Women for Women Grant

The Women for Women Grant aims to enhance the lives of women and girls in Western North Carolina through collective giving. With over $5 million invested since 2006, the grant supports programs focused on self-sufficiency for economically disadvantaged women, including workforce training, mentorship, and childcare access. Organizations can receive funding ranging from $15,000 to $125,000 based on project needs, fostering equity and dismantling discriminatory systems in the community.

What We Will FundFor the 2024-2025 grant cycle, WFW will invest in programs that help economically disadvantaged women become more self-sufficient. Proposals might include but are not limited to workforce training; mentorship programs; access to safe, affordable housing; access to reliable transportation; access to high quality, affordable childcare; financial education and empowerment initiatives; services or supports to age in place.Organizations can apply in one of the two following grant categories:
$125,000 for new or expanded project support. In this category, only new or expanded projects are eligible for support.$15,000-$60,000 for project or operations support. In this category, new, expanded, and existing projects, as well as general operations, are all eligible for support.
For both categories, applicants can request that funds be distributed over one or two years.WFW understands that certain types of programming (e.g., school-based programs, job training programs, etc.) may also benefit boys or men. Such inclusion is acceptable for WFW funding, though WFW will consider the number of women and girls who will benefit from a proposal, and WFW prioritizes funding opportunities designed specifically for women and girls.WFW will support direct service or advocacy work. WFW defines advocacy as activities that promote social change for women and girls at various levels of society - communities, institutions, systems, and policies; it is NOT direct service to individual clients.This cycle Women for Women intends to award one grant at the $125,000 level and three or more grants at the $15,000-$60,000 level. In the last grant cycle, WFW made one grant of $125,000 out of 11 initial Letters of Intent submitted in that category and five grants of $60,000 or less out of 37 initial Letters of Intent submitted in that category.

Eligibility

Organizations are eligible to apply for Women for Women grants if they: have missions or programs focused on serving women and girlsare financially sustainableare tax-exempt as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or governmental entitiesare located in and serving one or more of these WNC counties or territories: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, The Qualla Boundary, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and YanceyIf an organization has received WFW grants in the past, it must have successfully closed any previous WFW grants (final report submitted and approved) by the LOI submission date to be eligible for funding in this cycle.

Ineligibility

Women for Women does not offer grants for:    capital support for new buildings or major expansionsrecreational equipment, including playgroundsprivate primary and secondary schools (except for projects or programs that are not directed toward the school's students or staff and that directly address community needs) and private clubsfestivals or one-time events such as exhibits, performances or fundraisersscholarshipsactivities taking place or expenses incurred before grant decisions are madesectarian religious purposespartisan political purposesendowment, deficit funding or debt retirementstate or national organizations, unless (1) funding is sought for a portion of the program or project that directly benefits WNC, and (2) local people assume leadership of the program or project