The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts makes grants and advances social change in three major focus areas:

Educational Access and Success – Building and strengthening systems to help women and girls increase their opportunities through education and leadership development.

Economic Justice – Producing results on issues such as economic well-being, wages and pay equity, career paths, and financial literacy for all stages of life.

Safety and Freedom from Violence – Supporting women's and girls' rights to pursue their dreams and goals in a world and culture free of violence against them.

Five Indicators of Social Change
We understand that social change is a process that is shaped by many factors.  However, we believe that social change is most recognizable when certain changes occur, such as: 

1. Shifts in definition or reframing of issues: The issue is defined differently in the community or larger society.
2. Shifts in individual or community behavior: People behave differently in the community.
3. Shifts in critical mass or engagement: People in the community are more engaged in the issue.
4. Shifts in institutions or policies:  Specific organizational, local, regional, state, or national policies have changed.
5. Maintaining or holding the line: Earlier progress on the issue has been maintained in the face of opposition. 

The Women's Fund supports projects seeking to impact one or more of these shifts in the social change landscape.