Our Goal

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation recognizes that society places unique economic barriers for women and gender-expansive people, and especially women and gender-expansive people of color, to achieve equity in our society. These barriers include income inequality, the high cost of raising children, caring for elderly family members, nonexistent or unpaid maternity/parental leave, and lack of access to affordable daycare. According to the California Women’s Well-Being Index, Monterey County ranks number 49 out of California’s 58 counties in Women’s Economic Security, due to high costs of housing, low high school graduation rates, and high costs of childcare. Santa Cruz Country ranks at number 38 in Women’s Economic Security and has the second highest cost of housing in the state with 16.6 percent of adult women living in poverty from 2010-2014.1  In addition, “22 to 57 percent of all homeless women, nationwide, report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness.”2  

As a result, the Foundation strives to fund organizations that help to ensure women and gender-expansive people can have equitable access to education, employment, and incomes, and stable housing. We recognize that legislation is a key element to a long-term solution, but until then, we fund programs that improve economic justice for women and gender-expansive people and their families.

What We Look For

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation would like to support programs and initiatives that incorporate the following components through existing (or proposed) guidelines:

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation looks for organizations and programs that are addressing a documented need and that have a track record of delivering effective programming to participants.

  • There is a preference for applicant organizations in which women and gender-expansive individuals of color are the primary decision-makers
  • There is also a preference for applicant organizations that integrate gender equity into their personnel policies, such as robust parental leave, child care, flexible work schedules, and relationship abuse workplace policies.

The Foundation recognizes the following factors as contributors to economic inequality and looks for organizations that address as least two of these barriers:

To Apply

Please note: The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation is not afraid of the word feminism! We encourage you to openly discuss your feminist programming, goals, or approach.

APPLY FOR A GRANT

Unsolicited proposals will not be accepted.

[1] “California Women’s Well-Being Index.” The Women’s Foundation of California.

[2] Domestic Violence and Homelessness: Statistics (2016) US Department of Health and Human Services