Community Foundation Women’s Fund awards grants to local nonprofits supporting women and girls

June 17, 2025

Sarah Ash,

SALISBURY, Md. – The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Women’s Fund has awarded $65,000 to local nonprofits.

These grants support programs in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties that address the unmet needs of women and girls to create positive changes in their lives. The Women’s Fund is a giving circle at the Community Foundation, allowing members to have a team approach to philanthropy and charitable networking.

The 2025 Community Foundation Women’s Fund grant recipients are:

Art League of Ocean City: to create a new community of young women leaders that will work together to brainstorm, create, provide, lead, and execute arts programming that supports women.
Because I Am My Sister’s Keeper: to support initiatives for girls ages 14-18 with educational sessions, field trips, and scholarships.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore: for the Overcoming Obstacles program, where young girls will engage in team building and develop resilience through obstacle course exercises.
Célébrez la Femme: to create the Empowerment Expo, an expansion of their annual Empowerment Summit.
Chesapeake Housing Mission: to fund two Women’s Builds and a 1 Year to Empowerment team build
Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake: to provide 30 scholarships to 3rd-8th grade girls to participate in the Girls on the Run program at their school.
Help and Outreach Point of Entry: to support the women’s care program, which provides assistance, supplies, and support for at risk female clients.
Lead4Life Inc.: to build workforce opportunities for formerly incarcerated women in the reentry program through career coaching and support for CNA or cosmetology programs.
Oshun’s Garden: to expand the Sista Circle program, empowering Black women and addressing gender-based violence.
Salisbury Elite to support female centered programming and a self-care themed women’s empowerment event.
The Child & Family Foundation (1 Year to Empowerment): to support programming for the 2025-2026 year, including activities to empower middle and high school girls to make healthy choices, lasting friendships, and attainable goals.
The Salvation Army of Salisbury: to expand the Girl Guards and Sunbeams programs, which provide mentorship, character development, and life skills training for girls ages 6-18.
Village of Hope: to support transportation needs of transitional housing residents to ensure access to employment, medical care, childcare, and educational opportunities.
Worcester County Economic Development: to aid the creation and delivery of a dynamic workshop and seminar aimed at empowering women in business throughout Worcester County and the surrounding areas.
Worcester County GOLD: to support GOLD’s VAULT (Vast Amounts of Useful Little Things) and Dignity Boxes with items specifically for women and girls in need.