The DADDY Wishes Fund (DWF) is a donor-advised fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF). It is designed to inspire and motivate fathers, grandfathers, and others who play fatherly roles to be mindful of the dads they want to be and to articulate and act on their intentions. Through grants to like-minded nonprofits, we facilitate modest financial awards and other resources to fathers* for well-conceived activities/projects with their children. Through this means, DWF makes an investment in and offers support to their efforts.

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Proposed DWF activities/projects are as diverse as the supported father figures themselves. We collect and post short videos, photo images, or other evidence of supported activities, to share ideas that can be adapted or emulated by others. By shining a spotlight on these activities, the DWF celebrates and publicizes the importance, benefits, and joys of positive father-child engagement.

The DWF concept is grounded in research documenting the benefits to children’s overall well-being of positive father-child engagement. This research also affirms the value of such engagement to fathers and families alike.

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Although we have made a few grants to date, DWF is still in its pilot phase in order to test our procedures, internal guidelines, rubrics and processes in anticipation of a full launch in the fall of 2019.

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The pilot phase is being conducted in collaboration with several not-for-profit organizations that share our interest in promoting “fathers, grandfathers, and others who play fatherly roles to be mindful of the dads they strive to be and to articulate and act on their intentions.” DWF has recommended grants from DWF’s donor-advised fund with GWCF to our partner organizations, who, in turn, have made awards to deserving recipients based on DWF’s recommendations, as outlined here.

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*Whenever the word father is used it should be read to include grandfathers and men who play fatherly roles as well and we plan to fund projects for kids of all ages because you are never too old to share a positive experience with a dad, granddad or “child.”

 

These organizations have identified, help to pre-qualify, and with DWF’s input, have been able to make awards from DWF-granted funds to fathers from their communities. We have encouraged them to provide whatever support may be needed to strengthen their nominees’ application(s).