GRANTMAKING
ABOUT US
MEMBERSHIP
GRANTMAKING
SUPPORT EWF
EVENTS
OVERVIEW
The Erie Women’s Fund is proud to offer two annual grant opportunities for nonprofits that are working to Empower Women and Families. All grant decisions are made through a competitive, open application process – EWF members vote to select recipients.
OUR MAJOR GRANT
Our annual major grant offers $100K to nonprofit applicants with project that address the needs of women and families in any of the following areas:
- Economic Stability
- Education Access and Quality
- Health Care Access and Quality
- Neighborhood and Built Environment
- Social and Community Context
Every member of the Erie Women’s Fund has the opportunity to vote on this grant – we encourage applicants to bring bold ideas that will produce significant, positive changes in the lives of local women and families. Grant applications open in February and the grant is awarded in July each year.
For more information, click the link below to view this year’s RFP.
2025 ERIE WOMEN’S FUND MAJOR GRANT RFP
APPLY NOW
FURCHAK-FERKO GRANT
The annual Ferchak-Ferko grant was made possible by a legacy gift from Margaret Furchak-Ferko, a North East native with a passion for promoting and supporting women and families. Through this fund, the Erie Women’s Fund is able to offer funds to support projects that address various community gaps that impact local women and children:
- Transportation
- Health/Healthcare
- Workforce Training/Education
- Housing
- Childcare
- Food Insecurity
The Erie Women’s Fund’s Grants Committee makes selections for this grant each year with the guidance of The Erie Community Foundation. Grant applications open in September and grants are awarded in December.
Check back this summer for our 2025 RFP
Questions? Contact:
Linda Corso
Grants Chair
Olivia Burgess
Director of Collective Giving
OBurgess@ErieCommunityFoundation.org
OUR IMPACT
Since our first grant award in 2009, Erie Women’s Fund has awarded over $1 million in grants to local nonprofits. Our dedicated Grants Committee has vetted, visited and researched while our members have listened, questioned and voted.
The nonprofits who have been awarded grants have shown a strong commitment to the EWF mission of Empowering Women and Families and we celebrate their success as we look forward to our next $1 million.
2009
Erie Together
The Erie Women’s Fund committed to award $250,000 over 5 years to Erie Together.
Our funds created the Family Action Teams, which paired interested families with mentors to improve household self-sufficiency. Action Teams are still convening and making county-wide change today. erietogether.org
2013
General McLane Foundation
The General McLane Foundation partnered with the Career Assessment Center to create and administer Career Profiles for over 250 students in preparation for careers in Healthcare and Machining, leading to shadow experiences and contacts within the indsutries.
2015
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
The Porreco College of Edinboro University offered this Child Care Grant to students who would benefit from a subsidy to help with child care costs while attending programs at the Porreoco College, eliminating a significant barrier for many students.
2017
The International Institute (USCRI)
The International Institute created the Women Empowering Women to ensure that Erie’s vulnerable and underserved refugee women gain self-sufficiency and community integration through personalized education, counseling and resettlement initiatives. refugees.org/uscri-erie
2018
NAMI of PA, Erie County
The creation of the NAMI Basics/Exploring the Arts established a place for families to work together to deal with the effects of Mental Health struggles. The program remains a valuable community resource, creating opportunities and saving many lives. nami.org
2019
Erie Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT)
Erie Center for Arts & Technology (ECAT) has been instrumental in changing lives through its EWF Grant ‘Changing Lives through Middle- Wage Career Training.” ECAT’s demand driven training and professional development skills are offered at no cost to students. eriecat.org
2020
Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery (MHEDS)
With this vital and timely grant, MHEDS was able to offset startup costs and establish a site at the JFK Center in East Erie. This location provides quality healthcare and education to an at-risk and diverse population, without concern for their ability to pay. mheds.org
2021
Emma’s Footprints
With EWF Grant Funding, Emma’s Footprints addresses the tangible yet unmet health and wellness needs of Black women and babies during perinatal and postpartum stages by creating a Doula Care & Support Plan, ensuring good outcomes for moms & babies. emmasfootprints.com
2022
Mercy Center for Women
The WEAR Program at The Mercy Center for Women is currently using its Grant Funds to break down the many barriers of low-income women in Erie through educational job readiness activities so that they are ready to obtain family-sustaining wages. mcwerie.org
2023
Erie United Methodist Alliance (EUMA)
EUMA’s Journey Home program is striving to reduce homelessness in youth aging out of the foster care system by providing safe and stable housing coupled with support from staff to bridge the gap to independent living. EWF’s grant funds are supporting necessary repairs to their residential facility. euma-erie.org
2024
The US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)
USCRI’s Stronger Women, Stronger Erie Families program addresses the needs and rights of refugees and immigrants. USCRI will use their Grant Funds to be able to provide a comprehensive set of services that include housing placement, cultural orientation, school enrollment, various legal and health services to aid refugee and immigrants lives into the transition to the Erie Region. refugees.org/uscri-erie
STAY CONNECTED
@eriewomensfund
ErieWomensFund