Grants and Investments / Enduring Progress Initiative

Women and Girls of Color Deserve More

We believe in trust-based philanthropy. And that means unrestricted investments in the leadership and vision of women, especially women of color. Women of color face unique barriers when it comes to securing funding for their critical work. That's why we founded the Enduring Progress Initiative. Through the program, we invest $50,000 in organizations led by and for women of color to support their leadership and capacity building.

meet our epi partners

The Women's Fund is honored to support these visionary leaders in their efforts to create equity for women of color in Central Ohio.

The Women's Center for Economic Opportunity, led by Keena Smith

The Women's Center for Economic Opportunity, led by Keena Smith

The Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity equips, elevates, and empowers African American women and other women of color. They provide access to knowledge and resources for women of color to create generational wealth and a legacy of economic impact while staying well. Through their programming, they are advancing economic equity, inclusion, and justice for women of color.

femergy, led by maylin sambois and christina vera

femergy, led by maylin sambois and christina vera

For the past ten years, Femergy® has provided girls and women with skills to overcome gender barriers in public and private spheres. They recently opened The Femergy® Restorative Center in downtown Columbus to expand their work in providing holistic programming in the areas of education, leadership, health, and wellness. 

Eryn PiNK, led by Eryn Hathaway

Eryn PiNK, led by Eryn Hathaway

Eryn PiNK is an empowerment and mentoring program for girls and teens. Their mission is to empower youth to live purposeful lives fueled by personal skills and talents, positive character, self-improvement, personal leadership skills, and career readiness. They teach girls to live on PURPOSE and empower and inspire girls to set standards and exceed expectations.

ThriveIN, led by Chevonne Harris

ThriveIN, led by Chevonne Harris

ThriveIN is a multi-channeled community and organization dedicated to equipping Black Gen Z and millennial women with the tools, resources, networks and transformational access needed to “ThriveIN” the workplace and beyond. Through innovative programming and access to jobs, resources, and mentorship—all topped with a little #BlackGirlMagic, they exist to ensure Black women are poised and positioned to “ThriveIN” their passions. 

Zora's House, led by LC Johnson

Zora's House, led by LC Johnson

Zora's House's mission is to create safe spaces for women of color to establish meaningful, supportive relationships with other women in their community; develop a deeper practice of self-care, resiliency, and emotional intelligence; and successfully incubate their creativity, scholarship, entrepreneurship, activism, service, and leadership. Zora's House also serves as an inclusive learning space for the larger community on issues of race, politics, economics, arts, and culture, as they relate to the identities and experiences of women of color.

Womens Fund launch article screenshot

Why The Women’s Fund?

According to the Pocket Change report, public foundations like The Women’s Fund can uniquely support organizations led by and for women of color. Our deep community relationships, transparent processes, and ability to be nimble funders enables us to quickly address specific funding barriers that affect women of color.

enduring progress advisory committee

Dr. Sierra Austin-King - Educational Service Center of Central Ohio; The Ohio State University

Jay Baliga - Kaiser Consulting

Whitney Crane - Philanthropist

Sophia Fifner - Columbus Metropolitan Club

Alyvia Johnson - American Election Power Foundation

Lindsay Karas Stencel - Thompson Hine

Steven Moore - The Columbus Foundation

Letha Pugh - Bake Me Happy

Julialynne Walker - Africa and Diaspora Development Linkages

Heather Whaling - Geben Communication

Portrait of LC Johnson

“I often say I started working full-time at Zora’s House in January 2021, but the truth is, I had been working at Zora’s House full time from the moment we opened in 2018. Thanks to Enduring Progress, 2021 was the first time I was being compensated for my work.”

LC Johnson, Founder and CEO, Zora’s House

Columbus Dispatch Logo

Goldman Sachs donates to two Columbus groups to help Black women

Philanthropy Women

Women of Color-led Nonprofits Struggle for Survival Funding: Why?

Lioness

Goldman Sachs Announces First Round of Investments and Grants for One Million Black Women Initiative

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Women’s Fund of Central Ohio Awards Zora’s House with Unique Investment

Black enterprise

Goldman Sachs Announces First Round of Investments and philanthropic grant to 1 million women

logo-columbus first

Women's Fund launching new 'social venture capital' fund in Columbus to uplift women of color

Application Process

There’s not one. EPI is rooted in our trust-based approach to philanthropy, which means as few administrative hoops as possible. Enduring Progress Initiative prospects are invited to a pitch session with the Enduring Progress Advisory Committee to share why an investment would help build their capacity and get them to next. If you or someone you know is interested in being considered for a future pitch session, please contact us.

Special Thanks

EPI was launched with support from Crane Group, Kaiser Consulting, The Columbus Foundation, Goldman Sachs, NiSource, Dan & Christie Crane, Jean Droste, Mary Lazarus, Cindy Owens, Jody G. Scheiman, and Rebecca Wiggins.

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