decide.
Live Ballot Connecting and Investing for Positive Impact
Live Ballot is an exclusive opportunity each spring for Women and Girls Fund members to award a single $50,000 transformational grant to one local organization serving the needs of women and girls.
Meet the Finalists for Live Ballot 2026!
One of these outstanding nonprofits will receive a transformational $50,000 grant to advance their mission of supporting women and girls in our community. Learn more about each finalist’s project and the impact they aim to achieve.
Healthy Families Rappahannock Area
Project: Breaking Barriers to Employment for Mothers in PD16
Requested Amount: $50,000
Project Description: Healthy Families Rappahannock Area (HFRA) supports mothers across Planning District 16 through long-term, relationship-based home visiting services. The Breaking Barriers to Employment for Mothers project is a workforce readiness initiative designed to equip mothers with the skills, confidence, and resources needed to successfully enter or re-enter the workforce. Through résumé development, interview preparation, and personalized coaching, this program helps mothers overcome common barriers to employment and build a pathway toward long-term financial stability for their families.
Impact:
- Increase employment readiness through hands-on workshops focused on résumés, interviews, and job applications
- Provide one-on-one coaching and ongoing support tailored to each mother’s goals and challenges
- Expand access to professional attire, transportation support, and other resources needed to pursue employment
- Strengthen confidence and financial literacy through partnerships with local employers and workforce organizations
- Connect mothers to job opportunities and career pathways that support long-term economic stability
By funding this initiative, Healthy Families Rappahannock Area will be able to empower more mothers to secure meaningful employment, strengthen their families’ financial stability, and build a foundation for long-term success.
Fredericksburg Christian Health Center
Project: The Health-Bridge Program: Bringing Care from the Clinic Directly to Women in Need
Requested Amount: $50,000
Project Description: The Fredericksburg Christian Health Center’s Health-Bridge Program delivers critical healthcare services directly to women who face significant barriers to accessing traditional care. Partnering with local organizations, this initiative brings medical providers onsite to serve women experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and recovery from substance use. By meeting patients in safe, familiar environments, the program ensures compassionate, comprehensive care while restoring dignity and improving health outcomes for some of the community’s most vulnerable populations.
Impact:
- Expand access to primary and preventative healthcare for women unable to reach traditional medical settings
- Provide consistent, trauma-informed care in safe, trusted environments through community partnerships
- Improve physical and mental health outcomes for women and children experiencing crisis and instability
- Reduce reliance on emergency care by offering ongoing, coordinated healthcare services
- Strengthen connections to long-term care, support systems, and health education resources
By funding this initiative, Fredericksburg Christian Health Care will be able to reach more vulnerable women with life-changing healthcare, improve long-term health outcomes, and create a stronger, more connected system of care across the community.
Love Thy Neighbor King George
Project: Women & Girls Dignity and Essential Needs Initiative
Requested Amount: $50,000
Project Description: Love Thy Neighbor King George provides critical food and essential resources to families across a rural community where women are often the primary caregivers and decision-makers. The Women & Girls Dignity and Essential Needs Initiative expands access to essential hygiene items, including diapers, menstrual products, and personal care supplies—items not covered by federal assistance programs. By addressing these gaps, the initiative supports the health, dignity, and stability of women and girls while helping families navigate financial hardship with greater confidence.
Impact:
- Increase access to diapers, menstrual products, and hygiene essentials for women and girls in need
- Reduce financial strain on female-led households by covering critical, unmet basic needs
- Support school attendance and confidence among girls by ensuring access to menstrual products
- Help mothers maintain employment stability through access to essential childcare and hygiene supplies
- Strengthen overall health, dignity, and well-being for families in a rural, underserved community.
By funding this initiative, Love Thy Neighbor will be able to ensure women and girls have consistent access to essential needs, strengthening family stability and preserving dignity across the community.
Virginia Community Food Connections
Project: Farm to Pantry: Advancing Food Security for Women and Girls
Requested Amount: $50,000
Project Description: Virginia Community Food Connections (VCFC) strengthens access to fresh, local food across Planning District 16 through its Farm to Pantry program. By purchasing produce directly from regional farmers and distributing it through a network of trusted community partners, this initiative ensures women and families can access nutritious food close to home. Focused on supporting women-led households, Farm to Pantry reduces barriers such as cost, transportation, and time, while improving overall nutrition and strengthening the local food system.
Impact:
- Increase access to fresh, locally grown produce for women and families experiencing food insecurity
- Reduce financial strain for women managing household food needs and limited budgets
- Strengthen partnerships with local pantries and community organizations to expand food distribution
- Support local farmers and boost the regional economy through direct food purchasing
- Improve nutrition and long-term health outcomes for women, children, and families
By funding this initiative, Virginia Community Food Connections will be able to expand access to fresh, healthy food for women and families, strengthening both community health and the local food system.
Questions?
Women and Girls Membership, Live Ballot Event: (540) 373-9292 or info@cfrrr.org
Women and Girls Fund Grant: (540) 373-9292 ext 123 or Casey.Hu@cfrrr.org