Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts Awards $195,000 in Grants
SPRINGFIELD — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts announcde $195,000 in general cycle grant awards to 17 organizations serving women, girls, and gender-diverse people across Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties in June.
The Women’s Fund’s total fiscal year grant cycle, between August 2025 and June 2026, awarded $450,000 in community investment grants that were distributed throughout the four-county region.
The fund highlighted its 30-year anniversary of grantmaking to reflect on decades-long partnerships throughout Western Mass., while inviting new partners to expand its network.
“This is an opportunity to reflect on 30 years of grantmaking,” said Kelley Bryant, director of Grantmaking and Impact. “The community investments committee, board, and staff sought to invest in close partners and new partners that sustain local communities and fuel gender equity in Western Massachusetts.”
Julia Keosaian, executive director of Berkshire Nursing Families, added that “this support strengthens our ability to provide free, compassionate perinatal and lactation care to families across our region during one of the most vulnerable and transformative times of their lives. Maternal and child health in the Berkshires depends on the kind of sustained, community-centered investment that the Women’s Fund has championed — and we’re proud to be partners in that work.”
Turmoil in the national funding landscape is causing instability for organizations providing direct support in the region. “This investment in our organization comes at a meaningful time,” said Jasarah Burgos, executive director of Enlace de Familias/Holyoke Family Network. “Flexible funding such as this allows us to remain responsive, innovative, and grounded in our mission of supporting and uplifting our community.”
Grantees from this cycle reflect the Women’s Fund’s focus areas of leadership, economic security, and freedom from gender-based violence. The awarded organizations include Amherst Survival Center, Arise for Social Justice, Berkshire Nursing Families, the Care Center, Community Action Pioneer Valley, Enlace de Familias/Holyoke Family Network, Flying Cloud Institute, Gardening the Community, Girls Inc. of the Valley, Girls on the Run, the Heartwing Center, Neighbor to Neighbor, Northampton Survival Center, Planned Parenthood – Western Massachusetts Health Center of Springfield, Rites of Passage and Empowerment, Salasin Project, and Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires.
Grant funding is provided by donors and foundations that rely on the Women’s Fund’s knowledge of regional gender equity challenges and expertise in identifying promising solutions. Support gender equity and become a donor at mywomensfund.org/give-now.