The Women’s and Girls’ Fund Releases New Report on the Status of Women & Girls

The Women’s and Girls’ Fund (WGF), a leadership initiative of Kern Community Foundation (KCF) has released of the 2025 Status of Women and Girls in Kern County Report.  This report was prepared in pursuit of the Fund’s purpose to “Transform the Lives of Women and Girls in Kern County by mobilizing the power and passion of Women working together.”

The 2025 Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Kern County was commissioned by The Women’s and Girls’ Fund Vision Committee and Grants Allocation Committee and prepared by the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles.  A complete report and executive summary are made available as a gift to the community in celebration of The Women’s and Girls’ Fund 20th Anniversary, honoring and recognizing the Founders and Advocate Donors.  In recognition of National Mentoring Day on October 27, this milestone also honors all women in the community and the mentoring programs that build connection, leadership, and empowerment every day.

The 2025 Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Kern County was commissioned by The Women’s and Girls’ Fund Vision Committee and Grants Allocation Committee and prepared by the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles.  A complete report and executive summary are made available as a gift to the community in celebration of The Women’s and Girls’ Fund 20th Anniversary, honoring and recognizing the Founders and Advocate Donors.  In recognition of National Mentoring Day on October 27, this milestone also honors all women in the community and the mentoring programs that build connection, leadership, and empowerment every day.

The data included in the report, generated from the 2023 American Community Survey and other relevant reports, provide a portrait of the wellbeing and standing of women and girls in Kern County using a variety of economic and social indicators.  The 2025 report examines the status of women and girls across the county in terms of economic wellbeing, home and family, health and safety, and educational attainment.  The report highlights both progress and persistent disparities.

Good data should lead to complex questions, reflection, and potential new actions.  The goal of this report is to help inform the important work of The Women’s and Girls’ Fund as it sets priorities and makes other data-driven decisions that will continue to improve the status of women and girls in the County and the state.  The Fund hopes the findings inspire advocates to drive positive change for the more than 450,000 women and girls who call Kern County home.  The report may also help local policymakers make informed decisions and direct resources to support women and girls in the years to come.

Key Takeaways

• Demographic Shifts – Women and girls make up nearly half (49%) of Kern County’s population, with Latinas comprising the majority (57%).  The county’s female population is younger than the state average, with a median age of 33.
• Educational Gains but Persistent Gaps – Educational attainment has improved: 21% of Kern women now hold a bachelor’s degree or higher (up from 16% in 2018).  However, only 42% of high school girls graduate meeting UC/CSU requirements, compared to 58% statewide.  English learners have high graduation rates (84%) but low college readiness (20%).
• Economic Progress with Continued Inequality – Median earnings for full-time working women rose 23% since 2018 to $44,700.  Still, women earn only 83 cents for every dollar earned by men, with wider gaps for African American/Black and Latina women.  One in three families headed by single women remains in poverty despite overall reductions.
• Home and Family Pressures – Nearly half of renters spend over one-third of their income on housing.  Marriage rates have declined, and 41% of new mothers in 2023 were unmarried.  While homelessness has decreased slightly to 2,606 individuals, nearly one-third remain chronically unhoused.
• Health and Safety Challenges – Kern women report mixed health outcomes: high rates of chronic illness and Valley Fever (14 times the state average), but lower breast cancer incidence paired with higher mortality for African American/Black women.  Mental health concerns are acute—nearly 20% of women reported a serious psychological episode, and half of adolescent girls experienced chronic sadness.  Domestic violence calls have decreased, but incidents involving weapons have surged from 36% to 76% since 2021.

Together, these findings highlight progress in education and earnings but also ongoing racial, economic, and health disparities that demand sustained, targeted action to improve the well-being of women and girls in Kern County.

Next Steps

The report will inform future initiatives aimed at improving the lives for women and girls throughout Kern County. The Women’s and Girls’ Fund is currently accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for its 2026 – 2027 grant cycle. Organizations interested in applying should have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation or a fiscal sponsor. All organizations seeking funds must have a presence in Kern County, benefit women and/or girls in Kern County, and meet Kern Community Foundation’s eligibility guidelines. The application process begins with the submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply for funding by the hard deadline of 5 p.m. Nov. 14, 2025. To apply, please visit WGF grantmaking page.

Download the Report

About The Women’s and Girls’ Fund

Launched in 2005, The Women’s and Girls’ Fund (WGF) is a leadership initiative of Kern Community Foundation (KCF).  We work to transform the lives of women and girls in Kern County by mobilizing the power and passion of women working together.  In particular, we educate to build awareness of needs unmet by current strategies, endow a permanent fund whose annual yield supports programs benefiting women and girls, and empower women and girls to be philanthropists and advocates for positive social change.  The Fund has awarded 123 grants totaling $913,233.  This year’s $100,000 grant cycle marks a significant milestone in the Fund’s history.

About Kern Community Foundation

Kern Community Foundation is a vibrant nonprofit enterprise with a powerfully simple mission: “Growing Community.  Growing Philanthropy.”  For 25 years, the Foundation has been in business to serve as a charitable resource for local donors and corporations, and to generate capital that provides philanthropic solutions to help make Kern County a better place to live, work, and visit.  Since its establishment in 1999, we have been home to almost 200 charitable funds.  We have awarded close to $30 million in grants and scholarships.  For more information about Kern Community Foundation visit kernfoundation.org.