By Kathy Register

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Recognizing the important role women play in local philanthropy, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) manages a number of independent funds established by women who pool their resources to support their communities. 

Understanding there are a variety of ways women’s groups go about awarding grants to local nonprofits, GLCF supports well-established, endowed funds, such as the 17-year-old Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund. GLCF also welcomes up-and-coming groups, like 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, a new collaborative “giving circle” just starting its third year.

“GLCF component funds, like these two philanthropic groups, inspire and empower women to make a difference where they live,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President & CEO. “GLCF is proud to support these generous women and welcome other groups eager to learn how they can collectively make a difference.”

“As a whole, women control more than half of private wealth in the U.S.,” added Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s VP of Marketing & Programs. “So, it makes sense that GLCF sees growth in this area of giving. Women in Greater Lowell are leveraging their resources via strategic donations to have a greater positive impact on the community.”

While Women Working Wonders and 100+ Women Who Care Metrowest operate differently, both groups have a common mission: combining resources to help others.

“One of the great things about Women Working Wonders is that we believe in establishing an endowment fund that will be there for younger women to work with,” explained Carrie Meikle, a WWW board member and co-chair of its grant committee.

“A lot of young women aren’t capable of writing a $5,000 or $10,000 check. But as a group, we can award grants in those amounts,” she said. “It’s a great way of collective giving, and shows how we can really have a positive impact.”

Started in 2004 by a group of 72 women who each gave $500, the WWW Fund has now grown to $1.3 million. But the group’s mission has remained constant: empowering women and girls to effect positive change in the Greater Lowell community.

WWW raises money via individual donations, as well as through its annual fundraiser, Power of the Purse, a fashion show and handbag auction. And in 2019, it launched a very successful 15th anniversary campaign.

“We raised $250,000 through that campaign,” said Meikle. “Our goal was to push our endowment over the $1 million mark, and we did it.” This year the group plans to award five $10,000 grants to local nonprofits. The 2021 grant application closes on June 17.

100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest was founded in 2018 by Amy Gleason, a teacher at Middlesex School in Concord. The group came under the GLCF umbrella in 2021.

Gleason was inspired to form the group after learning about the international “100 Who Care” philanthropic movement. “I started a U.S. nonprofit to support nonprofit organizations in South Africa, but feel strongly about supporting local communities, as well.  

“I read about a Canadian 100 Women Who Care group, and the giving-circle idea appealed to me. Other women and I could have a significant impact on local nonprofits by pooling our resources.”

Unlike Women Working Wonders, 100+ Women Who Care Metrowest doesn’t have an endowment fund, nor does it organize fundraisers. Instead, its 53 members donate $400 each per year, and the group awards quarterly $5,000 grants, said Gleason. As membership grows, so will the size of grants.

The group meets four times per year and votes to award one grant each quarter to a worthy Metrowest nonprofit that addresses a pre-determined theme. “We decide our four themes at the beginning of the year,” she said. “Our grants are unsolicited – they’re like a shot in the arm for these (mostly) small nonprofits. In many cases, the organizations don’t even know we’re looking at them.”

Members of  100+Women Who Care Metrowest range in age from 30 to 85, Gleason added. “What we all have in common is that we want to support local communities, but we also lead very busy lives.”

According to Meikle, for more than 17 years, Women Working Wonders has awarded various grants to large and small organizations. “We try to spread it out as much as we can,” she said.

Last year, WWW donated to Lowell General Hospital’s Cancer Center, to support breast cancer treatment, as well as to Dignity Matters, which provides menstrual-period protection to homeless and low-income women. The group has also supported the Boys & Girls Clubs, and Mill City Grows, which addresses local food insecurity.

100+ Women Who Care Metrowest has awarded nine grants in just over three years, Gleason explained. Grants have been made to nonprofits such as Household Goods in Acton (which gives furnishings to formerly homeless clients setting up households); REACH, a Waltham-based domestic-violence service agency; and most recently Cultivate Care Farms, Bolton Farm-Based Therapy serving Greater Lowell.

“There is something wonderful about getting an unsolicited chunk of money from a group that has looked into your organization and appreciates what you do,” she said. “I wish we were giving more. That’s our goal: To grow our group to 100 members so that we can give $10,000 grants.”

Women Working Wonders is also focused on its future, according to Meikle. “Our board was meant to evolve as the role of women has changed,” she said. “We always ask younger women to join — it’s a good mentoring opportunity.”

But the mentoring goes both ways, she stressed, and the recent pandemic is a perfect example of how quickly things can change.

“COVID-19 has had a huge negative impact on women and girls,” said Meikle. “So, last year, we realized our mission is more important than ever. However, the pandemic totally changed how we could fundraise.”

“Suddenly, we had to figure out how to host Power of the Purse as a virtual event. We had to learn how to market via social media and host an online auction.

“But we did it, and our younger board members made that happen,” said Meikle proudly. “WWW is set up to pass the torch to new female philanthropists.”

For more information about Women Working Wonders (www.womenworkingwondersfund.com) and 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, visit the GLCF website: www.glcfoundation.org

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation:

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 390 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $50 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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PHOTO: GLCF_CCFarms.jpg

Photo Credit: Monica Justesen Photography

Caption:  Cultivate Care Farms in Bolton, a recent 100+ Women Who Care Metrowest Grant Recipient, provides innovative Farm-Based therapy to individuals and families. Pictured: Cultivate Care Farms’ director Megan Moran with therapy cow Nora.

PHOTO: GLCF_LGH_WWF21.jpg

Caption: In 2020, Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund awarded a  $10,000 grant to Lowell General Hospital’s Cancer Center’s to be used toward the purchase of breast boards. These devices are used to provide a comfortable prone position for women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer, which can also ensure a more accurate dose of targeted radiation.

LOWELL – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $306,287 to 18 area nonprofits through the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program and GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. 

“The Greater Lowell nonprofits funded in this latest phase of the COVID-19 Emergency Response grant cycle are dedicated to helping our community as so many continue to struggle during the pandemic,” said GLCF president & CEO Jay Linnehan. “We are grateful for their continued commitment to serving those in need.”

GLCF awarded $195,492 in grant funding in the latest round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, made possible by the Baker-Polito Administration’s $10 million grant program for COVID-19 relief. The program is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development through community foundations.

Among the 13 Commonwealth COVID Grants funded through GLCF, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) received a grant for the MAPS COVID Rental & Utility Assistance Program in Lowell. “During this time of unprecedented challenges, we are so very thankful to be able to offer some much-needed financial relief to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in Lowell,” said Paulo Pinto, MAPS Executive Director. “Thanks to the generosity of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, this grant will allow MAPS to support clients with rental and utility assistance, so they can focus on staying healthy and caring for their families.”

The 13 nonprofits receiving $195,492 in grant funding in the first round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program are:

• Alternative House Inc.: Food and essential supplies
• Central Food Ministry: Food, clothing, and essential supplies
• Community Teamwork Inc.: Food and housing insecurity
• Dignity Matters Inc.: Food and essential supplies in Lowell Schools
• Health Law Advocates: Mental health advocacy program for kids in Lowell
• Hope Dove Inc.: Essential Needs
• Lowell Alliance: Food and essential infant supplies
• Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers: Rental & Utility Assistance Program in Lowell
• P.C.E.A. Neema Church: Basic/essential household needs
• Project LEARN Inc.: STEAM enrichment kits for Lowell kids
• St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen Inc.: Food project support
• UTEC Inc.: Food program and food insecurity
• Wish Project Inc.: Basic/essential household needs

Additionally, GLCF distributed a round of support from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Of the five recent grants from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Incompass Human Services received a grant for PPE for COVID-facing direct support and nursing staff. “The people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families who receive critical services and supports from Incompass Human Services rely on the dedication of our Care Champions, all of whom have been working tirelessly in our community throughout the pandemic,” said Jean Phelps, CEO, Incompass Human Services. “As a nonprofit, we largely rely on support from the community to help the people we serve live their best lives through day habilitation, family support, community services, and housing placement. And that’s why we are beyond grateful to receive a COVID Relief Grant from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, as it will help us continue to fund the testing, PPE, and all of our infection control procedures that we put in place during the pandemic.”

The five nonprofits receiving $110,795 in grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund are:

• Discovery Museum Inc.: Sanitation and PPE
  • Incompass Human Services: PPE for direct support and nursing staff
  • Lowell Community Health Center: Enhanced communication for vaccinations and health equity
  • Roudenbush Community Center: Sanitation equipment and mental health support training
  • THRIVE Communities of Massachusetts: COVID-19 transportation support

Since March 2020, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, and Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, the foundation has supported 125 local nonprofit organizations with 283 grants totaling over $3.9 million.

Donations to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852. 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 390 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $50 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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LOWELL – As COVID-19 has exacerbated food insecurity all around the region, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has made it a priority to help the hungry put more healthy food on the table. By providing recent grants to two local organizations — Mill City Grows in Lowell, and Gaining Ground in Concord — GLCF is improving community access to organic fruits and vegetables during the pandemic through its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grants.

“These incredible nonprofit partners aim to increase the quality and quantity of fresh produce available to emergency-food programs in Greater Lowell,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President & CEO. “The foundation recognizes the unprecedented need during this pandemic to address the food insecurity in our community and fund creative solutions to get healthy food options to residents.”

GLCF continues to target the lack of nutritious food, especially after its recent survey of Greater Lowell nonprofits revealed that one of their top three needs was improved food quality —specifically better-quality fresh produce, as well as culturally sensitive food options, explained Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing & Progams.

“Access to healthy, local food is as much about social justice as it is about health,” said Aradhya.   “The two organizations that received these grants have a proven track record of providing nutritious options to under-served families who want a healthier lifestyle for their future.”

Feeding the hungry, as well as addressing the larger issues of unequal access to healthy food, are what drive Mill City Grows and Gaining Ground. Even though the pandemic has forced both organizations to modify operations, they are more committed than ever to growing and delivering organic fruits and vegetables to local food pantries, mobile markets, farm shares and individuals unable to leave their homes.

“Food pantries need sources of fresh produce,” explained Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director of Gaining Ground, a three-acre, nonprofit organic farm in Concord. “If you think about it, most of the food gathered in church and school food-drives consists of canned goods. Too often, the produce donated to food pantries is past peak or damaged.   

“At Gaining Ground, we donate 100 percent of our produce so we don’t have to make a distinction between what we sell and what we donate. And all the food we donate is top-quality, fresh and beautiful,” she said.

Founded more than 25 years ago, Gaining Ground normally uses volunteers to work its fields and hoop houses, explained Johnson. But last summer, no volunteers were allowed on site, due to COVID-19 health restrictions. Nevertheless, by hiring extra staff, the farm harvested and donated more than 127,000 pounds of fresh produce to organizations in Ayer, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord and Westford, as well as other outlets in greater Boston. “That’s the equivalent to 509,000 individual servings,” said Johnson.

Serving those who work and live in Lowell, Mill City Grows was founded 10 years ago following a city-wide food assessment, explained Executive Director Jessica Wilson.

“What we learned from that survey was that most people in Lowell know they should be eating five or more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day,” said Wilson. “But many don’t because they don’t live near stores that sell produce — or because prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are prohibitively high.

“Mill City Grows wants the community to have more access to fresh produce,” she said. “We want it to be affordable, and, when possible, we want to grow it in Lowell. We also want it to reflect the cultures our residents come from.”

With its four Lowell farms, plus 20 community and school gardens, Mill City Grows produced more than 40,000 pounds of fresh produce last year, despite mandated COVID-19 restrictions on volunteers. The group also distributes organic produce purchased from local farms and other growers around the state.

Through no-cost weekly farm shares, Mill City Grows offered fresh produce to 150 families last summer, and another 62 over the winter, Wilson explained. More than 5,000 pounds of produce were donated directly to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. The group also trains people to grow their own organic food in community plots, and offers cooking classes to teach families how to incorporate more fresh produce into meals.

“There is a very high rate of diabetes in Lowell — much higher than in surrounding towns — ac-cording to the Greater Lowell Health Alliance,” said Wilson. “When new immigrants come to the U.S., their diet often changes radically — and not always for the better.”

“It can be really challenging to see all sorts of unfamiliar produce in the store, while the fruits and vegetables you know from your home country are missing,” she said. “But, what if the produce you know IS available? And what if you have learned how to prepare these new varieties of fruits and vegetables? That changes everything!”

Mill City Grows varies what it grows every year. “Basically, we take recommendations from people in the community,” said Wilson. “One year, we grew five different varieties of eggplant, another year we grew a lot of daikon radish. In our hoop houses we grow ginger and turmeric, which are popular spices in Southeast Asian cuisine.”

“If it can be grown in this climate, we do our best to make it happen,” she said.

Graining Ground also alters what is planed based on community feedback, according to Johnson. “Coronavirus hasn’t changed what we grow, but we always ask our partners what people like,” she said.

“For example, our partners in Westford have requested radishes and cabbages, so we grow several different varieties of these vegetables and send those their way,” she said.

“Also, we don’t grow a lot of potatoes,” Johnson added. “Our partners have told us they can get good potatoes from other sources. What they want from us are our organic leafy greens.” 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF), founded in 1997, is a philanthropic organization comprised of over 390 funds, now totaling over $50 million, dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. The Community Foundation annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. GLCF is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from its staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. Our donors’ generosity has enabled GLCF to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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