Iowa Women's Foundation

The Iowa Women's Foundation (IWF) is a nonprofit, grant-making foundation dedicated to expanding opportunities and promoting positive social change for Iowa's women and girls. One of more than 100 women's funds internationally, the IWF is part of a global women's moving that is rooted in a commitment to justice and gender equality.

IWF annual awards grants to seed, strengthen and connect programs that benefit women and girls in Iowa. Grants from IWF are intended to promote broad and fundamental change, particularly in small, grassroots organizations that often do not receive grant funding from traditional sources. IWF values local expertise and the belief that women themselves know best how to determine their needs. IWF exists to improve the lives of Iowa women and girls through the power of philanthropy, advocacy and collaboration.

For every issue on the state and national agenda - from violence to health care - there is a dimension specific to women. There are few social problems that can be resolved without programs and strategies that specifically address the needs of women and girls. Women's issues involve the entire community. When a woman is given an opportunity or when a girl can take advantage of an expanded range of positive choices, entire communities benefit.

Organizations that serve women and girls are in desparate need of support. Studies indicate that nationally little more than 5 percent of philanthropic dollars go toward programs specifically targeted to women and girls. This lack of resources seriously impedes the efforts of women's organizations, and in effect, opportunities for women. The Iowa Women's Foundation exists to balance the scale on behalf of women and girls.