Community Fund for Women & Girls

The Community Fund for Women & Girls is Greater New Haven's only endowment dedicated to promoting the social and economic advancement of women and girls.

Fund for Women and Girls past staff and members
Past and present Community Fund for Women & Girls Advisory Board Members and Staff


We work to improve the quality of life for women and girls in our region through education, research, advocacy and – most importantly – by encouraging women's philanthropy. Join us!

2022 Community Fund for Women & Girls' Winter newsletter Credit: Jackie Hennessey

Setting Audacious Goals, Choosing to Lead

2022 Year in Review

Inside the 2022 newsletter: Pathways to Economic Success and Mentoring Network Intersect; Job Training, Education, Friendship and a Voice at Havenly; Advisory Spotlight: Christine Kim; Reproductive Rights: Access & Advocacy; and more …

EVENTS

Reproductive Rights: Access and Advocacy

In November 2022, the Fund hosted a conversation on the state of reproductive rights in Connecticut and beyond with panelists Karen DuBois-Walton, Sally Grossman and Amanda Skinner, moderated by Christine Kim.

The Tina Yao Fund is one of many funds created to honor a beloved family member and support The Fund's activities for perpetuity. Credit: Contributed photo

Leaving a Legacy

Women & Philanthropy

In 1995, a founding group of committed women established The Community Fund for Women & Girls. See The Fund's founders. Women of all backgrounds have joined to build the endowment over the years. Learn more about some of these WaveMaking Women. Some have chosen to establish individually named funds to be a permanent resource for women and girls' programs in Greater New Haven. Read their inspiring stories.

Gloria Steinem and Teresa Younger were guests at the Fund's celebration of its 20th Anniversary in 2015. Credit: Gale Zucker

Events and Convenings

Advancing The Cause

Our convenings and events feature inspirational women from Greater New Haven and beyond. These gatherings give local advocates a chance to meet and discuss regional, national and global issues affecting us all. See our highlights of past events.

Dr. Thande is working with Women’s Health Research at Yale to integrate a focus on sex and gender into the Yale School of Medicine; the Fund made its first ever multi-year commitment to WHRY to support the inclusion of gender in scientific research. Credit: Contributed photo

Grantmaking

Investing in Women and Girls

The Community Fund for Women & Girls supports organizations which meaningfully impact women and girls, and evaluates all requests for funding through a gender-specific grantmaking framework.

On June 30, 2022, the fund announced nearly $200,000 in grants to support pathways to economic success for women.

Stay connected with the Community Fund for Women & Girls by signing up for our newsletter, invitations to events and more.

Advisory Board

Officers

Christine Kim - Chair
Cynthia Watson - Treasurer
Karen Peart - Immediate Past Chair
Valarie Shultz Wilson - Community Foundation Board Liaison

Members

  • Nilda Aponte
  • Keisha Blake
  • Barbara Chesler
  • Laurie Desmet
  • Adele Edgerton
  • Barbara Ellinghaus
  • Kelli Ray Gibson
  • Miriam James
  • Adriana Joseph
  • Maribel Lopez
  • Elizabeth Nearing
  • Terri Rioux
  • Tressa Spears Jackson
  • Janna Wagner
  • Jessica Westbrook

Special Edition Newsletter

Celebrating 25 Years

Journey back in time with us to the beginning of The Community Fund for Women & Girls. Read about all we've accomplished together!

Get in touch for more information.

Sharon Cappetta, CAP®
Director of Development