Women’s Cottage Industries

Examples of cottage industries include furniture manufacturing or restoration; catering; crafting fiber arts, pottery, metal art, jewelry, or other crafts; or service businesses.Our support takes many forms. As a grantmaking organization, we give grassroots-type awards, generally ranging from $2,000–5,000, to nonprofit organizations and programs that strengthen and support groups of three or more women coming together to develop cottage industries within their local communities.

Our 2008 and 2009 grantee organizations are:

Alongside our grantmaking, we provide education and mentoring in areas such as business planning, organizational development, English Language skills, and fundraising through the WE Learn™ Program. We help women develop and market their products, open shops, and learn the art of display and merchandising. Our third strategy is to create innovative product venues, including our Rag Rug Festivals & Design Collectives, and cultivate partnerships with community museums throughout the state in support of women artisans and their crafting.

EVFAC tag and rugs

NMWF