Developing Leaders Through Girl-Powered Giving
Why Girl-Powered Giving?
She can, she does.
When we empower girls, we unlock a transformative force. Since 2012, the Women’s Fund has hosted the Girl-Powered Giving to learn directly from local high school girls about the issues that are impacting them and their peers. It also gives them the opportunity to help other girls in the Fox Valley by awarding $10,000 in grant funding to local nonprofits provided by the J.J. Keller Foundation.
Where girls learn to embrace their power to change the world and become the next generation of thoughtful and effective givers. Hearing from the girls helps us understand issues impacting high school-age girls and identify meaningful ways to improve the lives of all girls in our community.
We are excited to introduce a reimagined Girl-Powered Giving Program, where high school girls from throughout the Fox Valley participate in leadership training, community service, and philanthropy education.
This program is focused on helping girls make a positive difference for their peers over a span of 9 months with meetings on the second Wednesday of every month from October 2026 – June 2027.
During the program girls will learn how to be leaders, use their voice, learn about community issues, understand financial literacy, benefit from a mentor, collectively grant out $10,000 to make a difference in an issue they find important, and complete a personal capstone project for a cause they are passionate about.
Thank you to Blue Door Consulting for highlighting our Girl Powered Giving program! See how we partnered with Blue Door Consulting to bring this experience to high school girls in the Fox Valley.
Applications are OPEN!
Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Girl-Powered Giving program.
During the program, you will engage in hands-on giving through grantmaking, leadership building, financial literacy education, understanding how you make an impact, and more! You will explore social causes, nonprofit organizations, learn to advocate for causes you care about, and have the opportunity to direct $10,000 in grant funding to address the needs of girls in the Fox Valley. That’s right—YOU get to decide how to use $10,000 to help your peers.
As a Girl-Powered Giver, you will:
- Meet and work with girls from throughout the Fox Valley
- Identify and enhance your leadership skills
- Raise awareness of issues important to you and your peers
- Participate in a group community service project
- Learn to lead a grant making process and award $10,000 to a nonprofit
Make a positive difference for girls in your community!
Girl-Powered Giving is held every second Wednesday October – June.
Girls who are invited to participate in the program will be expected to commit to be engaged and active members for all of the group meetings. Meetings will be held the second Wednesday of every month from 5:00-6:30 pm at the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region’s office (4455 W. Lawrence St., Appleton). We may have volunteer events that will be held during the school day, so a parent or guardian will have to excuse you from school to participate on those dates. If transportation is a barrier for you to participate, the Women’s Fund may be able to assist if needed.
Program Dates:
- Wednesday, October 14
- Wednesday, November 11
- Wednesday, December 9
- Wednesday, January 13
- Wednesday, February 10
- Wednesday, March 10
- Thursday, March 18 – An Event, Period. (optional attendance)
- Wednesday, April 14
- Wednesday, May 12 – Spotlight, grant award celebration!
- Wednesday, June 9
“The Girl-Powered Giving Program was one of my favorite experiences. We were a group of high school girls meeting on a common goal and fixing a problem in the community. And we had the really big job of deciding who deserves a huge amount of money. That’s women power and I was really excited to be a part of it!”
Raianna, Girl-Powered Giving Participant
Rise to Meet the Moment
Thank you to the J.J. Keller Foundation for supporting Girl-Powered Giving!
2015
Appleton Central, Appleton East, Appleton North, Appleton West, Fox Valley Lutheran, Xavier
2017
Freedom, Little Chute, Kaukauna & Kimberly
2018
Appleton Central, Appleton East, Appleton North, Appleton West, Fox Valley Lutheran, St. Francis Xavier