Why a Women's Fund


	Our Impact	Why a Women's Fund? Success Stories Measuring Impact

Women are at the center of every issue: homelessness, health care, poverty, equal pay, and violence—and women need to be at the center of the solution.

Women's funds concentrate solely on the complex issues that affect the lives of women and girls in their areas. They are able to highlight these issues and to collaborate with existing community organizations to provide the necessary education, resources, and financial support to work on creating just, equitable, and sustainable solutions.

Why Do We Need a Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts?
In Western Massachusetts there continues to be a significant gap between what women and girls need and what they receive. For example, pay equity continues to be a problem for working women in Western Massachusetts. Pay equity is tied to every aspect of the well-being of women and girls, including educational access and success and achieving economic self-sufficiency.

The effect of wage disparity is significant. Over her lifetime, a woman with a high school diploma can lose as much as $700,000 in wages and benefits. The number is even higher for women who graduate from college.