Boston Women’s Fund (BWF)

Background

The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) claims it works to “support marginalized women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals in achieving racial, economic, social, and gender justice.” The group advocates the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity, stating that it is committed to “accountability, equity, and cultural diversity in all decisions, operations, and practices.” ¹

Partners of BWF include the Angell Foundation, the Barr Foundation, the Boston Foundation, the Eastern Bank Foundation, the Fish Family Foundation, Imago Dei Fund, the Lohengrin Foundation, Ms. Foundation for Women, the New Commonwealth Fund, New York Women’s Foundation, PNC Bank, Point32Health Foundation, Tides Foundation, Trefler Foundation, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Women’s Funding Network, and the Aditi Foundation. ¹

Activities

The Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) helps to organize and fund campaigns focused on gender and race issues. As of July 2025, the group claims to have given a total of over $7.9 million in grants since its formation. ²

BWF also hosts “Horizon Collective,” a six-month leadership program for women who operate left-of-center movements. The BWF also runs a fiscally sponsored project called GROWUP LeadHership; Jamila Gales, the founder and executive director of Girls Reflecting Our World (GROW), is a partner of the project. GROWUP LeadHership is a program aimed at involving youths between the ages of 16 and 21 in grantmaking processes. ³

BWF also organizes demonstrations, such as helping run the 2019 Boston Women’s March. ⁴

Grantmaking

According to its 2023 tax form, the Boston Women’s Fund (BWF) reported $2,368,020 in total revenue, $1,546,087 in total expenses, and $3,862,582 in total assets. ⁵

In 2023, BWF gave $20,000 to the Association of Haitian Women, $20,000 to the Asian American Women’s Political Initiative, $20,000 to the Dominican Development Center, $20,000 to Women Encouraging Empowerment, $20,000 to the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, $20,000 to Asian Women for Health, $20,000 to Sisters Unchained Inc, $25,000 to Melanin Mass Moms, and $25,000 to Birth Equity and Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA). ⁶

Funding

In 2023, the Boston Foundation gave $71,150 to the Boston Women’s Fund (BWF), $212,550 in 2022, and $111,000 in 2021. ⁷

In 2023, the Angell Foundation gave $100,000 to BWF. ⁸

In 2023, the Aditi Foundation gave $100,000 to BWF. ⁹

In 2023, the Women’s Funding Network gave $33,000 to BWF. ¹⁰

In 2023, the Imago Dei Fund gave $100,000 to BWF, and $200,000 in 2021. ¹¹

In 2023, the Ms. Foundation for Women gave $10,000 to BWF and $30,000 in 2021. ¹²

In 2023, the Tides Foundation gave $180,000 to BWF, $180,000 in 2021, and $200,000 in 2020. ¹³

In 2022, the Barr Foundation gave $150,000 to BWF and $175,000 in 2021. ¹⁴

In 2020, the Novo Foundation gave $200,000 to the Tides Foundation designated for project support for BWF.  ¹⁵

People

Natanja Craig Oquendo is the executive director of the Boston Women’s Fund (BWF); she has held this role since 2020. Previously, Oquendo was the director of the Grassroots Program as the Boston Foundation, and vice president of community partnerships at the Possible Project. ¹⁶

Alexandra Auguste is the deputy director of BWF. Auguste is a co-founder of the Chicago-based Community Leadership Fellows program and previously worked at the Boston Foundation. ^{17 18}