Investing in Women. Strengthening the Fox Valley.

Written by Stacie Hazlett-Rothe, Communications & Outreach Specialist with the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region

The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region is proud to announce that more than $72,500 in grant funding has been awarded this year to local nonprofit organizations working to improve the health, safety, and economic security of women and girls throughout the Fox Valley.

These grants are more than financial support, they are investments in people, families, and the future of our community. Each funded program addresses real challenges facing women and girls while creating opportunities for leadership, stability, connection, and long-term success to make real change now for women and girls.

As the needs in our community continue to grow, so does the importance of coming together to create meaningful change.

“We are thrilled to invest over $72,500 back into our community this year. These grants represent more than just financial support; they are an investment in the future of the Fox Valley by ensuring women and girls have the resources, safety, and opportunities they deserve,” said Julie Keller, Executive Director of the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region.

2026 Grant Recipients

This year’s funding supports a wide range of innovative and community-centered programs:

• CAP Services – Guaranteed Income Project — $20,000
  Supporting a bold new approach to economic stability by providing unrestricted stipends to women in the Skill Enhancement program, helping remove barriers that could disrupt progress toward their goals. This is a continuation of the Innovative Pathways Grant, the first renewable grant from the Women’s Fund.
• Casa Hispana – Parent Peer Support Group for Latinas — $4,480
  Supporting Latina mothers and their children through a Spanish-speaking parent peer advocate located within the Family Resource Center.
• COTS – Empowering Women Through Strong Foundations to Break the Cycle of Homelessness — $5,000
  Uplifting female residents through mentoring, life skills, and self-advocacy training designed to support long-term stability.
• First 5 Fox Valley – Growing Parent Leadership — $5,440
  Helping women build confidence, leadership skills, and advocacy experience through Parent Ambassador training opportunities.
• HeadsUp Fox Cities – Stability Starts With Her — $4,480
  Providing trauma-informed support for young women aging out of foster care through housing assistance, life skills, mentorship, and basic needs support.
• Long Cheng Community Center – Nkauj Hmoob Rising: Empowering Our Future Leaders — $8,500
  Delivering culturally grounded leadership, wellness, mentoring, and financial capability programming for Hmong girls ages 11–17.
• Safe Families for Children – Strengthening Families: Enhancing Capacity for Long-Term Family Success — $5,000
  Providing mothers with compassionate, nonjudgmental support and practical assistance during times of crisis.
• Samaritan – Reclaiming Balance and Belonging: Single Parent Support Group — $5,000
  Creating meaningful peer connections and emotional support systems for single parents through education and relationship-centered community.
• SiSTAR Society Academy of Excellence – SiSTAR Rising: Empowering Women and Girls Through Mentorship & Life Skills — $8,000
  Building confidence, identity, and leadership skills through mentorship and facilitated group sessions.
• Wisconsin Early Childhood Association – Child Care Advocacy: Mobilizing the Fox Valley for a Sustained Public Investment — $6,600
  Elevating the urgent need for public investment in child care through advocacy training, listening sessions, and community conversations.

These grants are possible because of a community that believes in the power and potential of women and girls. That spirit of collective impact is exactly what we celebrated at our Spotlight event which was held on Wednesday, May 20. At Spotlight we honored changemakers, uplifted powerful stories, and recognized the organizations and individuals helping create a stronger, more equitable Fox Valley.

This year’s grant recipients embody the heart of that mission. From housing and mentorship to leadership development and economic empowerment, these programs are creating ripple effects that will impact generations to come.

We are deeply grateful to our donors, partners, advocates, and community members who make this work possible. Together, we are building a future where every woman and girl in the Fox Valley has the support, resources, and opportunities she deserves.

The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region is a supporting organization of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and a separate 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Women’s Fund invests in the needs of women and girls through grants, advocacy and education. To learn more about the Women’s Fund and how you can support women in the Fox Valley go to www.womensfundfvr.org