Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Olympia has been selected as one of the ten YWCA associations in Washington State that will share a $12.1 million grant from the Ballmer Group over the next three years to support programs advancing economic opportunity and safety for women and children.
The multi-year funding, to be distributed over three years, will benefit more than 55,000 individuals served by the YWCA association across Washington State.
The funding will support various employment, safety, and health programs and services provided by YWCA Olympia to help meet the urgent needs of at-risk community members.
"This grant helps support our ongoing work supporting youth as well as adult education in the Thurston County area and amplifies our collective vision to eliminate racism and empower women," said Tali Economy, Co-Executive Director of YWCA of Olympia.
While Connie and Steve Ballmer have supported local YWCA in Seattle for 30 years, it is the first time all YWCA associations statewide have received funding from the Ballmer Group.
This collaborative funding approach emphasizes Ballmer Group's priority of investing in people who live in communities that are most devoid of opportunity.
"Ballmer Group is pleased to partner with the YWCAs across Washington State," said Andi Smith, executive director for Ballmer Group Washington State and National Behavioral Health. "YWCA chapters provide crucial support to women and children and build stronger communities through their focus on housing, health and safety, and economic mobility."
YWCA has a 130-year history in Washington State, where it works to improve the lives of women, girls, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Each association operates independently within its local community while affiliated with national YWCA organizations. Its programming is designed to meet the specific needs of its local community members, focusing on housing stability, health access, gender-based violence, and economic empowerment.
The ten local associations receiving this grant are:
Established in 1945, YWCA Olympia is a non-profit organization serving girls, women, and families. Its work aligned with the YWCA USA's over 170 years of working across the lines of race and gender to provide services for survivors of domestic violence, shelter and housing, childcare, workforce development, civil rights, and more.
YWCA Olympia is focused on the mission of eliminating racism and sexism to advance the social, political, and economic status of all women and girls.
YWCA Olympia follows an intersectional model that centers on the leadership and wisdom of women of color while striving to create a just society where all individuals are valued and free from oppression.
Learn more about YWCA Olympia here.
Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States. It funds leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities.
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