The County Foundation & Alternatives for Women are proud to announce the establishment of a new agency fund administered by the foundation to support Alternatives for Women’s capital campaign to build a new transitional housing building for women and their families to restart their lives.
The new Alternatives for Women Fund will serve as a dedicated vehicle to receive and steward charitable donations in support of the campaign. Donations are invested under the financial stewardship of The County Foundation to help grow and sustain the campaign’s impact, allowing each gift to go further.
“We are thrilled to establish a fund with The County Foundation and have community-rooted support that will help ensure a long-term impact for survivors in PEC. Our vision for the new transitional housing is truly a home of hope and healing, ensuring survivors have a transitional home that is dignified, accessible and safe.” Julie Watson, Executive Director of Alternatives for Women.
The campaign for support is already underway, demonstrating strong early momentum and community support. The organization is leveraging its existing building, which now requires constant repairs and maintenance, as a key asset in advancing the project, while early fundraising efforts have generated $100,000 – including a $50,000 matching contribution from another County Foundation donor-advised fund that helped accelerate community giving.
“Intimate partner violence continues to be a real and pressing issue in Prince Edward County—one that has been identified as a growing concern in The County Foundation’s most recent Vital Signs report. It is a significant policing challenge in Prince Edward County, with over 300 reported cases in 2025. This fund is an important step toward responding to that reality, and we hope our community will stand with us in supporting and growing this critical investment.” Emily Cowan, Board Chair, Alternatives for Women.
“An agency fund can be a powerful tool for advancing the long-term goals of a charity because it blends immediate fundraising with sustained financial growth and stability. Working with an organization like Alternatives for Women on this new fund allows us to support their mission to end gender-based violence and further amplify that work they do – including advocacy, education, and support to empower women locally.” Dominique Jones, Executive Director of The County Foundation.
Support can be directed to Alternatives for Women’s new fund through The County Foundation’s CanadaHelps page by selecting the fund from the dropdown menu: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/11573?v2=true
The County Foundation is one of over 200 Community Foundations in Canada. Since it was founded in 2008, The County Foundation has facilitated granting of over $10 million in Prince Edward County.
