Your Grassroots Dollars Support Organizations Addressing Many Issues
In the past few years, our Grants Program in the United States has experienced a notable increase in funding applications. The rising number of requests reflects the growing need among women-led grassroots organizations. This increase and our expanding visibility highlight the trust organizations place in us and the urgent need for greater investment in women-focused […]
Salvadoran Women’s Will to Thrive
Ambrosia explained what they learned from this experience, “We have definitely learned to be more careful with the time we set for our loans, and at the same time we are grateful to have access to these funds.” The commitment they feel towards the community of women who participate in their local ESPERA community lending pool is very powerful and helps Ambrosia and her daughters not to give up.
Read More »
Connecting Grantees Supporting Immigrants and Refugees
Although there are challenges, support from individuals and communities continues to grow. So do opportunities to increase organization reach due to flourishing demand for services and strategic partnerships.
Read More »
CREAting Dignity for Spanish Speaking Adults at Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos
CREA is a woman founded/directed organization. While all are welcome, 80% of learners are women. The women who founded CREA understand the need for a place where immigrants could learn English and augment their education. Many were unable to attend school in their home country because of poverty or gender discrimination.
Read More »
Emotional Health and Healing: a New Journey for the ESPERA Program
An increase in violent gang activity over the past several years, thanks in part to US deportation policy, has lead to an atmosphere of fear. These stressors, in addition to the hardship that rural women living in poverty inherently experience, have led many ESPERA women to experience anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.
Read More »
Beyond the Money: Solidarity with Small Social Justice Organizations
Our grantees bring together the community to respond to issues of justice. We’ve supported Black mothers launching a food security project in Cincinnati, young women from North Carolina presenting at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Latina immigrants in Wisconsin organizing to change unjust immigration laws, and women helping other women to navigate the Missouri social and legal systems upon being released from prison.
Read More »
Rescuing the Temazcal Tradition
The temazcal is a place for purification and rebirth; it is a point of connection between human beings and the transcendent—but also with the others. Songs and prayers may be part of the ritual which builds bonds of harmony and mutual support.
Read More »
Exodus Lending Lights a Path Out of Payday Loan Debt
Exodus Lending provides more than just a concrete pathway to financial stability. They also provide hope. Just look at Deb. She had fallen into a payday debt trap, but with the support of Exodus lending, she was able to regain control and build her savings. According to Deb, “It has helped my self-esteem. I’m taking responsibility. I’m taking the steps necessary to move forward. I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, and so now I do see that.”
Read More »
Welcoming Robyn Browning to New Grants Manager Position
I was drawn to Mary’s Pence because of the intense focus on supporting women and creating sustainable social change by funding grassroots organizations that are on the ground, in the community, leading the work. Mary’s Pence builds collaborative, equitable partnerships with their grantees that are based on trust and mutual respect.
Read More »
Opening Our Wings to Fly: Strengthening Organizations for Sustainable Change
A strong organization will help amplify women’s voices, respond to community needs, and be a sustainable community resource. This structure is a key component of success for individual women in the ESPERA program. It’s what makes us confident that the social and economic empowerment ESPERA women experience will be long lasting. By investing in the capacity of our organizational partners we are investing in sustainable change.
Read More »