Grant helps the Bay Area Women’s Center shelter continue serving families

Usually, grant awards are for projects and give the grantors something to hang their name on, but recent funding for the Bay Area Women's Center (BAWC) will help keep the organization operating for the next three years.

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation in Midland recently awarded the BAWC $75,000 to be paid out in equal amounts through 2026.

It “is huge for us to be able to continue to do this life-saving work that we're doing,” says Lindsay Richardson, BAWC Development Director.

The BAWC, 3411 E. Midland Road, provides not only shelter and advocacy, but also crisis intervention and counseling services in cases of domestic violence. Richardson says the mission goes beyond addressing physical violence. The Women’s Center also offers services for people facing mental, emotional, and financial abuse.

And it’s all free of charge, thanks to grant funding such as this.

Graphic courtesy of the Bay Area Women's CenterFundraisers, such as Power of the Purse, keep the Bay Area Women's Center open to families in the area.“We are so grateful for the support of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation,” says Jeremy Rick, BAWC Executive Director. “Their grant comes at a critical time of need for the Women’s Center as we face impending decreases in our government grant contracts. This financial support ensures survivors will always have somewhere to turn during their greatest time of need.”

With an annual budget of over $1.3 million and a smaller pot of money to draw from, Richardson says the center staff and supporters will be looking toward these types of grants more often. The hope is that grants from foundations can make up the difference when the BAWC runs short on funding from other sources such as government grants.

The center gets 60 to 65% of its funding from the federal government. Another piece of the financial pie comes from the United Way of Bay County.

Richardson says depending on how the annual United Way campaign goes, the amount given to the women’s center can vary. At the same time, the cost of sheltering and serving domestic violence survivors adds up quickly.

The availability of BAWC’s programs is integral for the survival of members of the community, Richardson says. Statistically, one in four men and women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Additionally, about one in six women and one in 33 men have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape.

Domestic or sexual victimization is related to higher rates of depression and suicidal behavior according to separate studies conducted by both the U.S. Department of Justice and World Health Organization.

Domestic violence is a crime of progression, and the chance of a fatality increases exponentially the longer an abusive relationship continues.

Receiving the funding from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation will have a lasting impact on the community, says Richardson.

“There's not much funding available for operations in the grant world,” she says.

“Nonprofits or foundations and corporations that give out grants prefer to support projects; something that they can put their name on, which still has a place in the work that we do. But it's those operating costs that pay for our skilled therapists that are out there actually helping our survivors and those are the funds that we need.”

Ruth Alden Doan, President of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, says the organization is proud to support the center.

“The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation is pleased to support Bay Area Women’s Center in their effort to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault in Bay County,” Alden Doan says.

“Grace Dow, the founder of our Foundation, was devoted to the enhancement of the quality of life for everyone in Midland and throughout Michigan. By supporting the Bay Area Women’s Center, we are investing in the safety of our community and helping to change the lives of survivors.”

Richardson adds she hopes to secure more grants to support operations at the agency.

The center remains committed to providing a hand-up to survivors so that they may regain control of their lives and learn to thrive after experiencing trauma, and as a shelter, these types of grants help keep the lights on.

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic or sexual violence, please contact the 24/7 crisis hotline at (989) 686-4551. All calls are anonymous and every caller is treated with care and respect.