Women’s Funds in NE Wisconsin to Embark on COVID-19 Impact Study


March 18, 2021 – The Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay and three other Women’s Funds in Northeastern Wisconsin have come together to collaborate on a sweeping regional study that will lend local data to the assertion made nationwide that women have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 over the past year.

Fond du Lac Area Women’s Fund, Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay, Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region and The Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation joined together in developing a survey to be administered by St. Norbert College’s Strategic Research Institute over the next several weeks. The survey aims to derive data to show how COVID-19 has impacted women and their families economically and socially one year since the pandemic struck the Northeastern Wisconsin region.

Once the surveying concludes April 23, data will be compiled into a report to be shared with the public by June 2021 through community presentations, hard copy and an Internet dashboard. The study is made possible through a grant from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, a funding collaborative which includes funds from the U.S. Venture Open Fund for Basic Needs, the J. J. Keller Foundation and other community donors.

“Nationally, COVID-19 has had a larger impact on women. Locally, we anticipate this to hold true and are seeking specific data on how substantially women and their families have been affected economically, socially, and health-wise,” said Karen Monfre, President of the Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay. “The data we obtain from the survey will be critical in assessing potential gaps in community support.”

Each Women’s Fund will rely on community partners to assist with distribution of the survey, both through an online link as well as hard copies, to ensure a diverse group of women have access to completing it. The survey will be available in Spanish and English. The goal is to have a minimum sampling of 500 women across the region, which is defined by the service areas of the four collaborating Women’s Funds.

The four Women’s Funds in the region are supported collectively by $10 million in community endowments. Together, they invest $525,000 annually back into local partner agencies through grantmaking that aligns directly with mission-focused work centered on gender equity and enhanced opportunities for women and girls.

To access the survey directly, please go to https://stnorbert.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_26rs5VqNv4fsEiW