Women Give Taos
Women coming together to focus collectively on the unique needs of women and children in our communities.
Women Give Taos Awards 2025 Grant to Lions Club of Taos, Inc.
"Helping Children See A Brighter Future."
Women Give Taos (WGT), a giving circle of Taos Community Foundation, brings women together from across our community to act, step forward, and engage in collective philanthropy. The mission of WGT is to unite women as leaders and change agents while creating opportunities for families in Taos and western Colfax counties. Through an annual $30,000 grant to a local nonprofit, Women Give Taos helps families in need while empowering each other to create positive change through local solutions. WGT is proud to announce that this year’s grant will be awarded to Lions Club of Taos Inc., which will go towards funding their transformative KidSight Eye Van Program.
The Lions Club of Taos Inc. was chartered in 1927 and is approaching 100 years of service. Members are dynamic, community-minded individuals from all walks of life who enjoy being deeply involved in helping others. From vision testing and distribution of eyeglasses, to financial assistance for college students in health programs, to administrative help for older adults to stay in their homes, to operating the priceless 120-year-old Tio Vivo carousel, and many more programs, the Lions Club of Taos is committed to making a difference through service and support.
The Lions Club of Taos is making a significant impact through its KidSight Eye Van Program. This program ensures that children in Taos County receive much needed vision care by making vision services accessible and providing eyeglasses to children who need them. Last year alone, Lions Club volunteers screened 2,901 students, revealing that 805 children needed eye exams.
Good vision is essential for learning—80% of education is visual. A child struggling to see in the classroom or read at their grade level is less likely to succeed academically and in life. Sadly, many children who struggle with vision issues face delays in receiving screening and treatment, and some never receive the necessary glasses. The KidSight Eye Van will bring eye exams and glasses directly to students at their schools, eliminating barriers like lack of transportation, scheduling difficulties, and financial need.
The Lions Club of Taos seeks additional funding and volunteers to sustain this program. By working together, we can ensure every child has the clear vision needed to learn, grow, and thrive. For more information on how to support this initiative, contact Lions Club of Taos by calling 520-507-8338, or emailing taoslions@gmail.com.
Women Give Taos is a giving circle of the Taos Community Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit foundation, publicly supported by families, individuals, foundations, other nonprofits, and government entities and overseen by an independent, community-based board of directors. For more information, access www.taoscf.org
Read the full press release below:
Taos Community Foundation is thrilled to announce the Women Give Taos Impact Grant opportunity for 2025.
Eligible nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and families* in Taos and Western Colfax Counties are invited to apply for funding to support either an impactful and transformative project or an enhancement of service proposal, meeting one of the WGT funding priorities.
The Women Give Taos Grant funding opportunity 2025 will award one grant up to $30,000.00.
Grants may be awarded to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing, federally recognized Indian tribes, fiscally sponsored organizations, public schools, and governmental agencies. Grants cannot be made to individuals.
UPDATE: Applications must be submitted by February 4th, 2025 at 12:00pm. Late applications will not be considered.
Applications will be reviewed by the WGT Grants Committee for funding consideration, and final grant award recommendations will be made to the Taos Community Foundation Board by the Women Give Giving Circle membership.
Applicants selected for further consideration may receive a formal invitation to submit additional information, including a 2-minute video presentation describing their proposal.
Applying for and/or receiving this grant does not preclude application to other TCF funding opportunities. Organizations that have received the $30,000.00 Women Give Taos Award are now eligible* to apply for the award in the year immediately following their award.
The application for the 2025 Women Give Taos Impact Grant Cycle opens on December 27th, 2024.
Women Give Taos Granted $30,000 to Taos Education Collaborative during our 2023-2024 grant cycle!
*Updates for the 2025 WGT Grant Cycle include:
- Language added to increase the eligibility of nonprofit organizations: “…eligible nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and families in Taos and Western Colfax Counties…”
- The previous years’ recipients are now eligible to re-apply for the WGT Grant.
Women Give Taos is a Giving Circle of the Taos Community Foundation
The Women Give Taos Initiative asks women with power, in all its forms (financial, philanthropic, social, leadership, voice, influence and access to networks), to take action, step forward, join together in learning, and actively engage in strategic philanthropy. Countless studies have shown us that when women and girls thrive, so do communities, countries and the world as a whole.
Started in 2004, these funds were established as side-by-side endowment and intermediate funds with the vision of creating a philanthropic avenue for “the long term support of programs important to women and girls.” This initiative came together by pooling our resources, listening deeply to the needs of our community, and making careful and well planned investments.
We invite you to consider joining other women in the Women Give Taos initiative by making a commitment of $1,000 a year. Your contribution will pool with other women’s investments enabling YOU, the donor advisors, to have substantial funding for grants that can make a real difference in the lives of Women and Children in our community.
Women Give Taos’ future includes expanding our Advisor Circle, narrowing our focus on specific programs, providing donor advisors with interesting learning opportunities, and increasing our grant funding.
For more information regarding Women Give Taos, please contact Tanner Martin at 575-737-9300.
Women Give Taos Mission Statement:
“To unite women as leaders and change agents to create opportunties for women and children in Taos and western Colfax counties.”
Women Give Taos Advisors:
Together, Women Give Taos is effective in helping women and girls in need while empowering each other to create positive change. As advisors, WGT members meet often to learn, share, laugh, and give! WGT hosts learning events to support our community and volunteers together.
Women Give Taos Giving Circle Goals:
- To explore the issues affecting women and girls in our community.
- To share the impact of collective giving and to expand our finacial resources to fill funding needs for today and for the future.
- To award grants to organizations that improve the lives of women and girls.
The Power of Giving Together:
$1,000.00
Annual Membership Contribution
70%
Of your annual contribution supports Impact Grantmaking to deserving nonprofit organizations, serving the needs of women and girls.
30%
Of your annual contribution is deposited into the Women and Girls Endowment Fund, ensuring the sustainability of WGT.
If you would like to learn more about WGT, or other ways to elevate your giving, please contact CJ Grace (cjgrace@taoscf.org) or call 575-737-9300.
Women Give Taos was funded through the vision and leadership of the Taos Community Foundation, which provides guidance, administrative support, and fund management for the group.