Vermont Women’s Fund Announces Over $400,000 in Grants to Local Nonprofits

The Vermont Women’s Fund, a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, has awarded $411,650 to 46 nonprofit organizations across Vermont this year. The grants support programs that advance economic security, opportunity, and health and well-being for women+, girls, and gender-diverse individuals statewide. 

“This year’s grantmaking reflects the power of collective giving,” said Emily Bush, director of the Vermont Women’s Fund. “Together, donors have helped us surpass $400,000 in grants for only the second time in the fund’s 30-year history. These investments support efforts to expand childcare access, advance pay equity, strengthen leadership opportunities, and create a more equitable future for women and girls across Vermont.” 

For the second consecutive year, the Vermont Women’s Fund saw record demand, receiving $1.3 million in funding requests during the 2026 grant cycle. The requests reflect growing pressures facing Vermont communities as nonprofit organizations work to address widening funding gaps. During the same period, the fund also received record philanthropic support, with individuals and community partners in Vermont and beyond contributing to meet the growing need. 

Grant applications were reviewed by the Vermont Women’s Fund Council, a statewide group of leaders committed to advancing gender equity across Vermont. 

Council member Alison Whritenour noted, “We are witnessing incredible community support, but the pressures on Vermont women and girls are intensifying. We cannot ignore the widening gaps in essential needs like stable housing, personal safety, and accessible childcare. As nonprofits face unprecedented demand, our collective commitment to supporting one another must grow even stronger.” 

Since its founding in 1994, the Vermont Women’s Fund has invested in organizations and initiatives that improve the lives of women and girls across the state and address systemic barriers to gender equity. “The 2026 grants continue that commitment to community needs and gender justice, while also supporting efforts that center the representation and experiences of women and girls across class, race, and sexuality,” said fund council co-chair Sujata Moorti. 

Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for funding can expect the next grant cycle to open in January 2027. 

2026 Grant Recipients 

• Alliance for Community Transformation, The Take Care Project: Advancing Menstrual Equity in Bennington County, Bennington - $11,250 

• AWARE, General Operating Support, Hardwick - $7,500 

• Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center, Expanding the BEEC Early Career Environmental Educator Training Program, Brattleboro - $11,250 

• Capstone Community Action, General Operating Support, Barre - $15,000 

• Champlain College, Champlain College Single Parents Program Scholarships, Burlington - $7,500 

• Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO), General Operating Support, Burlington - $11,250 

• Champlain Valley Stars, Leveling the Playing Field: Expanding Access & Leadership for Cheerleaders in Addison County, Monkton - $7,500 

• Community Asylum Seekers Project, General Operating Support, Brattleboro - $7,500 

• Dismas of Vermont, General Operating Support for Women’s Dismas House, Hyde Park - $15,000 

• Education Justice Coalition of Vermont, Youth Organizing: Building Justice and Equity Minded Youth Leaders, Burlington - $11,250 

• Ethiopian Community Development Council, General Operating Support, Bennington and Brattleboro - $7,500 

• Families Flourish Northeast, Families Flourish Northeast, Statewide; Windsor County - $11,250 

• Girls Empowered, Motivated, Strengthened (GEMS), General Operating Support, Randolph - $4,000 

• Governor's Institutes of Vermont, Supporting Tuition Assistance for ~325 Women and General Operating Support, Winooski - $5,000 

• Green Mountain Birth Center, General Operating Support, Johnson - $15,000 

• Green Mountain Camp, General Operating Support, Dummerston - $7,500 

• Green Mountain United Way, Working Bridges Program Delivery, Barre - $11,250 

• Habitat for Aviation, General Operating Support, Swanton - $7,500 

• Hannah's House, Expand Capacity of Mental Health Services in Central Vermont, Waitsfield - $7,500 

• HatchSpace, Teaching Trades Skills to Southern Vermont Women Through HatchSpace Rosie’s Girls Camps and Woodworking for Women Courses, Brattleboro - $11,250 

• Jenna's Promise, Jenna's Promise Workforce Development Support, Johnson - $11,250 

• Kidpower Vermont, General Operating Support, North Ferrisburgh - $7,500 

• King Street Center, Academic & Career Exploration (ACE): Year-Round Economic Pathways for Young Women, Burlington - $11,250 

• NewStory Center, General Operating Support, Rutland - $7,500 

• Northeast Kingdom Community Action, First Steps Forward NEK Pilot Program, Newport - $11,250 

• Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, General Operating Support, Burlington - $7,500 

• Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, General Operating Support, Montpelier - $7,500 

• Project Against Violent Encounters, General Operating Support, Bennington - $7,500 

• Public Assets Institute, Women and Girls First Policy Prescription, Montpelier - $11,250 

• Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire, Upper Valley Reproductive Access Support, Statewide; Orange County; Windsor County - $11,250 

• River Gallery School, Empowering Futures: Advancing Creative Career Pathways: Year Two, Brattleboro - $9,400 

• Rowley Wrench, General Operating Support, Milton - $7,500 

• Safeline, Launching Phoebe’s Place, Chelsea - $11,250 

• Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, Afterschool in Nature, East Barre - $11,250 

• Springfield Area Parent Child Center, General Operating Support, North Springfield - $7,500 

• Steps to End Domestic Violence, General Operating Support, Burlington - $7,500 

• The PhotoBridge Project, Voices from the Land: A Vermont Photo Storytelling Portfolio Advancing Economic Security for Women Farmworkers, Colchester - $11,250 

• The Safety Team, A Sustainable Violence Prevention Initiative: Empowerment Self-Defense and Teacher Training at Burlington High School, South Burlington - $7,000 

• Turning Point Center of Central Vermont, Women-Centered, Peer-Based Recovery Programming, Barre - $11,250 

• Umbrella, General Operating Support, St. Johnsbury - $7,500 

• Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, VOW(W): Vermont Outdoors Women at Work, Middlebury - $11,250 

• Vermont Professionals of Color Network, General Operating Support, South Burlington - $7,500 

• Vermont Works for Women, General Operating Support, Winooski - $15,000