Support the efforts of the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley, and you champion the efforts of women and girls in our community. To raise themselves up. To reach their full potential. To make our community a better place for all. Imagine that.
Our Mission
To promote economic self-sufficiency for women and girls through grant making, education, and advocacy.
Women and children of the Greater Rochester 7-county region are disproportionately affected by poverty as documented in the findings of our study on the economic status of women by the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley. Half of all households headed by women have incomes too small to meet basic needs.
with children under 18 are living below the
self-Sufficiency Standard in the city of Rochester.
are living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard in the city of Rochester.
with children under 18 are living in poverty
in the city of Rochester.
Local women representing the Women’s Foundation raise and manage the funds and award grants to programs making a real, measurable difference in the lives of women and in the future of girls right here in our community.
Since inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million to programs that have a direct, positive impact on the economic status of women and girls in our region.
Since 1994, The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley established a permanent endowment that would create lasting social change by investing in and creating programs that benefit women and girls living in our region.
The Girls’ Initiative—through a group of literacy volunteers and a network of community organizations—empowers over 500 teen girls each year to overcome challenges, stay in school, set career goals and give back to the community.
Positive role models are critical to teen girls’ motivation and development and can help them gain the skills and outlook needed to succeed later in life, despite challenges. The Girls’ Initiative was created in 1997 to be part of a network of community organizations, whose goals are to provide inspiring women role models to encourage teen girls each year to stay in school, set career goals and give back to the community.
To deepen the learning of other program components, this program began in January 2012 and takes place in various schools. Utilizing the Voices of Experience role model book selection, the program takes place biweekly and involves teachers and mentors in helping growing numbers of girls improve their reading skills.
Voices of Experience is an after-school literacy and mentoring program for girls in grades 6-12. This program for girls features accomplished women role models from diverse backgrounds sharing how they overcame challenges to achieve their goals.
The goal of this program is to educate girls about community issues and philanthropy.
Help women and girls in our community become economically self sufficient by volunteering for the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley.
Stay up to date on our events and
inspiring stories of people we’ve helped.
We have many fulfilling volunteering
activities throughout the year, discover
which one is right for you.
All donations are important and will make
a difference in the lives of women and
girls in our community.
