Women's Fund Grants Program

The Women’s Fund of Warrick County conducts an annual grant cycle. Multiple grants are awarded with past grant amounts ranging from $2,000 - $8,500. At the start of each grant cycle, we send information to local media and an email announcement to nonprofit organizations on our mailing list.

Consideration will be given to organizations that demonstrate:

• Commitment to long-range planning, financial stability, and sustainability;
• Sound plan to address ongoing or emerging issues identified and supported by research;
• Solid, realistic plan for project evaluation;
• Desire to promote collaboration among organizations or institutions to prevent duplication of services;
• Project methodology utilizing a preventative approach to addressing the issue and solving problems; and
• Evidence of realistic organizational planning and management
  

Consideration will be given to nonprofit organizations deemed tax-exempt under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and from governmental agencies serving Warrick County. Nonprofit organizations that are not classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity may be considered, provided the proposal is charitable and meets the criteria described on this page. In such cases, the applicant organization may be required to obtain a fiscal sponsor (see below).

To ensure long-term organizational stability, program grants are intended to supplement, not supplant, existing operations, staffing, and initiatives.

Fiscal Sponsors

Organizations applying for a grant under the auspices of a verified 501(c)(3) public charity acting as fiscal sponsor are required to provide a written statement signed by the fiscal sponsor’s board president confirming agreement to receive grant monies if awarded and to oversee the proposed program/project.

• Community Development: new or existing activities that improve the community’s economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-being.
• Education: new or existing activities that promote or strengthen educational attainment, both in and out of the classroom
• Health/Mental Health: new or existing activities that improve health/mental health outcomes.
• Human Services: new or existing activities that improve public protection, employment, food and nutrition, agriculture, housing and shelter, public safety, disaster preparedness and relief, and the economic well-being and self-sufficiency of individuals and families.
• Other Civic Endeavors: other activities that will improve the quality of life for families in Warrick County.

 Areas NOT Considered For Funding

• Programs or projects that are not committed to gender equity.  Applicant organizations are expected to have established female leadership on their staff and board and generally promote gender equity within the community.
• Requests for funding to reduce or retire debt of the organization.
• Programs or projects that focus solely on the spiritual needs and growth of a church congregation or members of other religious organizations.
• Political parties or campaigns.
• Operating costs not directly related to the program (the organization's general operating expenses including equipment, staff salaries, rent and utilities).
• Event sponsorships, annual appeals, and membership contributions.
• Scholarships or other grants to individuals.

Deliberation and Award

The Women’s Fund Grants Committee will review all applications thoroughly. In addition, applicants may be contacted by the committee for a site visit or follow-up questions. After the review of grant applications is complete, the Women’s Fund Grants Committee, with the approval of the Women’s Fund Advisory Board, will forward their grant recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation Alliance for final approval. No lobbying or solicitation of Women’s Fund representatives is permitted. Grant recipients will be recognized at a Women’s Fund gathering. 

Funded activities must begin within six months of the award and be completed within two years from the date the grant is received. At the discretion of the Women’s Fund, grants may require a written report upon project completion. 

The following supporting documents must be electronically attached to the grant application (Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF documents).

• Current board roster with professional affiliations
• Organization’s current annual operating budget (showing both expected income and expenses)
• Most recent financial statement (Statement of Financial Position/Balance Sheet and a Statement of Activities/Income and Expense Summary)
• Fiscal sponsor agreement letter, if applicable