The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.

The Charlotte-based Women’s Impact Fund, one of the largest women’s collective giving groups in the country, recently awarded the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art $54,600 grant. The grant will provide funding to the museum’s artists in schools and accessibility programs, as well as community outreach to under-served populations. The Women’s Impact Fund awards grants annually in five categories to Charlotte-based projects that apply through a competitive application process involving a member-led review and vote process.

“We are honored to receive such generous support from the Women’s Impact Fund,” said Bechtler President and CEO John Boyer. “The Bechtler’s community outreach efforts have grown rapidly as the needs of our various constituencies are great. The museum will now be able to expand and enhance its efforts.”

Half of the grant total will be used in fiscal year 2015, with the second half to be used in fiscal year 2016 by the museum to expand its public school art education program, which provides teaching artists to elementary and high schools to enhance the visual arts curriculum provided by public schools. The funds will also support the Bechtler’s outreach program, which partners with Mecklenburg Jail North, Mecklenburg Jail Central and InReach. Finally, the grant will also help the museum research and pilot a program tailored to individuals with low to no vision. All of these programs expand the art collection’s accessibility to as many people as possible.

This is just one of the many efforts the Women’s Impact Fund has supported in their mission to amplify the significant role women play in philanthropy, particularly as leaders. To date, the Women’s Impact Fund has made 49 grants totaling more than $3.7 million.