physical and mental health and general well-being at unprecedented levels.

• Gender-based violence is of significant concern. According to the CDC, 18% of girls experienced sexual violence.* That is one in five girls.

• Domestic violence incidences rose 8% during the pandemic lockdown.**

• Commercial exploitation including sex trafficking of girls is happening in our community of Metrowest.***​

• Organizations lack adequate funding to meet survivors’ needs. Family and gender-based violence organizations receive less than 1% of foundation grant making.**

The Spruce Fund Grant Opportunity 2025:

The Metrowest Women's Fund accepts grant applications annually for programs serving women and girls from low incomes in Metrowest. The Spruce Fund Grant opportunity will be part of the 2025 grant application process. It will support programs for girls and their safety from violence. The grant application opens on January 21, 2025 and closes on March 14, 2025.  

Grant information found here.

To share this opportunity, click here for a PDF of this announcement.

* CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report: 2011-2021

** The Chronicle of Philanthropy: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/expected-scotus-decisions-could-endanger-domestic-violence-victims-wheres-philanthropy

*** Data from My Life, My Choice