Women’s Giving Alliance Awards $612,500 in Grants, Reaching Historic milestone of $10 Million in Grantmaking Since Inception

Jacksonville, Fla. — May 20, 2025 — The Women’s Giving Alliance (WGA), an initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, has reached a historic $10 million in grantmaking – an achievement that was announced at its annual Member Forum. The collective giving circle, which was founded in 2001, awarded $612,500 in grants to 10 non-profits in its 2025 grantmaking cycle, targeting a new focus area, Addressing Violence Against Women & Girls. The organization has awarded more than $10.2 million overall to 80 area non-profit organizations in six counties: Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns.

“This exciting milestone of more than $10 million in grantmaking confirms that WGA has developed into a leading giving circle in the Northeast Florida region,” said Sabeen Perwaiz, President of WGA. “We have an amazing group of committed, talented and passionate women who believe in the power of collective giving. For our current focus area, we have chosen to address a concerning issue that hits too close to home for many of us. Together, we can make our communities better, stronger and safer for all of us.”

WGA received 64 grant applications this year, and it selected 10 non-profits to receive a one- or two-year grant, with ratification by members during WGA’s Member Forum held on May 20 at the Florida Blue Conference Center. These grants will aid in programming and services that address such issues as child abuse and neglect, harassment and bullying, intimate partner and domestic violence, predatory social media, rape, and sex (human) trafficking.

Five nonprofits will receive two-year grants for the 2025-2027 grant cycle:

• Betty Griffin Center – $125,000
• Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida – $70,000
• The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services – $125,000
• Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. – $125,000
• The Women’s Center of Jacksonville – $125,000

Five nonprofits will receive one-year grants for the 2025-2026 grant year. These grants are specifically designed for smaller organizations, with operating budgets of $250,000 or less:

• I AM The Prize, Inc. – $10,000
• Lara IDOWU Foundation, Inc. – $10,000
• Rakad Dance Camp – $10,000
• Silent Women Speaking – $10,000
• UNF Black Alumni Association – $2,500

“For almost 25 years, the Women’s Giving Alliance has led the way in leveraging the power of collective giving in Northeast Florida,” said Wanda Willis, Vice President of Civic Leadership at The Community Foundation. “This historic milestone of more than $10 million in grantmaking exemplifies the enormous impact of strategic philanthropy, and we are grateful to each and every WGA Member who has contributed her time, talent and treasure to benefit communities across the region.”

Over the course of its 24-year history, WGA has grown to more than 400 Members – with a dual mission of using collective giving to improve the lives of women and girls in Northeast Florida and empowering women to be strategic philanthropists. The Addressing Violence Against Women & Girls focus area was selected after extensive and diligent research that engaged more than 40 civic, corporate and non-profit leaders and input from Members.

Specifically, WGA’s grants and community involvement for this year’s grants emphasize four goals within its new focus area, Addressing Violence Against Women & Girls:

• Helping girls be safer and more empowered at home, school, and online
• Educating the community about violence against women and girls
• Broadening short-term services for female victims (and their children)
• Expanding long-term support enabling transition to self-sufficiency (and independence from abusers)

Learn more about this year’s grant recipients.