research dossier

THE WOMENS FUND OF HERKIMER & ONEIDA COUNTY INC

CLINTON, NY · EIN 204296797 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE T30 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Small ($100K-$1M) · womensfundhoc.org

revenue

$141K

expenses

$106K

net assets

$594K

employees

volunteers

program ratio

50%

mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF THE WOMEN'S FUND IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES, AND ENCOURAGE THEIR ADVANCEMENT AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN ORGANIZATION SUSTAINED SOLELY BY DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS AND LED BY WOMEN WHO ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING A MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN OUR AREA.

activities · 9 groups

What they do

Women's Rights and Empowerment Grants 2 activities
- Funding community initiatives for women and girls
  
  Finances specific programs and projects that benefit women and girls, including the 2026 STEAM Women Rising Symposium and the Women in Agriculture Program through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County.
- Funding nonprofit programs for women and girls
  
  Provides grants of up to $20,000 to nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable women and girls in Herkimer and Oneida County. The organization accepts grant applications annually between August 1 and September 30 and distributes funds in November, requiring recipients to use funds within one year.
Women's Educational Advancement 2 activities
- Funding educational support for women students
  
  Provides scholarships and financial assistance to women students at risk of dropping out of post-secondary education, including graduating young women from T.R. Proctor High School in Utica, NY who are continuing their education.
- Funding women students in crisis
  
  Provides emergency financial grants to women students facing temporary crises that threaten their education, including challenges related to homelessness, domestic violence, health, and child care.
Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Collaborative community needs assessment
  
  Works with partner agencies to identify local needs affecting women and girls and to coordinate responses that empower individuals and strengthen community support systems.
Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Community events for fundraising and engagement
  
  Organizes annual events including the Power of the Purse and the Lavender Farm event to raise funds and engage the community in support of women and girls.
Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 1 activity
- Direct financial assistance to women in crisis
  
  Provides emergency financial assistance directly to individual women experiencing temporary but immediate crises in areas such as housing, domestic violence, employment, health, transportation, and child care.
Women's Microenterprise and Livelihood Development 1 activity
- Financial management workshops for women entrepreneurs
  
  Hosts hands-on financial management workshops for women business owners through its Women Investing in Women program to support business growth and financial literacy.
Women Entrepreneurs Grant Programs 1 activity
- Funding women-owned businesses
  
  Awards $5,000 grants through the Women Investing in Women program to support growth and success of local women-owned businesses.
Menstrual Health and Hygiene Equity 1 activity
- Period Pantry program for schools
  
  Stocks and maintains period supply pantries in local schools to address menstrual equity and support student attendance and dignity.
Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Voter engagement through Art of the Vote
  
  Implements the Art of the Vote initiative to promote civic participation and voter engagement among women and the broader community.

financials · form 990 · fy2024

revenue

Total revenue$141K

Contributions & grants$117K83%

Program service revenue$00%

Investment income$24K17%

Other revenue$0

expenses

Total expenses$106K

Program expenses50%

Admin / overhead23%

Fundraising27%

Salaries & benefits$0

Grants paid out$51K

Largest expense lineFacilities

balance sheet

Total assets$624K

Cash$219K

Investments$405K

Liabilities$30K

Net assets$594K

Liquid reserves70.9 mo

3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -21.9%

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 17

CARA FENSTEMACHER — DIRECTOR
CAROL MANDOUR — DIRECTOR
COLLEEN MUNGER — TREASURER
CYNTHIA MCLEAN — DIRECTOR
DEBRA ALTDOERFFER — DIRECTOR
DENISE CAVANAUGH — DIRECTOR
DENISE FLIHAN — DIRECTOR
DIANE WOLFE — VICE PRESIDENT
ELLEN RAINEY — SECRETARY
JAN CORN — DIRECTOR
JANET RICHMOND — PRESIDENT
JOANNE MOSKAL — DIRECTOR
KATHLEEN RUTISHAUSER — DIRECTOR
KATHY PERRA — DIRECTOR
KELLI WATSON — DIRECTOR
MICHELE SHERIDAN — DIRECTOR
PATRICE JOSLIN-KING — DIRECTOR

relationships · 18

Who they work with

211 Mid-York Partner — Collaborates with 211 Mid-York to connect women in need with appropriate support agencies.
Baird Private Wealth Management Partner — Co-presents financial workshops and sponsors the Dream-Achieve-Inspire Award, which honors local women leaders and supports charities of their choice.
Baird Private Wealth Management Partner — Sponsor of the Women Investing in Women program.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County Partner — Partnered with The Women's Fund to deliver the Women in Agriculture Program for women farmers.
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Partner — Sponsor of the Period Project initiative in 2026.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Partner — Collaborates with The Women's Fund on the Period Project Initiative to support young women's well-being and dignity.
Griffiss Institute Partner — Sponsor of the Women Investing in Women program.
Herkimer College Partner — Partner college through which women students are identified and supported via Isla's Fund.
Mohawk Valley Community College Partner — Partner college through which women students are identified and supported via Isla's Fund.
Project Fibonacci Partner — Received grant funding for the 2026 STEAM Women Rising Symposium, which supports young women in STEAM fields.
Spring Creek Lavender Farm Partner — Host site for a rescheduled fundraising event organized by The Women's Fund.
Spring Creek Lavender Farm Partner — Hosted and rescheduled the Lavender Farm event in partnership with The Women's Fund.
Spring Creek Lavender Farm Partner — Hosts the Lavender Farm event in partnership with The Women's Fund of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.
Spring Creek Lavender Farm Partner — Venue for board member meet-and-greet event hosted by The Women's Fund.
T.R. Proctor High School Partner — Collaborates with T.R. Proctor High School to administer the Ann P. Allen Memorial Scholarship to graduating female students.
T.R. Proctor High School Partner — Partner school for the Ann P. Allen Memorial Scholarship Fund
Utica University Partner — Partner college through which women students are identified and supported via Isla's Fund.
thINCubator Partner — Host site for Power & Profit financial workshop for women entrepreneurs.

strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

Community-Informed, Responsive Grantmaking

methodology: responsive_community_initiatives
By using input from community partners and evolving priorities to guide grant decisions, the organization ensures funding addresses the most pressing needs of women and girls, because locally grounded assessment increases relevance, impact, and equity in resource allocation.
Targeted Support Through Partner Networks

methodology: partner_referral_network
By leveraging referrals from colleges and nonprofit agencies, the organization identifies women in crisis and awards emergency grants, because trusted institutional and community partners improve detection of need and access to timely, life-changing support.
Volunteer-Driven, Women-Led Grantmaking

methodology: volunteer_driven_grantmaking
By leveraging volunteer leadership and donor funding in a women-led structure, the organization sustains grantmaking efforts and drives systemic community change for women and girls, because collective female leadership enhances trust, accountability, and responsiveness to local needs.