Fund for Women and Girls Core Grants

Core Grants

To receive funding proposals from nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a commitment to women and girls in Chester County for grant funding. Grant recipients should have a gender lens, with consideration for those who have lived female experiences. That is, they should demonstrate an understanding of the unique challenges women and girls face, and the ways in which systems, institutions, and policies must change to advance women’s equality. In addition, the proposed requests should be specific and should provide deliverables, milestones, and/or achieve measurable outcomes. The work outlined in the proposal should be connected to long-term positive impact for women, girls, and individuals with lived female experiences.

Any organization applying for a general operating or capacity building grant must demonstrate that women, girls, individuals with lived female experiences, or mothers and their children in Chester County make up at least 75% of the organization’s total target population.

Organizations applying for program or project support must demonstrate one of the following:

• direct services supported by a Fund grant primarily benefit women, girls, individuals with lived female experience, or mothers and their children in Chester County; or
• the proposed work will produce impacts that increase resources and opportunities for women and girls in Chester County.

Advocacy and Funding Priorities

The Fund will consider funding organizations that address the following priorities as determined in its annual Advocacy Plan:

• Women's economic empowerment
• Gender-based violence prevention
• Access to reproductive and wellness care

Examples of services provided by our grantees include, but are not limited to:

• Vocational training and workforce preparation
• Access to reproductive and gender affirming care
• STEM and other educational programming for girls and gender expansive youth
• Services, supports, and resources for teenage mothers
• Improved access to women’s health services
• Domestic violence services (prevention or response to)
• Housing and homelessness prevention
• Youth development programming focused on girls' leadership and empowerment

Through investment in these areas, The Fund will play an active role in providing equality and security for women, girls, and individuals with lived female experiences, making our communities stronger and more equitable for everyone.

Types of Grants

Grant requests can be for:

• Program/Project Grant:
  • Funding for a specific initiative or new endeavor
• General Operating Grant:
  • Funding for the general purpose or work of an organization, including personnel, administration, and other expenses for an existing program.
• Capacity Building Grant:
  • Funding specifically to enhance organizational capacity and address important issues of organizational development and effectiveness (e.g. strategic planning, leadership development, technology infrastructure, etc.).

Funding

In each of the funding priority areas; women’s economic empowerment, gender-based violence prevention, and access to reproductive and wellness care, the following parameters apply:

• Grant size: $5,000-$15,000 (per year)
• Anticipated number of grants available: 5-8
• Length of grant period: 2 years

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• To be considered for a grant the organization must:
  • Be a 501c(3) or fiscally sponsored by a 501c(3)
  • Serve at least 75% women and girls
  • Serve Chester County, PA, USA

Ineligibility

• Who is not eligible to apply:
  • Individuals
  • For profit organizations
  • Nonprofit organizations with neither 501(c)3 status nor a fiscal sponsor
  • Organizations that primarily provide services outside Chester County, PA, United States
  • Organizations that provide services to less than 75% women, girls, and individuals with lived female experience