The Social Work Empowerment Fund was founded by the Social Work Ladies Collective, Inc. in June 2026 to provide micro-grants that help women and femme-identifying social workers access resources that support licensure, professional development, and personal well-being.
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Why The Fund Exists
Why The Fund Exists
Social workers are often expected to be the people who help others find resources, navigate systems, manage crises, and move forward. At the same time, many social workers are navigating significant financial and professional barriers of their own.
Graduate school debt, licensure expenses, continuing education costs, relatively low wages, demanding workloads, and the emotional weight of the profession can make it difficult to invest in ourselves.
For early-career social workers, the transition from graduate school into professional practice can be particularly challenging. The cost of a licensing examination may come at the same time as student loan payments, living expenses, and the financial realities of beginning a career.
Professional growth can also come with a price. Conferences, trainings, certifications, continuing education, and other opportunities can be valuable to a social worker's career, but they are not always financially accessible.
And wellness can be one of the first things to be pushed aside.
The Empowerment Fund exists to help make these resources a little more accessible.
When social workers are supported, communities are stronger. 💜
When social workers are supported, communities are stronger. 💜
Micro-Grant Awards
Micro-Grant Awards
$230 - Licensure Exam Support Award
Helps offset the cost of a social work licensing examination and supports social workers working toward the next step in their professional journey.
$100 - Professional Development Award
Supports continuing education, conferences, trainings, workshops, certifications, and other opportunities that allow social workers to continue learning and growing in their careers.
$75 - Wellness Support Award
Provides support for wellness and restorative experiences that encourage social workers to prioritize their own mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
“Supporting social workers through funds like this is not just personal support, but an investment in sustaining a workforce that is deeply committed to serving others.”
“Supporting social workers through funds like this is not just personal support, but an investment in sustaining a workforce that is deeply committed to serving others.”
-SWLC Community Member
-SWLC Community Member
Our Inaugural Year
Our Inaugural Year
In 2026, we were proud to launch the Social Work Empowerment Fund and distribute six micro-grants supporting social workers pursuing licensure, professional development, and wellness.
Meet our inaugural recipients and hear, in their own words, what this support meant to them.
✨Licensure Exam Support Award - 2026 Recipients✨
✨Licensure Exam Support Award - 2026 Recipients✨
✨Wellness Support Award - 2026 Recipients✨
✨Wellness Support Award - 2026 Recipients✨
✨Professional Development Award - 2026 Recipients✨
✨Professional Development Award - 2026 Recipients✨
Future Opportunities
Future Opportunities
The next Social Work Empowerment Fund application cycle is anticipated for June 2027.
Stay connected with the Social Work Ladies Collective for application announcements, future funding opportunities, programming, and ways to support the continued growth of the Fund.
"We give so much emotional energy to others, and having resources that allow us to invest in our own wellness, professional growth, and stability is sustaining. Thank you for creating this fund! It's truly appreciated!”
"We give so much emotional energy to others, and having resources that allow us to invest in our own wellness, professional growth, and stability is sustaining. Thank you for creating this fund! It's truly appreciated!”
— SWLC Community Member
— SWLC Community Member
Support The Fund
Support The Fund
Your support helps make it possible to provide social workers with tangible resources for licensure, professional development, and wellness.
Whether you’re interested in making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or partnering with the Social Work Ladies Collective, your investment helps us continue creating opportunities that uplift and empower social workers.
For sponsorship opportunities or questions about the Fund, contact:
nycsocialworkladies@gmail.com
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