Grant Funding Update: A total of 430 grants awarded as of 2026, with the total amount awarded of over $500,000.

A total of 430 Grants have been awarded as of 2026. The 2026 grants were awarded to help support the following projects sponsored by community members and organizations:

 Delta Academy and GEMS: Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority--Delta Academy and Delta GEMS are 7-month-long leadership and academic enrichment programs serving middle and high school girls in Fort Wayne. The project provides monthly workshops focused on college readiness, leadership development, financial literacy, wellness, and career exploration. A key component includes college campus visits that expose participants to postsecondary options while building aspiration and awareness. Grant funds will also support proper academic and program supplies to ensure all participants can fully engage in learning activities. The program aligns with the Five-Programmatic Thrust of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

 Bridging the Gap: The Language Access Lab— The Language Access Lab provides ‘The Community Interpreter,’ a 40-hour nationally accredited program that professionalizes bilingual individuals. While the training is established, the cost of materials remains a barrier. This grant will provide the required textbook and handbook and an ALTA Language Proficiency Assessment voucher to 15 women. This project will empower low-income women to transition from informal helpers to qualified professionals, ensuring they possess the credentials needed for high-demand careers in healthcare, social services, and education.

 Diamond Leadership and Etiquette Institute: Footprints Early Learning Foundation, Inc— The Diamond Leadership & Etiquette Institute is an 8-week program for girls ages 8-16 in Fort Wayne, designed to build confidence, leadership, and life

skills. Participants engage in leadership and public speaking workshops, personal development activities, and formal etiquette instruction, culminating in a practicum where skills are applied. Each girl receives a journal, certificate, and optional t-shirt with AAUW recognition. Offered under Footprints Early Learning Foundation, this program empowers girls, fosters teamwork, and provides measurable outcomes in leadership, communication, and self-confidence.

 NextGen Women Artists: Fort Wayne Artists Guild— The Fort Wayne Artists Guild will host “NextGen Women Artists: Building Community, Leadership & Visibility,” a community-centered initiative designed to engage emerging women artists (under 40 and early-career) in Northeast Indiana. The project includes an open-call exhibition, a professional development workshop, and a public panel discussion focused on creative careers and leadership. The initiative is designed to strengthen women’s economic confidence, increase public visibility of women artists, and intentionally recruit a new generation of members into the Guild, fostering a more diverse, sustainable, and intergenerational arts community.

 Supporting Women. Strengthening Families.: The Shepherd’s Hand Community Outreach Center— The Shepherd’s Hand Community Outreach Center is a ministry serving families in the 46803 zip code of Fort Wayne. As a small diaper bank, we provide monthly diaper distribution to families who are working hard but struggling to meet basic needs. Our goal is to be consistently available for the women in our community. By providing diapers, we help mothers keep extra supplies at daycare so they do not miss work or school due to diaper shortages. We also provide feminine hygiene products so women and young girls are not forced to miss work or school during their menstrual cycles.

 Girlz Rock Summer Camp Exploration: Fort Wayne Girlz Rock— This dynamic one-week summer camp introduces girls in grades 6–12 to high-demand career pathways in skilled trades and emerging industries, including agriculture, automotive technology, HVAC, cyber defense, welding, and medical fields such as surgical technology and respiratory therapy. Through hands-on workshops, simulations, and demonstrations led by industry professionals, participants gain real-world exposure while identifying their strengths. The camp also incorporates career-ready skills, including resume writing, interviewing, and mental health check-ins. Daily sessions strengthen organization, goal-setting, and problem-solving, helping students build self-efficacy, academic confidence, and a clear vision for their future education and career pathways.