Programs

The Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga is both a grant making and advocacy organization, and as such does not provide direct programs or services.  However, the grants and activities we choose to undertake are driven by the principles below and are designed to help other partners in the community. 

Philanthropy for social change: When you assist women, there is a positive ripple effect.  A secure woman will lift up her family, and that momentum has the potential to change entire communities.

Women are changing the face of philanthropy.  In recent years, wealth has increasingly shifted into the hands of women, with 51% of personal assets in the U.S. now held by women. In turn, they are supporting institutions that benefit women and are giving to other women and women’s funds.

The Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga engages women as philanthropists at all levels, stressing the democracy of philanthropy and the potential for all women to make a difference by giving. When a woman contributes – whether $100 or $100,000, she is empowering herself and the women whom her donation will help. 

When a woman gives, she gives not just from her checkbook but also from her heart and intellect.  Our Women’s Fund provides opportunities for women to experience a personal transformation by encouraging their development as a philanthropists and catalysts for social change. 

We have recently launched the Nightingale Network to engage young women in philanthropy for social change.  With a funding match from the Women’s Fund, the Nightingale Network will be poised to make our first grant into the community this summer.

Community Partnerships: We routinely host several focus groups of service providers to discuss the pressing needs of the most limited resources or living in the most compromised circumstances.  As our advocacy platforms evolve, we will continually convene women most directly impacted by these policies in order to gather their feedback on our platforms and engage them in the process with us. 

We have created a working group of local service providers helping women achieve a college education so together we may enable finding opportunities for collaboration, shared advocacy platforms, and shared resources.  Organizations engaged with us in this work include: Department of Human Services; Project AHEAD, Chattanooga State; Center for Community Career Education, University Tennessee Chattanooga; Re: Start; and the Scholarships Program of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.