• GRANT PROPOSALS SOUGHT

The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley

• creates and manages a permanent endowment fund to perpetuate grant-making explicitly for women and girls;
• leads the way in funding and advocating for programs that support growth and economic self-sufficiency for women; and
• models equitable partnerships that encourage diversity and inclusivity.

Who Is Eligible
Organizations eligible for a Women’s Foundation Grant must:

1. Propose a project that fits within the mission and scope of our funding guidelines.
2. Be located in Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Genesee, Orleans, Yates, and/or Livingston County, New York and serve women or girls within those counties.
3. Be a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Code, section 501(c)(3). However, your organization may use another tax-exempt, not-for-profit agency as your fiscal agent. In this case your organization must still meet the requirements necessary to apply for tax-exempt status.

NOTE: The Women's Foundation does not make grants to individuals or endowments or for religious or political purposes, equipment or any capital expenses. The Women’s Foundation does not award scholarships to individuals or groups.

Our Funding Priorities
The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley (WFGV) is pleased to announce that we will be accepting proposals for our Annual Grant-making Program from not-for-profit organizations in Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Yates, and Wayne Counties this year for 2011 funding. The Foundation plans to award approximately $50,000 in grants. Proposals will be due on July 16, 2010. A formal Request for proposals will be mailed to selected organizations in mid-May. Site visits will be conducted in August and September of 2010 for selected proposals. The Foundation will notify all applicants of the outcome of our review process in mid October 2010. Grants will be announced at the Annual Women's Foundation Breakfast on October 28, 2010.

Based on the results of our research report, Improving Economic Self-Sufficiency, we are specifically interested in funding programs that help support women’s progress towards economic self-sufficiency. Our goal is to fund programs assessed to have the highest likelihood of having a direct positive impact on the economic status of women. Economic self-sufficiency is defined in terms of income adequacy; that is, the level of income necessary to meet basic needs. Our 2010 funding priorities are:

• to promote sustained economic self-sufficiency of women.
• to assist women and girls in moving toward achieving economic self-sufficiency.

You may a download a copy of the report here.

Application Process
The Foundation requires submission of an amended (shorter) form of the Rochester Area Common Application. Applications should be submitted without Section 3 (Logic Model), and with Section 4 (Rationale) limited to 4 pages. All other components of the Common Application are required.

The Rochester Area Common Application Form can be downloaded here: common application form. One electronic copy of the completed application (omitting Section 3 and limiting Section 4 to 4 pages) is to be emailed to the office of the Women’s Foundation (slatoski@womensfoundation.org) by July 16, 2010. In addition, one (1) complete paper copies of the proposal, including all the items outlined in the Grant Proposal Check List below, must be sent to the Women’s Foundation offices at 277 Alexander St. Suite 308, Rochester, New York 14607, postmarked no later than Friday, July 16, 2009. Proposals received by July 19 will be considered for funding beginning January 2011. A site visit may be requested during the review process. The Grant-making Committee prepares a funding recommendation that is reviewed and approved by the Foundation Board of Directors. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of our review process in mid October 2010.

Grant Proposal Check List
Before you send us your application, check it to see that it includes these elements

Executive Summary
Information Sheet
Rationale (limited to 4 pages)
Budget Sheet
Financial Summary of Most Recent Fiscal Year
IRS Determination Letter
Board of Directors List
Audited Financial Statements
Annual Report

For current (2010) grant holders - a copy of the 2010 six month evaluation

Grant-making Assistance
If you would like more information about our application requirements or our grant-making process, please call the Women's Foundation at 585-242-0940 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM on weekdays, or e-mail the Foundation at slatoski@womensfoundation.org

Project Follow-Up
The Women's Foundation may request a site visit and/or additional information at any time after the grant has been awarded. All grantees are expected to monitor their projects closely. At the end of your project, we require that a written report be submitted within 60 days. This report should assess outcomes vs. objectives and how outcomes link to economic self-sufficiency. All grantees will be assigned a liaison from the Women's Foundation who maintains direct contact with the agency to provide ongoing review of program accomplishments and outcomes.