Why We Exist

The Need

• Percentage of female-headed households living in poverty in 2003:
  • 24.2% in Albany County
  • 22.5% in Rensselaer County
  • 17.5% in Saratoga County
  • 20.8% in Schenectady County

• The 2004 Poverty Threshold for households containing one adult and one child is $13,020 annual income, however, according to the Self-Sufficiency Standard of NY, that same family would need:
  • $23,868 in Albany County
  • $27,684 in Rensselaer County
  • $27,672 in Saratoga County
  • $27,684 in Schenectady County

• The fastest growing population of homeless people in the Capital Region is comprised of women with children

• New York State ranked a dismal 50th in asset poverty in 2004 (Asset poverty is an indicator of residents’ ability to support themselves for three months at the federal poverty level in the face of unexpected loss of income)

The Resources

• Less than 6 percent of charitable donations in our country go to programs that specifically serve the needs of women and girls

• Women control 51.3 percent of the wealth in our country

• While most women say they have a high interest in donating time or money to causes affecting women and girls, many do not know how, when or where to give of their resources

Our Vision

• Women: financial independence enables women to choose where and how they want to live, how they wish to raise their families, how they wish to achieve educational and personal growth, and to be safe from domestic violence. Our vision is to fund programs that address multiple barriers women face as they struggle for financial independence.

• Girls: Girls receive many messages early in their lives that prevent them from achieving financial independence as women. Our vision is to fund programs that provide opportunities for girls to experience and understand the full range of career opportunities available to them and help girls develop and use valuable new skills and competencies.

More Information

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