Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge Grant

Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge Grant

Since our establishment, the Women's Fund has donated over $2.1 million to local nonprofits as part of our ongoing commitment to the annual grants cycle.

The Women's Fund of Blue Ridge is dedicated to supporting non-profit and community-based organizations that implement projects benefiting women and girls in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties. Through our annual grants cycle, we distribute proceeds from our special events and operating funds to these qualifying organizations.

Programs

The WFBR believes that all women and girls have the right to equality, safety, opportunity, and self-determination in every aspect of their lives. We recognize our role as a leader in the community by working to achieve these principles through grantmaking.

Proposals must meet a local need related to one or more of the WFBR Focus Areas below:

• Education - Increasing individual knowledge is a powerful tool. Funded programs should strive to use creative solutions that are sustainable and help women and girls further their education.
• Human Services - Providing direct services to women and girls is critical in helping them thrive. Funded programs should provide services that can be tracked over the grant funding cycle and show how the program is directly benefiting women and girls.
• Health and Wellness - Access to affordable medical care is critical. Funded programs should focus on health and wellness programs for women and girls that have measurable outcomes.
• Empowerment - Funded programs should invest in the growth and development of women and girls and deliver meaningful, measurable, and lasting outcomes.

Background and Purpose

Each year the WFBR distributes proceeds from our special events and operating funds to non- profit, community-based organizations, that develop and implement projects benefiting women and girls living in Ashe, Avery and Watauga Counties.

Funding

Typically, grant awards range from $1,500 – $15,000.

Grant funds are intended to be used in the year awarded and cannot be applied to more than 25% of the operating expenses for the program being funded.

Eligibility

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

• Any 501(c)3 organization or government entity which provides program or services that benefit women and girls who live in Ashe, Avery or Watauga Counties.
• Other faith-based, community service organizations may be considered eligible if their programs:
  • Are open to all individuals in the community regardless of religious belief;
  • Serve a secular purpose, such as a food pantry, homeless shelter, or an education program;
  • Do not require participation in prayer, worship, or other religious activities as a condition of receiving service(s) offered; and
  • Do not use the individual donation or resulting match for religious purposes.

Ineligibility

• The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge will not consider requests from any organization or government entity that discriminates on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or gender in any of its activities or operations.
• The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge (WFBR) makes grants in accordance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Fund, that do not jeopardize the Foundation’s status as a tax exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).
  • Therefore, the WFBR does not make grants to:
  • Political organizations, partisan organization or those supporting specific candidates or legislation.
  • Religious organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship), or other organizations primarily promoting religious purposes.
• Multi-year grants are not available.