Dallas Women's Foundation
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"Protecting, educating and empowering the women and girls of our community strengthens the foundation on which a better city can be built." Robbie Raphael
Chair Elect, 2006
History

Q: What is the Dallas Women’s Foundation?
A: A public foundation that promotes women’s philanthropy and raises money to support community programs that help women and girls.

Q: Why a women’s foundation in Dallas?
A: Our research has proven that Dallas has an urgent need for helping women and girls. Poverty, discrimination, domestic violence, age and disability-related discrimination, lack of access to healthcare, and lack of access to services are realities faced by all women in all communities. By helping a woman move up in society, you a woman move up in society, you help her family. When you help a family break the cycle of poverty, you improve the health of our entire community.

Q: Why should I support the Dallas Women’s Foundation rather than another agency that provides direct services to women and girls?
A: The Dallas Women’s Foundation works diligently to find small, grassroots organizations that are truly in need of funding. Many of these agencies might otherwise go overlooked, and thus leave a void in the services available in our community. By funding a variety of programs, DWF addresses vital needs while creating long-term solutions.

Q: What are the needs of the women and girls in North Texas?
A: In 2003, DWF funded a research project to determine the status of women and girls in North Texas. Surprisingly, past research of local community needs did not take gender into account. This new data provided DWF with evidence of major issues—domestic violence, lack of affordable childcare, school drop-out rates, health care, poverty, etc.—so that we could make educated grant decisions. We shared this research with local non-profits that serve women and girls who use this information in their own program planning and fundraising. Additionally, we use this research to determine our own grant priorities.          

Q: How is the Dallas Women’s Foundation different from other grant-making organizations?
A: The Dallas Women’s Foundation transforms the traditional relationship between funds, donors, grassroots organizations, and the women and girls served by bringing all parties together. This sense of community forges long-term connections that benefit each party and create an involved and educated donor who is committed to the programs and to the social change that women's and girls' funds support.

Q: How are grants chosen?
A: Volunteers on DWF’s Grants Committee evaluate grant proposals and make decisions as to which agencies will receive funding. This brings donors face-to-face with program recipients - women and girls with whom they might not otherwise interact - a transforming experience for all.

Q: What issues do DWF’s grants address?
A: DWF supports many issues facing women and girls: Literacy, poverty, education, employment, health, crime, and violence are just some of them.

Q: Are there other funds that support women’s issues?
A: The Dallas Women's Foundation is part of the Women’s Funding Network, a worldwide membership of 126 women's and girls' funds. Together, these funds have over $300 million in assets and give over $40 million in grants per year. Members fund the solutions of women and girls through local, national, and international grants.

Q: How can I help?
A: It is only through work together that we can make a difference. There are many ways that you can help.
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