The Fund for Women and Girls Awards First Round of Domestic Grants

North Bethesda, MD — March 2026 — The Fund for Women and Girls at the Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has awarded $100,000 in its first round of domestic grants to three organizations advancing the health, safety, and economic security of women and girls across the Greater Washington region. 

This marks a significant expansion of the Fund’s work. From 2023–2025, the Fund directed nearly $300,000 to Israeli organizations supporting women and girls in the wake of October 7th. While another round of Israel‑focused grants is in the works, this new domestic portfolio responds to urgent local needs and widening disparities affecting women and girls—particularly Black women, underserved youth, and young women facing structural barriers to long‑term success. Community‑based programs serving women and girls across the DMV are also experiencing increased demand amid tightening public budgets and shifting federal and local funding priorities. 

“The organizations we are supporting this year are on the front lines of maternal health, youth development, and women’s leadership,” said Jannah Yutkovitz, Senior Director of Philanthropic Impact. “Their work is essential to ensuring that every woman and girl in our region has the opportunity to thrive from cradle to career.” 

Three Priority Areas for Impact 

The Fund’s domestic grantmaking strengthens a continuum of opportunity across three life stages: 

• Birth and Early Childhood: fertility support, culturally responsive care, doula services, and birth‑equity initiatives 

• Teens and Youth Development: mentorship, academic support, mental health, and career exposure 

• Young Women’s Leadership and Economic Empowerment: leadership development, community engagement, and pathways to economic mobility 

Priority was given to grassroots and community‑led organizations serving local women  seeking leadership pathways and support networks. 

2026 Grant Recipients 

Mamatoto Village — A leader in maternal health equity providing culturally congruent perinatal care, doula training, and home‑visiting services. Its Mothers Rising Home Visiting Program has demonstrated statistically significant improvements in maternal and infant outcomes, including reduced maternal mortality in DC. 

Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA) Thrive Program — Delivers experiential healthy‑relationship education to Jewish teens in grades 6–12, equipping them with decision‑making, conflict‑resolution, and media‑literacy skills. In 2025, Thrive reached more than 540 local teens. 

Washington Area Women’s Foundation Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) — Ensures young women, particularly young women of color, can lead and prosper. Through programs like the Rock Star Fund and the DC Girls’ Coalition, YWI has strengthened leadership skills for more than 300 young women and awarded grants to 54 youth leaders driving community change. 

By directing funding locally, the Fund aims to close critical gaps for women and girls in the DC community at pivotal life stages—birth, adolescence, and early adulthood —and to bolster organizations that help them build stability and opportunity. 

“These investments reflect our belief that when women and girls thrive, entire communities thrive,” said Sara Brenner, Executive Director of the Foundation. “We are proud to support organizations building a more equitable and vibrant future for the Greater Washington region.”