Many Hands Grants

Many Hands Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Many Hands Inc
Amount: Up to US $100,000
Last Updated: December 05, 2025

Summary

Many Hands Grants has awarded over $2.5 million since 2004 to support local nonprofits focused on women, children, and families in need throughout the Washington, DC area. The organization offers four grants annually, including a $100,000 Impact Grant and three Partner Grants. The funding is unrestricted and aims to enhance the operational capacity of grantees, enabling them to better serve their communities in areas such as economic empowerment, education, health, and housing.

Overview

Many Hands Grants Since 2004, Many Hands has granted more than $2.5 million to nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and families in socioeconomic need in the Washington, DC area. We currently make four grants each year, including one in each of four focus areas: economic empowerment, education, health, and housing. Of the four annual grantees, one receives the Many Hands $100,000 Impact Grant, and three receive Many Hands Partner Grants, the value of which is dependent on annual fundraising. In 2022, each Partner Grant was $67,000. Many Hands provides unrestricted funding (which may be used for operating, program, or capital expenses) to well managed and financially viable local organizations that operate effective programs and services. Successful applicants will be able to describe how a Many Hands grant will have an impact on organizational and/or programmatic capacity that leads to an increased ability to help the intended beneficiaries. Focus Areas Our grantmaking supports area nonprofits that serve women, children, and families in socioeconomic need through programs in the areas of economic empowerment, education, health, and housing. Economic Empowerment The Economic Empowerment Committee seeks to fund organizations that work to improve the economic security and financial well-being of women, youth (ages 14-25), and families in the areas of: Job readiness Entrepreneurship College/post-secondary success Financial literacy Adult literacy English language proficiency Eliminating barriers to work (including legal, transportation, and childcare) Education The Education Committee seeks to fund organizations that work to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for children and families in the areas of: Early childhood education and development School readiness K-12 education Academic support and enrichment (including tutoring, mentoring, arts, and after-school or out-of-school time programs) Health The Health Committee seeks to fund organizations that work to improve health and safety outcomes for women, children, youth, and families in the areas of: Healthcare access Healthcare services and treatment Mental health and emotional support Substance abuse treatment/prevention (including family supports) Public safety (including domestic and community violence prevention) Hunger and food security Wellness Aging Housing The Housing Committee seeks to fund organizations working to support women, youth, and families facing homelessness or housing instability in the areas of: Homelessness prevention, including emergency rental or utility assistance Emergency, temporary, and transitional housing and shelters Permanent or semi-permanent housing Housing with wraparound services Homeownership services

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Population Served:

The organization or the program for which it is seeking funding must serve primarily women, children, and/or families in socioeconomic need.
The organization must commit to use any Many Hands funding to serve residents of one or more of the following areas:
District of Columbia
Montgomery County, MD
Prince George’s County, MD
Arlington County, VA
Fairfax County, VA
Alexandria City (VA)
Fairfax City (VA)
Falls Church City (VA)
Organization:
The organization must have 501(c)3 status at the time of application.
The organization must have been in operation for at least five years.
The organization must have an established operating budget of at least $500,000 and no more than $6 million, based on the current-year budget and total expenditures in the previous fiscal year.
The applicant organization must be located in the service area. It must have a local address, an independent budget, and a local board of directors with fiduciary responsibilities.
The organization must be secular and non-partisan in mission and program and must not promote or compel political or religious participation or affiliation.

Ineligibility

Charter schools are ineligible.Recipients of the Many Hands Partner Grant in 2022 are ineligible to apply in the 2023 grant cycle. Any organization that has received $100,000 or more in total Many Hands funding is ineligible to apply for additional funding.