The YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula Fund

Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women and Girls

The mission of the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula is Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women and Girls.

The Fund was established in 2004, upon the closure of the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula and the sale of its Palo Alto building; assets from the sale were invested originally with the Women’s Foundation of California, and are now administered by Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. The Foundation administers the donor advised fund and carries out the annual grantmaking program, as directed and authorized by the Board of Directors of the YWCA Mid- Peninsula Donor Advised Fund.

Since that time, the Fund has leveraged the interest derived from its investments to distribute over $3 million in grants to 54 agencies whose programs align with the Fund’s mission. Those programs include: education, teen pregnancy, termed out foster care girls, rape crisis intervention, domestic violence, women entrepreneurs, LGBTQ+ issues, immigration rights, public policy advocacy training, and numerous barrier breaking racial justice programs.

The Fund’s grants are up to $20,000, and are provided for general operating support or program support, with a geographic focus on areas previously served by the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula, including: Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Los Altos/Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Sunnyvale, as well as other YWCAs throughout Northern California.

For more details, definitions and examples of the Fund’s grant-making priorities, please read the FAQ: YWCA’s Standards for Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women and Girls.

The YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula Fund has an invitation-only application process and does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. Invited organizations must meet the Fund’s dual mission of Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women and Girls in geographic areas previously served by the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula, including Northern Santa Clara County, Southern San Mateo County, and/or YWCAs in Northern California.

Awards made through the Fund are one-year grants. Your organization may be awarded a grant for up to 3 consecutive years in a row at maximum. After 3 years, your organization will not be eligible for a minimum of one year.

This is not a guarantee that an organization will receive funding for 3 years and/or automatically be eligible after a one-year break. All organizations who receive invitations to apply are at the discretion of the Board at the beginning of each funding cycle.

To seek out grantees, the Fund’s board actively engages with nonprofits, community groups and other foundations to learn of organizations that may align with the Fund’s mission, and sends an invitation to apply to potential grantees.