More than 35 grant partners will benefit from this award cycle.

The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) will announce its 3rd year investment of $1.2 million into zip code 38126 at a news conference on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. More than 30 new grantee partners will be announced at this news event.

The investment is part of WFGM’s Vision 2020 Strategic Plan to reduce poverty by five percent in zip code 38126, the poorest area in the City of Memphis. The plan focuses on case management, employment training, early childhood education, youth development, and financial literacy to achieve the five percent reduction. Since launching Vision 2020 in 2015, the Women’s Foundation has directly touched the lives of more than 10,000 people in the area including but not limited to:

  • $4.7 Million invested in 38126
  • 1,084 people placed in jobs
  • 76 individuals started a business or micro-enterprise
  • 49% increase in average household income

In April 2016, WFGM awarded its year one investment of over $1 million to 22 grantee organizations to support programs provided in 38126. In April 2017, WFGM awarded 1.2 million to 27 grantee partner organizations.

The 2019 grantee partners and investment areas are:

Case Management &Wraparound Services

Catholic Charities of West Tennessee

Family Safety Center

Hope House Day Care

Knowledge Quest
Metropolitan Interfaith Association

Neighborhood Christian Center, Inc.
Urban Strategies Inc.

Adult Education, Training, & Entrepreneurship
Advance Memphis
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis

DeNeuville Learning Center

Dress for Success
HopeWorks, Inc.
Karat Place, Inc.
Memphis Urban League

Shelby County Chapter of the Links, Inc.
Southwest TN Community College Foundation
YWCA of Greater Memphis

Early Childhood Development
Early Success Coalition

Families Matter
Kindred Place (former Exchange Club)

Porter-Leath

Southern Avenue Charter School of Academic Excellence

Youth Development & Employment

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South
Booker T. Washington Middle & High School
Emmanuel Center, Inc.


Girls Scouts Heart of the South
Girls Incorporated of Memphis
Memphis Inner City Rugby

Mid-south Peace and Justice Center
Mustard Seed, Inc.
New Ballet Ensemble and School
STREETS Ministries
U of M, Herff College of Engineering
Vance Avenue Youth Development Center

Financial Education & Asset Building

RISE Foundation, Inc

South City a Community of Opportunity Revitalization Empowerment (SCORE CDC)

Information about each of the grantee partner programs and the investments in those programs will be available at the news conference. There will also be opportunities to interview grantee partners.

Immediately following the news conference is an opportunity to interview the 2019 Annual Tribute Luncheon keynote speaker Women’s National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson. The Tribute Luncheon is the WFGM’s signature fundraising event. It is Thursday, April 25 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. The presenting sponsor is FedEx.

ABOUT THE WOMEN’s FOUNDATION FOR A GREATER MEMPHIS

For more than 20 years, The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) has been uniting women and helping break the cycle of poverty through philanthropy, leadership and collaboration. The mission of the WFGM is to encourage philanthropy and foster leadership among women and support programs that engage women and children to reach their full potential. #WomenEmpowerWomen #wfgm