The Women’s Fund...is an endowment within the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region. It began late in 2002, with 20 founding members. Each of these women pledged an initial contribution of $1,000 to begin developing an endowment. The founding members became the Fund’s first Advisory Committee.

During 2003, members of the Women’s Fund created policies for the Fund. In addition, a Mission Statement, Visioning Statements, Goals and Values were developed. So that it can be grounded in an understanding of community needs, the Advisory Committee listened to women throughout our region as it held a series of focus group conversations with women of all ages and diverse backgrounds and interests during 2004.

The common threads of focus group discussions linked directly to the Women's Fund's mission statement and to the concept of empowerment. As a result, the Advisory Committee determined that, in its early stages, grant-making will support programs and projects that empower girls and women by building leadership skills, mentoring, and developing self-esteem.

As the Fund grows, it will enable the Women’s Fund to make grants to organizations and programs which specifically address needs of girls and women. Another important goal is to encourage women of all ages to become philanthropists.