Women Working WOnders Fund

Bringing Women Together to Shape the Future

Grants

The vision of the Women Working Wonders Fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation is to advance the contributions of women and girls in the community and empower them to effect positive change. To date, we have distributed $437,510 in grants to worthy organizations that are improving lives in our communities.

Through the power of collective philanthropy, the Women Working Wonders Fund is pleased to award grants to programs and projects that assist women in transition, provide leadership development in girls and women, and/or contribute to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls.

WWW Awards $10,565 in Mini Grants for 2024

The Women Working Wonders Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, is pleased to announce the awarding of $10,565 in mini grants to deserving nonprofits impacting the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell.

“Through these mini grants, as well as our annual summer grant cycle, Women Working Wonders fulfills our mission to empower women and girls by providing vital funding to the frontline organizations breaking down barriers and lifting up the women and girls we serve,” said Marcia Cassidy, Women Working Wonders Fund board president. “Now more than ever, our philanthropy and commitment are needed in the Greater Lowell community.”

The 2024 Mini Grants Recipients:

• Girls, Inc. of Greater Lowell, Outreach Program: $2,000

• Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Keeping Our Senior Women Healthy and Safe at Home: $1,000

• Lowell Community Charter Public School, Girls Rise & Shine Program with Female Leaders: $880

• Project Kompass, Nurturing Parent Program: $2,000

• Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital, Beauty Cart for Patients: $1,000

• Wish Project, Transition to Motherhood Support: $2,000

• Women's Money Matters, Life Launch Financial Wellness Program Incentive: $1,685

Women Working Wonders provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development for women and girls, and contributing to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls. Established in 2004, the fund is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024. To date, Women Working Wonders has granted $448,075 to nonprofits supporting women and girls in the Greater Lowell area.

WWW Awards Six Grants Totaling $60,000

The Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, has announced the recipients of $60,000 in grants to support local nonprofit programs that empower women and girls in the community.

“Women Working Wonders is proud to support these six outstanding organizations in their work to effect positive change in the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell,” said Marcia Cassidy, Women Working Wonders board president. “Every year the need grows for funding of programs to support women and girls, and every year Women Working Wonders answers that call.”

Recipients of the 2023 WWW grants (each for $10,000):

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell for “Within Reach" to empower the girls served at Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell to develop aspirational goals

• Challenge Unlimited for Equine Assisted Therapeutic Programs for Female First Responders

• Community Teamwork, Inc. (CTI) for Financial Foundations for Women

• Greater Lowell Health Alliance for It Takes a Village: The Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities Project

• International Institute of New England for IINE-Lowell Family Literacy Class – English and Empowerment for Refugee Women

• Mill City Grows for Merrimack Valley Growers' Aid to provide access to land, training, and technical assistance to growers who identify as women

Women Working Wonders, an all-volunteer group of women dedicated to effecting positive change, provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development in girls and women, and/or contributing to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls. Founded in 2004 by a small group of women coming together to form a collective giving organization that focused on women’s issues, the fund has made more than $370,000 in grants to organizations supporting women and girls in the Greater Lowell area.

Read the full press release.

Previous WWW Grant Recipients

2022

Alternative House ($10,000) Juntas Crecemos (Together, We Grow)

Center for Hope and Healing ($10,000)
Self Love and Wellness Program for Women

Megan House Foundation $10,000
Metamorphosis

Mission of Deeds ($10,000) Furnishing Homes

University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawk Scholars Academy ($10,000)
Rising Women Leaders & Affinity Group

Women Accelerators ($2,000)
Women Accelerators Peer Circles

2021

Budget Buddies
New Workshop for Women: Financial Health for Families with Children

Challenge Unlimited
​Equine Encounter: Healing to Leadership for Girls and Women

​Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA)
​Sewing Training Program

Girls, Inc. of Greater Lowell
Leadership Academy

Refuge Lowell
Girls and Young Women Creating Community Through Public Art

International Institute of New England (IINE)
Creating New Avenues of Success

2020

Community Teamwork, Inc. Support for Minority Women Childcare Service Providers

​​Dignity Matters Inc.
Period Protection to Support Greater Lowell Providers

Lowell General Hospital
Cancer Center Breast Boards for Radiation Therapy Treatment

South Sudanese Enrichment for Families
Women’s Financial Literacy Programming: Whole Family Health and Stability

Women Accelerators
Accelerating Women Leadership Program

2019

Boys & Girls Club of Greater LowellFLY (Forever Love Yourself)

​​Girls Incorporated of Greater LowellStepping Stones Early Education

International Institute of New England
English for Empowerment Program (E-FEM)

Lowell Community Health Center Strong Women, Strong Families

Megan House Foundation of Lowell
“Coming Home” program

Angels

History

In 2004, Brenda Costello, inspired by a magazine article about women’s funds, collected a group of like-minded women who embarked on the creation of Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF). In no time, 72 women had stepped forward with initial gifts of $36,000. In 2005, the Hunt Alternative Fund issued a challenge grant that was met by six Angel donors. The Hunt challenge brought an additional $120,000 to WWWF, and a sustainable endowment was created. In 2006, WWWF awarded its first grant. Today, our Trustees proudly continue our founders’ vision to empower women and girls through lasting change by:

• Soliciting and broadening financial support among women throughout the region of all financial means and backgrounds

• Establishing and directing a fund distribution process to include application review and fund award decisions and distribution

• Planning and implementing fundraising projects that provide a vehicle for financial program support for women and girls.

Since our inception, WWWF has awarded dozens of grants and created positive change in the lives of countless women and girls.

Women Working Wonders Fund "Angels”

The WWWF is thankful to these six women - our "Angels" - for their generous multi-year donations, comprising the cornerstone gifts of our endowment:

Linda Chemaly
Brenda Costello
Nancy Donahue
Carol Duncan
Niki Tsongas
Elaine Zouzas Thibault