The Main Street Community Foundation is a public charity that distributes grants to organizations that help people in several communities in central Connecticut. Among the many funds the Foundation manages is their Men and Boys’ Fund. Since it started in 2016 this fund has awarded over $40,000 in grants aimed at improving the lives of men and boys.
Could this effort in Connecticut inspire generous givers here in Washington to put some of their dollars toward the well-being of males?
Whom does the Men and Boys’ Fund help?
In 2022, the Men and Boys’ Fund distributed grants totaling $11,000 to six nonprofit organizations in Connecticut. The grants were awarded to:
a Boys and Girls Club, to run a character development program for boys ages 8 to 17
a family resource center, to conduct workshops to increase fatherhood engagement
a youth services organization, to help boys increase their self-esteem, social skills, and positive development through activities
an at-risk youth residential facility, for recreational activities to promote bonding among boys
a children’s law center, for legal representation of male children in family court
a YWCA, for services to male survivors of sexual violence
In addition, the Men & Boys’ Fund fulfills ‘immediate response’ requests for small sums of money. For example:
After a family crisis, a teenage boy received groceries and clothes.
A single dad whose job was eliminated received rent help.
A promising athlete from a financially challenged family gained a sports opportunity.
An outstanding student was awarded funds to attend a national leadership conference.
A teenage boy paid for his driver’s permit so he could drive to his job.
A high school graduate was able to buy clothes for his job interviews.
Homeless men received free haircuts and other personal care services.
“My hope for the Men and Boys’ Fund is that lives will change, and nonprofits will know that not only do they have a resource they can come to when they’re seeking to change the lives of women and girls, but they have that same resource for men and boys.”
– Susan Sedecki, President & CEO, Main Street Community Foundation
The Main Street Community Foundation has assets totaling over $50 million, and it distributed over $2 million in the year 2022 alone. The Men and Boys’ Fund is a small part of what the Foundation does. But it’s something. And it’s pretty unique.
$7.9 billion for women and girls
While efforts explicitly supporting women and girls raise and spend billions annually, the same cannot be said for men and boys. Notwithstanding the complaint from a Seattle billionaire that “gender equality in the U.S. has been chronically underfunded” (Note: the term “gender equality” to her is interchangeable with advancement for women and girls, which is a sexist but widespread idea), there is abundant evidence that if any sex has a case for feeling neglected by philanthropists, it is the male sex.
According to an article at Fortune.com, “donations to organizations focused on women and girls totaled $7.9 billion in 2019 or just 1.9% of charitable giving in the U.S.” (Original source)
Just $7.9 billion. Just eight billion dollars raised in one year for women’s and girls’ causes. Whoa.
The Main Street Community Foundation in Connecticut does have a Women and Girls’ Fund. The Fund has distributed $700,000 in grants since its start in 2001, including giving $43,000 to 13 organizations last year.
Funding needed for boys and men
Washington Initiative for Boys and Men has helped bring to light the serious hardships disproportionately impacting boys and men in Washington through things like House Bill 1270, our collection of statistics, our videos on YouTube, and the articles on this site. It is clear that the needs are real.
Improving outcomes for males is going to require funding.
The philanthropic world may be starting to catch on. The publication Inside Philanthropy gave their 2022 award for ‘Newest Cause on the Radar’ to ‘Struggling Boys and Men’. Quoting from their article:
“With evidence mounting that boys and men are falling behind in multiple areas, including a new book drawing attention to this alarming trend, there’s a strong case for putting the issue on philanthropy’s agenda going forward.”
The book referred to in that quotation is Of Boys and Men by Brookings Institution scholar Richard Reeves. Richard is a friend of WIBM who joined us in Olympia in January for two full days of educating Democratic and Republican lawmakers about the urgent need to take boys and men’s issues seriously. Richard plans to remain supportive of and involved with our efforts.
Our vision
We envision a Washington state where people with power, influence, and money seek the well-being of everyone equally, including boys and men. With sustained awareness-raising and relationship-building, we do see a future where empathy for the struggling male will increase, and where a lot more people will decide that putting a whole lot more money toward helping boys and men succeed in life is a smart, worthy investment.