Women & Children
Empowering women and girls
The Women's Fund, an endowed fund of the FM Area Foundation, was created in 2000 in partnership with a group of visionaries in the community who saw a need to do more for women and children in Cass and Clay counties. The Women's Fund provides funding in the areas of:
- Economic well-being of women and their families
- Children in need of care
- Women in leadership
Since 2000, the Women’s Fund has awarded $426,315 to support women and children right here in Cass-Clay.
Grantee Stories
These are just a few examples of how our generous donor’s gifts are being put to work in the community through our grantees.

Inspire Innovation Lab
Inspire Girls
Inspire Girls will provide outreach activities for female students in the 7th through 9th grades in the Fargo Moorhead area. This program will consist of four, one-day events held at the Inspire Innovation Lab, and cover topics related to science, technology, engineering, art and math.
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Jeremiah Program
Building a Network of Empowered Women Leaders
This program aims to help 20 single mothers complete Jeremiah’s Empowerment course in 2016, allowing these dedicated single moms to continue their transformation from poverty to prosperity. Empowerment training teaches and reinforces concepts of personal self-worth, responsibility, sociability, self-management, integrity and honesty-essential elements to bu…
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Latter Rain Ministries
P’s & Q’s Etiquette and Leadership
P’s & Q’s Etiquette and Leadership is an empowerment program for girls ages 5 to 16 to attend before and after school, weekends, during school breaks and throughout the summer months. The girls participate in hands on workshops, community and school projects, guided discussions, workbooks and other fun activities. The goal of the program is to engage female st…
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New American Consortium for Wellness and Empowerment
Women’s Social Empowerment Project
The goal of this project is to create a social and educational outlet for former refugee women. The project will engage women in their local neighborhoods, and empower them to make the necessary changes. They will be introduced to other female leaders, and learn the art of networking to become better acquainted to economic, educational, social and physical activities …
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REACH-Rural Enrichment and Counseling Headquarters
Dress for Success Mentoring Program
This mentoring program pairs women who are re-entering the workforce with professionals in their field. Monthly group outings will help foster networking and socializing among the Dress for Success women and their mentors. The ultimate goal is for the women to gain economic independence, advance their careers, and enhance their quality of life, while breaking barrier…
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Tri-College University
National Education for Women (NEW) Leadership Development Institute
The Tri-College NEW Leadership Development Institute provides public leadership training, inspiration, and support for women who do not have extensive leadership experience. Participants will experience life-changing education that prepares them to make significant positive contributions in their communities. They attend workshops on p…
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Center for Technology and Business
Greater Fargo Moorhead Area Women’s Leadership Program (WLP)
The WLP is dedicated to increasing leadership skills and potential for women of all ages and backgrounds in Cass and Clay counties by inspiring and educating women to be leading innovators and change makers in 4 core areas: personal, professional, community and health leadership. Customized training, hands-on exercises and a philanthropy chal…
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YWCA Cass Clay
Education and Employment Program
The goal of the YWCA’s Education and Employment program is to provide education readiness and employment training to help women gain confidence and build lasting economic security through career growth. The program provides access to the YWCA’s onsite computer lab and a variety of job readiness classes. This grant will make it possible for 10 women t…
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2019 Women's Fund Grant Recipients
Organization Project Name BIO Girls BIO Girls Program Diversification Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley Positive Action, Positive Girls Immigrant Development Center Economic Stability of Women Inspire Innovation Lab Inspire Girls! Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership Eliminate Barriers for Women
Lost and Found Recovery Center Transformative Empowerment Classes
MSUM, The NEW Leadership Development Institute 2019 National Education for Women (NEW) Leadership Development
New American Consortium for Wellness & Empowerment Girls Empowerment Movement
P's & Q's Etiquette Leaderlicious on the Move
Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA) Self-Sufficiency Scholarships for Women Living in Poverty
South Sudan Lutheran Church South Sudanese Women's Club
uCodeGirl 3rd Annual Crack the Code
YWCA Cass Clay Women's Education and Employment Fair
2018 Women's Fund Grant Recipients
Organization Project Name Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons Girl Scouts Believe in Girls (BIG) Event Inspire Innovation Lab Inspire Girls New American Consortium for Wellness & Empowerment Lighting the Way Plains Art Museum Buzz Lab P's & Q's Etiquette, LLC Leaderlicious on the Move
SENDCAA Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency Self Sufficiency Scholarships for Women Living in Poverty
YWCA Cass Clay Education and Employment Program's Women Empowering Women
Jeremiah Program Propelling Single Mothers into Leadership through Post-Secondary Success
Tri-College 2019 National Education for Women (NEW) Leadership Development Institute
REACH Rural Enrichment & Counseling Headquarters, Inc. Dress for Success Empowerment Program
2017 Women's Fund Grant Recipients
Organization Project Name Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons Girl Scouts Leaders in Business Expo Inspire Innovation Lab Inspire Girls Jeremiah Program Readying Single Mothers for Leadership Through Empowerment and Life Skills Training Latter Rain Ministries P's & Q's Etiquette and Leadership North Dakota Women's Network Ready to Run
REACH Career Center Workshops
Tri-College NEW Leadership Development Institute for the National Education for Women
uCodeGirl Shape the Future: Inspire and Nurture Her--a STEM Mentorship Initiative
Center for Technology & Business Greater Fargo Moorhead Area Women's Leadership Program
YWCA Cass Clay Education & Employment Program