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The North East Women and Girls Fund, at Community Foundation North East, supports women and girls across our region by funding grassroots, women-only projects that respond to local need. Established in 1999 by Dame Margaret Barbour as the Women’s Fund, the fund was created to bring together donors who want to address inequality and improve opportunities for women in the North East through collective giving.
The fund has recently changed its name to the North East Women and Girls Fund to better reflect the breadth of its work. The new name reinforces the fund’s commitment to place-based philanthropy and to addressing the specific challenges faced by women and girls living in our communities across Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and the wider region. Grants are made in two year cycles (the fund will not be open for applications again until later this year) by a panel made up of sector specialists.
For more than twenty-five years, the fund has enabled grants to be made to organisations providing vital support for women. These organisations work with women and girls who experience barriers linked to inequality, discrimination and access to services, helping them to feel safer, more confident and better able to participate fully in their communities.
Alongside the recent name change, the fund is now championed by a group of Ambassadors who form its Development Committee. The Ambassadors help to strengthen networks, raise awareness of the fund, and encourage philanthropic support to ensure the fund can continue responding to local needs. A dedicated LinkedIn page has also been launched to share updates, introduce Ambassadors, and highlight the impact of donor support. You can follow our LinkedIn page here.
Growing the fund remains a priority and increasing the endowment through significant philanthropic gifts will enable the Fund to provide sustained support to women and girls across the North East for years to come.
Jo Cundall, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at Community Foundation North East, said:
“I’ve been managing the North East Women and Girls Fund for the past two years, and during that time it’s been clear that there is an ongoing and growing need for dedicated funding to support women and girls across our region. The organisations we fund are responding directly to local challenges, and growing the fund is essential if we are to continue supporting this work in a meaningful and long-term way.”
By contributing to the North East Women and Girls Fund, donors are investing in local grassroots groups that support women and girls across the region, now and in the future. You can read more about the North East Women and Girls Fund here or contact Jo using the form below.
Contact Jo Cundall
Jo manages a portfolio of funds, specialising in working with donors and partners who support culture and the arts through grants to organisations and individuals.
jc@communityfoundation.org.uk