ABOUT

The WGDF is a community outreach fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation that promotes philanthropy and supports non-profit organizations serving women and girls in the San Antonio area through leadership development programs. Since 2012, WGDF has distributed more than $200,000 to charitable programs. The WGDF receives administrative support from the Area Foundation and all grant decisions are made by the fund through their designated representatives.

In 2022, the WGDF will award two $10,000 grants to nonprofits serving Bexar County and surrounding counties in one of our two program areas. These programs promote leadership and/or mentorship of women and girls to foster empowerment and self-leadership that enables them to reach their full potential.

    • Fund one $10,000 grant for innovative programs and strategies that focus on the leadership development and/or mentorship of girls grades 6-12
    • Fund one $10,000 grant for innovative programs and strategies that focus on leadership development and/or mentorship of women 18 and over

The deadline for proposals is Monday, July 4, at 5pm​. Our grant management system is web-based and easy to use.  When you are ready to apply, please Click here to access the system.  You will receive confirmation of receipt within two business days of submission.  Late submissions or incomplete proposals will not be accepted.

Together we can

Grant Application

Women & Girls Development Fund Grant History

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    2018 - Girls Category - Grades 6th through 12th

    • A $5,000 grant to Girls, Inc. was awarded to fund two of the organization’s key teen programs, MVP and Rising Leaders. The two programs focus on girls in grades 6th through 12th grades. These experiential mentorship programs are focused on teambuilding, responsible risk taking, healthy sexuality, self-esteem, literacy, STEM, communication skills, problem solving, goal setting, and physical health and ability.
    • A $10,000 grant to YWCA’s was awarded to support the Mi Carrera program.  This grant helped the YWCA add a STEM component, pilot new summer camps, and begin longitudinal tracking.  The grant itself was used to purchase new technology (laptops) and cultivate partnerships with local tech companies.
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    2018 – Women’s Category – 18 Years and Older

    A $15,000 grant was awarded to Visitation House Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to providing residential stability, independent life skills training, and education opportunities for young women and their children who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.  They provide a loving and caring environment where young women receive mentoring to help them achieve their goals, which primarily center on receiving their GEDs with English taught as a second language.

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    2019 – Girls Category - Grades 6th through 12th

    A $15,000 grant was awarded to Communities in Schools For the Women to Women Mentorship portion of the InspireU Program. The funds were used to continue the established relationships, propelling these women through high school and onto their post-secondary paths.

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    2019 – Women’s Category – 18 Years and Older

    A $15,000 grant was awarded to Crosspoint – Casa Mia…Advancing Juntos. This program provides recovery housing for pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorder and their children, while they access services to decrease vulnerability and promote empowerment.  The project aimed to advance self-leadership by: 1) keeping women and their children together during recovery, 2) sharing skills based on the social recovery model of empowerment and peer-to-peer approaches that support the entire household in the process.

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    2019 Scholarships – Leadership Grants

    • A $2,500 grant to Prospanica Emerging Leadership Series, which supports four women through this program.
    • A $2,500 grant to the Latina Leadership Institute (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) to support six women through the program.
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    2020 – No fund dollars were distributed

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    2021 Scholarships - Leadership Grants

    • A $10,000 grant to Girls Empowerment Network to expand its in-school program “Girl Connect” to help girls stay in school, get on track and reach their full potential.
2021 Recipient Girls Empowerment Network
2021 Recipient Girls Empowerment Network
2019 Recipient Communities in Schools - San Antonio
2019 Recipient Communities in Schools - San Antonio
2019 Recipient Crosspoint, Inc.
2019 Recipient Crosspoint, Inc.
2018 Recipient Visitation Home Ministries
2018 Recipient Visitation Home Ministries
2018 Recipient YWCA
2018 Recipient YWCA
2018 Recipient Girls Inc.
2018 Recipient Girls Inc.

The Women & Girls Development Fund (WGDF) is a community outreach fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation that promotes philanthropy and supports non-profit organizations serving women and girls in the San Antonio area through leadership development programs. Since 2012, WGDF has distributed more than $200,000 to charitable programs. The WGDF receives administrative support from the Area Foundation and all grant decisions are made by the fund through their designated representatives.

Uniting Women FOR Women and Girls in Our Community.

The Women & Girls Development Fund builds a community of women who create positive change through philanthropy. Dedicated volunteers are engaged in fund development and the strategic direction of the WGDF.

Steering Committee

WGDF Steering Committee

Erika Borrego – San Antonio Food Bank, Chief Operating Officer

Tessa Benavides-Cooper – Charles Butt Foundation, Communications & Community Director

Kelli Cubeta – Cubeta Law Group, Partner

Andrea Figueroa – Empower House, Executive Director

Monica Garza – H-E-B, Wellness Sales Leader

Laura Hotten – talkStrategy, Vice President of Creative and Digital

Erin Huddleston – Notely, Vice President of Growth& Partnerships

Jamie Kowalski – The RK Group, Vice President of Corporate Relations

Johnette Lee – San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, Vice President of Sales

Beverly McClure – Co-Chair of WGDF Grant Review

Celina Montoya – Calm Mediation, Mediator & Arbitrator

Angie Salinas – Girls Scouts of Southwest Texas, CEO

Anamaria Suescun-Fast – talkStrategy, CEO

Yorka Velasco – Keurig Dr Pepper, National Field Sales Manager