There are many ways to celebrate Women’s History Month. From sending notes of empowerment to your best female friends to shopping from women-owned businesses, these are all ways to stimulate the economy, fight gender bias — and help promote the next generation of leaders. If you want to donate your time or financial resources to causes that directly benefit women in need, another option is finding a female-founded charity. Here, we rounded up nine options that support everything from domestic violence survivors and low-income youth to the environment, maternal care, and more.
The Knowledge House
Co-founded by Jerelyn Rodriguez
Founded in 2014, this charity has served more than 2,000 young adults in New York City. Last year, they expanded their programming also to include Newark, Atlanta and Los Angeles. They help those who live in low-income neighborhoods and suffer from unemployment to underemployment by giving free professional development and technical training services. Graduates from the program have been hired by McKinsey and Company, Citibank, Facebook, Accenture — and many other internationally-recognized brands.
How to get involved: Have a marketable skill set? You can volunteer your brain and become a mentor with The Knowledge House. Or, if your budget allows, they also accept monetary donations.
Welcome Baby
Founded by Sarah Steinhardt and Juliet Fuisz
This non-profit is a resource for new moms who have limited financial resources. They provide everything a woman needs for the first four weeks of her baby’s life, including diapers, wipes, clothes, carriers, and other essentials. Recovering from childbirth, caring for an infant — and well, keeping your head above water — is hard for anyone, particularly those who don’t have support to lean on. The ‘fourth trimester’ is a vulnerable time, and Welcome Baby wants to ease the burden.
How to get involved: You can purchase a complete package to support a mom for four weeks for $160. For $100, you cover the cost of a baby carrier and newborn clothing. For $50, you’ll help with feeding and grooming essentials. And for $25, you can cover one month of diapers and wipes.
The Wente Foundation for Arts Education
Founded by Christine Wente
Christine is a fifth-generation winegrower for America’s oldest, continuously operated family-winery, Wente Vineyards, in Livermore Valley, California. She established this foundation in 2012 and aimed to raise money for art education programs in the Livermore Valley and the Bay Area because they believe that the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education. Their fundraising offers learning experiences for children and teens in grades K-12, emphasizing drama, instrumental, and choral programs. They’ve donated more than $1,150,000 to arts education programs to date.
How to get involved: There are many ways! In addition to donating money, you can also give art supplies. Or, you can become a sponsor for a program. Lastly, you can also buy a Wente Vineyards Artist Series wine bottle, and 5% of the proceeds are donated to the foundation.
Unicorn Children’s Foundation
Founded by Sharon Alexandar
If you’re passionate about helping children and kids with disorders — whether learning, verbal or developmental — this non-profit might tug at your heartstrings. They help families from ‘cradle to career’ as they navigate autism, dyslexia, down syndrome, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, panic disorder, and many other conditions.
How to get involved: When you shop on Amazon, you can make Unicorn Children’s Foundation your preferred charity, and a portion of all of your purchases will be donated to them. You can also shop off of their wishlist on Amazon directly. If you’re able to be in person in Boca Raton, Florida, you can also read books in classrooms or capture b-roll for testimonials. Virtually, you can cook a recipe for their Visual Cookbook, too.
Climate Emergency Fund
Ran by an executive director, Margaret Klein Salamon
We all know how vital acting on climate change is for the future of our planet. And this female-led charity is working to fund start-ups with ambitious goals and significant impact. In 2021, they made more than one million grants to 35 groups, including Hunger Strike for Climate Justice, ShutDownDC, RISE and Coalition for Sustainable Jobs.
How to get involved: This non-profit needs donations more than anything, so consider making a one-time or monthly gift if your budget allows.
Post for Change
Founded by Diipa Büller Khosla
How often do you share content on social media? Probably daily, right? Now your posts can help destigmatize negative notions around sex, sexual violence, and periods for women globally. Think: fighting colorism in Bollywood, sending female hygiene products to thousands of women in India — and the list goes on.
How to get involved: First, you can share your support on social media. Also, they accept donations for all of their campaigns which help fund the distribution of products, workshops, and more.
Gyrl Wonder
Founded by Tola Lawal
This non-profit supports ambitious, tenacious, and promising young women of color, aged 17 to 22. Their work helps them explore career paths, discover their objectives, and then provide the right resources to help them succeed. Considering there are very few minority females in leadership positions, Gyrl Wonder’s footprint will create a ripple effect for generations to ensure these voices are heard — and celebrated.
How to get involved: You can always donate if you have the budget. If you’re located in New York City or Los Angeles, you can also become a mentor, lead a workshop, or participate in many other ways.
Look What SHE Did!
Founded by Julie Hebert
This non-profit organization is on a mission to inspire young girls to believe in their biggest dreams. They create short films and host events that feature female storytellers who detail their unique journeys. These videos are offered through their library, hoping women share and discuss them freely. As they put it, women throughout history have been inventing, leading, organizing, creating and making the world a better place despite gender injustice. If women knew about these inspiring stories that have been kept from them, would they be bolder and have more willingness to persevere?
How to get involved: You can visit their website to view and share the films. Or, you can get involved with volunteer opportunities and, of course, donate.
The Mary Parrish Center
Led by executive director Mary Katherine Rand
Located in Nashville, TN, this center has provided no-cost services to more than 7,000 domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking survivors. They help those in need get out of dangerous situations, file order of protection documents, navigate housing options, provide clothing, and so much more.
How to get involved: If you’re in Nashville, you can volunteer in person. Outside of the city, you can purchase items off of their wishlist or make a donation.
