Fresh Start Women's Foundation empowers women on their journey toward economic self-sufficiency and personal growth. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Fresh Start provides comprehensive resources and support to help women overcome challenges and build a foundation for a brighter future.

Fresh Start's mission is to provide access to resources that help women achieve self-sufficiency and use their strength to thrive. The organization offers a wide range of programs and wrap-around services, including education, career development, and financial literacy, tailored to meet the diverse needs of women from all walks of life. From job training and resume building to family law support and success coaching, Fresh Start addresses the multifaceted aspects of a woman's life to facilitate holistic personal and professional development. By fostering a collaborative and nurturing environment, Fresh Start strives to break down barriers and equip women with the tools and confidence needed to overcome challenges.

Fresh Start’s commitment to creating a supportive community is evident in the many empowering workshops, career training programs, and coaching services it offers women. In 2023, it served more than 3,700 women and positively impacted the lives of more than 3,000 children.

A generous grant from the Maximus Foundation was allocated toward Fresh Start’s Women’s Resource Center (WRC) occupancy costs, including utilities, technology costs, and software licenses. This has helped support services for more than 3,200 Arizona women and counting. The 55-member staff delivers all Fresh Start’s in-person services at the WRC near downtown Phoenix. The center is open to the public and is often a woman’s first stop when she decides to take the initial steps toward achieving her dreams. When she enters the WRC, she is connected to staff who introduce her to all the services available at Fresh Start. Clients can access many Fresh Start services virtually, extending the organization’s reach across Arizona.

In addition to the grant from the Maximus Foundation, in the past, nearly a dozen Maximus staff members visited Fresh Start to tour the WRC and perform a volunteer project for Fresh Start’s Small Business Start-up Program. The program enrolls 12-15 women annually in a 12-credit entrepreneurship series through Paradise Valley Community College, culminating in a small business certificate. In a unique arrangement, the college facilitates the courses for the cohort on Saturdays at Fresh Start. It allows the women to learn in a closed and supportive environment, with accelerated coursework that better accommodates their busy schedules. Fresh Start celebrates the graduating class each year and welcomes the incoming class at a special event. The Maximus volunteers assembled congratulations and welcome kits for the graduating and incoming women, helping make the event even more meaningful while showing their support.

Through its unwavering dedication to empowering women, Fresh Start Women's Foundation serves as a beacon of hope, helping countless women embark on a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and lasting positive change. Learn more about Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.

Giving back to the communities we serve

The Maximus Foundation is one of the ways Maximus employees are doing something greater together. Established by the Maximus Board of Directors in 2000, the Maximus Foundation is an independent, employee-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Employee donors pool their charitable contributions together through the Foundation, double their impact on the grantmaking program through Maximus’ dollar-for-dollar matching pledge, and make their voices heard by nominating and voting for future grantee partners. Though the Foundation focuses its giving strategy on grantmaking, it also helps coordinate corporate-wide humanitarian efforts and empowers employees to donate their time and skills to nonprofits. Their inspired giving and volunteerism help accelerate the missions of nonprofits on the front lines of the communities we serve. Learn more at maximus.com/foundation.