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The Suffolk Foundation Women’s Impact Fund is continuing its mission to positively impact the lives of at-risk Suffolk and Western Tidewater women and children. Since its founding in 2018 from a small group of women, the fund has become a diverse group of like-minded women aiming to help make a difference through their philanthropic work in the community.

With the 2024 grant season opening soon for established grassroots organizations, WIF Grant Committee Members Duanne Hoffler-Foster and Terry Yates both discussed the organization. Hoffler-Foster said that there are currently “more than 18 grant opportunities.”

“We’re looking at promoting existing non-profits and supporting women and children to let them know, ‘We need you, and our community needs you,’ and you can’t just sit on your money and your skills and your opportunities,” Hoffler-Foster said. “We are going to be the lesion between the community and the supporters of the organization.”

Yates talked about the importance of seeing the results of their work positively impacting those in need.

“There was a woman who got a scholarship for medical assistance certification and now she’s gotten a job and she’s starting to work in assisted living. There’s such a need for that, so not only it’s helping her and building her confidence, but then her work is helping the community as well,” Yates said. “So it just kind of just cycles through the community and that’s what we really are looking for.”

Yates emphasized that organizations applying for grants should be grassroots organizations focused on at-risk women and children within the Suffolk and Western Tidewater communities. Other criteria include:

• Must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity serving Suffolk residents and the surrounding area
• The organization must have been in operation for at least 24 months
• Provide a copy of financial documents listed at the end of this Grant Process Document
• Must utilize 100 percent of the awarded funds by WIF for the specified program area.
• Must be able to provide an outcome report to the WIF Board of Directors at six to 12 months intervals after the award of the grant.

For more information, go to suffolkfoundation.org/funds/womens-impact-fund.