Our Work
In the last 30 years the Maine Women’s Fund has granted over 450 awards totaling more than $2.4 million to 200 organizations investing in the power of women and girls across the state.
Our Purpose
While women make up half the world’s population, they are disproportionally affected by chronic social problems including poverty, violence and lack of access to healthcare. Here in Maine, specifically:
- Women earn, on average, 80 cents for every dollar that men earn, and for women of color and rural women, the average is lower.
- Nearly 10% of all households are run by single mothers and 40% of these single mothers live below the poverty line.
- 32.1% of women reported experiencing rape or sexual assault at some point in their lives.
- Women make up only 28.5% of the Maine State Legislature in 2015.
Despite these barriers, only 7% of all philanthropic dollars are allocated to address needs specific to women and girls. This is scarcely enough to truly address the complex challenges they face. Fortunately, women around the world are mobilizing to address this gap. As women control more than 60% of our nation’s wealth, the Fund has the opportunity to further economic stability, make real social change and strengthen our communities.
