Women for Women Grants

The 2009 Women for Women Grant Program aims to help economically disadvantaged women in Western North Carolina to become more self-sufficient.   We will invest in programs that address the root causes of poverty and promote long-lasting financial independence for vulnerable women. This might include, but is not limited to, areas such as job training, employment, literacy, education, child care, financial literacy, self-empowerment and overcoming barriers to economic self-sufficiency.   We will also invest in advocacy programs that promote social change at all levels of our society.

Organizations that show increased effort to collaborate and/or cooperate with other organizations will be given priority. Every effort will be made to distribute these funds throughout the 18 counties of Western North Carolina region. Our goal is to support programs that provide the greatest community impact.

Given these challenging economic times, for 2009 Women for Women will make grants totaling $15,000 to $100,000; these grants will be made for one or two years. We anticipate the median grant award to be $50,000. All requests between $70,000 and $100,000 are required to speak with Community Foundation staff prior to submitting a grant application. A strong case must be made to secure second year funding as only a small number of these grants will be awarded.  

Women for Women will accept operating requests for existing programs that target women and girls. Priority will be given to requests that offer core, critical services for women and girls.

Deadline to Apply

Applications are due Friday, January 23, 2009. Final funding decisions will be made in May for projects that begin after June 1, 2009.

Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code and public agencies are eligible to apply for these grants. Organizations must be located in or serving one or more of these WNC counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, or Yancey.

Grant Objectives: Women for Women will invest in programs that:

• Demonstrate sustainable and measurable social change for women through services that promote economic self-sufficiency and financial independence
• Address causes of poverty rather than symptoms
• Assist women in overcoming barriers to economic independence
• Make a long-term difference in the lives of women and girls
• Advocate for social change for women at various levels of society--communities, institutions, systems and policies  
• Demonstrate collaborative and/or cooperative partnerships with other organizations and groups that yield greater impact than either organization could achieve alone

Funding Restrictions

Women for Women does not make grants for: technology expenses (except for specific costs that are directly related to the project and given that the majority of the project budget is allocated to service provision); capital support (except where modest requests can immediately and significantly increase an organization's capacity and impact); recreational programs and equipment; festivals or one-time events; equipment for EMS and/or fire departments; scholarships or funding to individuals; activities taking place before grant decisions are made; endowment; sectarian purposes; private schools and clubs; veteran affairs; deficit funding or debt retirement. Statewide or national programs will not be considered unless funding is sought for a portion of the program that directly benefits WNC, and local people are involved. Organizations may not submit more than one Women for Women grant application for funding at a time.

How to Apply

Recent Women for Women Grants