2019 Grant Guidelines

How do I apply for a grant?

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 (grants@womensfoundation.org with the subject “Grant Proposal”) by June 3, 2019. Paper copies of grant proposals and attachments are no longer required. 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.

What follow-up is required after a grant has been awarded?
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 final report be submitted within 60 days. This report should assess outcomes vs. objectives and how outcomes link to economic self-sufficiency. Final reports are required in order to remain eligible for future grants. 

Grant Proposal Checklist

Before you email us your application, check it to see that it includes these elements

• Executive Summary

• Information Sheet

• Rationale (limited to 4 pages)

• Program/Project Budget Sheet

• Financial Summary of Most Recent Fiscal Year

• IRS Determination Letter

• Board of Directors List

• Most Recently Completed Audited Financial Statements (if applicable)

• Most Recently Completed 990 Tax Filing

• For  2017  grant holders (funds received Dec. 2016 for 2017 program funding) – a copy of the 2017 final evaluation

Who is eligible for a WFGV grant?

Organizations eligible for a Women’s Foundation Grant must:
• Propose a project that fits within the mission and scope of our funding guidelines.
• Be located in Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Genesee, Orleans, Yates, and/or Livingston County, New York and serve women or girls within one of the seven counties we serve.

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.

Limited equipment expenses will be considered, but only if equipment expense is directly related to program provision, and not for administrative or organizational staff purposes.

NOTE: The Women’s Foundation does not make grants to individuals or endowments or for religious or political purposes, nor does it fund any capital expenses. The Women’s Foundation does not award education scholarships to individuals.

What are the funding priorities for 2019? 

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 2019 funding priorities are: to promote sustained economic self-sufficiency of women and to assist women and girls in moving toward achieving economic self-sufficiency.
You may a download a copy of the report here.

Grant Making Assistance

Please review our Improving Economic Self-Sufficiency for Women and Girls: 2014 Update for more information on the Women’s Foundation’s funding priorities. You may download a copy of the report here.