The Northwest Minnesota Women's Fund (Women's Fund) recently announced that the fund has disbursed $7,277 from endowment earnings in the 2007 grant round.

The Women's Fund believes that women are an essential resource in our communities; they are vital partners in the social and economic stability of the region. As community partners, women and girls should have unlimited access to education and employment opportunities. Moreover, they should be enabled and encouraged to assume leadership roles in areas they choose.

The Women's Fund considers requests for up to $2,500 addressing one or more of the following areas: cultural interactions, economic development, education, healthcare and housing through the following activities: forums, speakers or workshops in collaboration with other groups and/or organizations addressing the needs of females of all ages.

Formed in 1997 as a tax exempt charitable component of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF), the Women's Fund serves as a catalyst for improving the quality of life for women and girls… promoting ideas and supporting programs for the continued strengthening and empowerment of all women.

Counties served by NMF are Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.

Following approval of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Board of Directors, awards were given for the following:

• Climax-Shelly School District #592: $1,907 for a program for girls to focus non-traditional careers
• Headwaters Intervention Center, Park Rapids: $1,200 for support materials for battered women
• Family Advocacy Center for Northern Minnesota, Bemidji: $420 for staff diversity training
• RiverView Health, Crookston: $2,500 for a Women's History Month program for careers in health care
• Sexual Assault Program of Hubbard, Beltrami and Cass Counties: $1,250 for information packets for drug facilitated sexual assault

Selection criteria for the "Women as Resources" grant program focuses on:

• How the project/program meets the Women's Fund mission.
• The scope of the project/program focusing beyond traditional opportunities.
• How the project/program is inclusive to all types of diversity.
• The geographic area served.
• The number of participants served; number of communities served; number of organizations served.

Applications for the next annual grant round will be accepted until May 1, 2008.

The Women's Fund is supported through the generosity of donors from throughout the region. Currently, a dollar for dollar match is being offered to the Women's Fund by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation in its Visionary Partner campaign. When the goal is reached, the Women's Fund will have the capacity to increase its grant making and continue to recognize and encourage women in the region.

Please contact Lisa Peterson, Northwest Minnesota Foundation at (218) 759-2057 or (800) 659-7859 for more information or visit the Women's Fund section at www.nwmf.org.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public charitable community foundation that invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.