CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When it comes to giving back, organizations that work with girls and women have a harder time getting funding than nonprofits that focus on boys and men.
But a local organization is trying to fix that.
Circle de Luz is about to celebrate 15 years of working with Latina girls in Charlotte.
Program manager Corrin Zumbádo Campbell said, “We are an entirely women-founded and led organization.”
Circle de Luz provides mentoring and scholarships and works with girls from middle school through graduation. And with as much good as they’re doing - and have been doing – they are just now able to staff their organization.
“It’s incredible for us to be at this capacity, but it also took 15 years of fundraising to grow our team to four," she said, "and that’s not even a full-time staff of four."
Like most nonprofits, money is always the issue.
“We do have major challenges when it comes to raising funds for our organization," Zumbádo Campbell said. "It feels like we’re constantly struggling to make ends meet when it comes to funding our programming and operations.”
In fact, most nonprofits that focus on girls and women struggle with fundraising.
Amanda Wise with SHARE Charlotte said, “2% of charitable giving is donated to women and girls fundraising initiatives.”
The rest - 98% - goes to organizations that focus on men and boys.
“When I hear that stat sadly I’m not surprised, but it’s also a little devastating,” Zumbádo Campbell said.
SHARE Charlotte works with hundreds of nonprofits across the city and is trying to change that with a special forum called Women Give. The idea is to spread awareness about the problem and about all the women-centric nonprofits in the area.
“It’s very frustrating because there are so many great programs helping young girls and women and so many different causes and it's just getting people to know what they’re doing,” Wise said.
Contact Michelle Boudin at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.