WIF: Spark Awards Grant

WIF: Spark Awards Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Womens Impact Fund
Amount: US $5,000
Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Summary

The Women’s Impact Fund has introduced the Spark Awards, offering $5,000 unrestricted grants annually to inspiring women leaders in Mecklenburg County. These awards support individuals driving community transformation, emphasizing the importance of caring for those often overlooked in philanthropic efforts. Recipients not only receive financial support but also a year-long membership to enhance their leadership connections. This initiative aims to combat burnout and highlight the vital contributions of women in various fields, encouraging more investment in community-driven change.

Overview

NOTE: The nomination is due at the deadline. Nominations require a primary and a secondary nominator. Nominees cannot self nominate but can request others to nominate them. Spark Awards Women’s Impact Fund announced an evolution of its Spark funding model to make $5,000 unrestricted awards annually to inspiring women leaders who work in direct relationship with community members to drive transformational change in Mecklenburg County. These leaders may include, but are not limited to, employees and volunteers working with nonprofit organizations, leaders of grassroots movements, community organizers, activists and more. Spark Award recipients have full discretion to use the funds in any way they choose to cultivate their individual care, renewal, growth, and healing. In addition to the cash award, recipients also receive a one-year WIF membership to provide additional opportunities for connection, leadership, and growth. Funding may also be allocated to provide honoraria for finalists, wellness or coaching support for recipients, and other events focused on creating connections among recipients, finalists, and the community. Why is Women’s Impact Fund making these investments? Leaders working at the forefront of community change and transformation often dedicate far more time and energy than average employees in the course of their work. They are typically fueled by a passion for the mission of their organizations/causes and often sacrifice their own well-being in pursuit of that mission, resulting in an endless cycle of burnout and recovery. Research by the Society of Human Resources (SHRM) indicates that attrition from nonprofits is approximately 19% versus normal workforce turnover of approximately 12%. Many of these leaders also come from historically marginalized communities and have limited access to time off for rest as well as fewer opportunities and/or resources to engage in other forms of personal and professional renewal. Exhaustion, low pay, and poor benefits often characterize the working conditions in these organizations and are issues that funders — especially those practicing social change philanthropy — can address.As funders, we must do more to celebrate community-based work as transformational, recognizing the people behind these efforts for their extraordinary contributions. Currently, grants from WIF support only nonprofit organizations or projects/programs; Even unrestricted grants are typically focused entirely on the organization’s overall operations — NOT the people inspired and dedicated to creating transformational change. We are missing a key opportunity to deepen our collective impact.We believe that people are the fulcrum of change. It is in our collective best interest to invest in the people who are dedicating themselves to drive community-centered change, and that everyone must have access to the opportunity to rest, renew, and grow.We envision that these reimagined Spark Awards will serve as a catalyst and model for other funders investing in our community’s diverse ecosystem of leaders. Together, we can promote a culture of collective care, address burnout and encourage more investment in the people who are making change in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Funding Recipients will receive an unrestricted award of $5,000 in recognition of their efforts to affect change in our community. We may recognize up to ten (10) recipients this year.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. We welcome nominations of inspiring women leaders who are working in direct relationship with community members to drive transformational change in Mecklenburg County.Nominees may come from a diverse range of fields, including but not limited to art and culture, education, environment, health, human services, social justice, etc. They may be employees or volunteers working with nonprofit organizations, leaders of grassroots movements, community organizers, activists, and more. Nominees should be individuals on the frontlines leading the vital work of community transformation and positive change. Anyone who identifies as a woman can be nominated for the award. Our definition of gender identity is a person’s internal, deeply held sense of their gender. All nominees must be 21 years or older.

Ineligibility

WIF staff, current members of the WIF Board of Directors, members of the WIF Spark Committee, and immediate family members of these individuals are ineligible. WIF members who receive an award would not be eligible for the free year of WIF membership.